Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about costs incurred by Mr X’s company in connection with a court hearing for business rates arrears as the Council has offered a financial payment which remedies the injustice caused.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains his company incurred £200 when a director had to attend court in respect of a debit for business rates that the company had paid six months prior. Mr X wants the Council to remedy this by making a financial payment.

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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 any remaining injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), 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. The Council has confirmed to us that it offered Mr X a payment of £235 in recognition of the inconvenience caused. As such, there is insufficient remaining injustice caused to Mr X to warrant our further involvement.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the Council has remedied the injustice caused.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman