The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this council tax complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
The complaint
The complainant, Mr X, says the Council has not provided a breakdown of his council tax and has not explained why he has council tax arrears. Mr X wants a detailed and transparent breakdown and compensation.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
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 an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by Mr X. This includes the complaint correspondence. I also considered our Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mr X complained to the Council that it had not provided a breakdown, as requested, of his council tax and how he had accrued some arrears. In response the Council provided a breakdown, starting from 2018/19. The Council also provided breakdowns in other letters.
The Council noted some failings which included issuing two bills with contradictory information; it also said its decision to create a new account, in relation to a change relating to Mr X’s daughter, had caused some confusion and had been reversed. The Council said it had withdrawn a summons and the associated costs.
I will not investigate this complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council. I have read the complaint correspondence and the Council provided detailed breakdowns regarding Mr X’s council tax. There is nothing more I would have expected the Council to say, and nothing more we could ask the Council to provide. I am not sure if Mr X is suggesting we should check the accuracy of the information but, if that is his wish, that is not our role. If Mr X thinks there are any inaccuracies in the information from the Council, he would need to contact the Council to explain what he thinks is wrong and perhaps provide supporting evidence.
There have been a few errors by the Council but these have been corrected and I have not seen anything to suggest we need to start an investigation or that the Council should pay compensation.
Final decision
We will not investigate this complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman