Nottingham City Council (25 025 442)
Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 08 Jun 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax recovery. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.
The complaint
- Ms X complains the Council failed to properly consider its discretion when deciding to apply for deductions from her Universal Credit towards council tax arrears. She says this has caused her significant financial hardship and distress.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B)).
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant. I also considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Ms X complained to the Council regarding the matters in paragraph 1.
- The Council replied that it had considered Ms X’s financial information including information from StepChange a debt charity, which supported her. It said it had considered alternative recovery options. It chose an attachment of benefits as that was the least intrusive method, and avoided stronger enforcement such as using enforcement agents, who could visit to collect goods. The Council concluded it had acted proportionately and reasonably within statutory powers.
- We will not investigate this complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to justify investigation. The Council has considered Ms X’s circumstances and its discretion regarding recovery action.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there Is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to warrant investigation.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman