Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a delay in reviewing a Council tax discount because there is insufficient injustice to warrant investigation.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains that the Council delayed reviewing her Council tax following her notification of a change of circumstances.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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, or
• any fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained, or
• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. Ms X says that she told the Council in August that she would not longer be entitled to a single occupation discount to her Council tax as her circumstances had changed. She says that the Council delayed reviewing this until December leaving her with an increased bill to pay.
6. The Council apologised for the delay citing an increase in workloads.
7. Given that Ms X would be aware that her Council tax bill would increase the Ombudsman would expect her set money aside for the increased bill. I am therefore not persuaded that the injustice caused by the alleged fault is sufficient to warrant investigation.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there is insufficient injustice to warrant investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman