Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a council tax matter. This is because the Council has agreed an appropriate remedy for the injustice identified.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council has incorrectly made him liable for council tax for a property he had vacated. He says the Council had all the information it requested. This has caused him stress and anxiety.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word fault to refer to these. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we are satisfied with the actions an organisation has taken or proposes to take. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(7), as amended).

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. If we were to investigate this complaint it is likely we would find fault causing Mr X injustice. This is because the Council has not explained its decision and did not send Mr X information about his right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.
6. At our invitation the Council has agreed to remedy the injustice identified.

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Agreed action

7. The Council agreed to write to Mr X to confirm the reasons for the liability end date. It will provide details of his right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.
8. The Council will complete the agreed action within one month of this decision.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the Council has agreed to resolve the complaint early.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman