Bedford Borough Council (25 028 150)
Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 22 Jun 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a discretionary discount because the matter has been appealed to a valuation tribunal.
The complaint
- Ms X complains that the Council unreasonably refused to provide a Council tax discretionary discount
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We cannot investigate a complaint if someone has appealed to a tribunal about the same matter. We also cannot investigate a complaint if in doing so we would overlap with the role of a tribunal to decide something which has been or could have been referred to it to resolve using its own powers. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(a), as amended)
- The Valuation Tribunal deals with appeals against decisions on council tax liability and council tax support or reduction.
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Ms X applied for a discretionary Council tax discount on the basis of her low income. She says that Council delayed considering it and failed to properly consider her evidence. She has now appealed to a valuation tribunal with a hearing date fixed.
- The Ombudsman cannot investigate a matter which ahs been appealed to a valuation tribunal and so the matter is out of jurisdiction.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because she has appealed to a valuation tribunal.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman