The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about loss to the public purse from how the Council administered a council tax account. This impacts all or most of the people in the Council’s area and is therefore not within our legal remit.
The complaint
Mr X complains about loss to the public purse arising from alleged delay by the Council in listing a particular property for council tax.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
We cannot investigate something that affects all or most of the people in a council’s area. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(7), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
We cannot investigate this complaint because it impacts on all or most of the people in the Council’s area and as such, is not within our legal remit.
Final decision
We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because, by law, we cannot investigate complaints which impact on all or most of the people in a council’s area.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman