Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (26 001 814)
Category : Benefits and tax > Other
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 14 Jul 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax enforcement this is more appropriately a matter for the Information Commissioner.
The complaint
- Mr X complains that the Council’s enforcement of his Council tax arears is not based upon a Liability Order.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Information Commissioner's Office considers complaints about freedom of information. Its decision notices may be appealed to the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights). So where we receive complaints about freedom of information, we normally consider it reasonable to expect the person to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner.
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X says that the Council’s current enforcement of his Council tax debt is illegal because it is not based upon a Liability Order. He asked the Council for evidence to support this.
- Any dispute about the Council’s refusal to provide evidence can be made as a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office. For the reason given above, I consider that this is a matter for the Information Commissioner's Office and not the Ombudsman.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he can appeal to the Information Commissioner's Office.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman