The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax support because an appeal has been made to the Valuation Tribunal.
The complaint
Ms X complains that the Council has unreasonably refused to award Council tax support.
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 says that she used to receive Council tax support but this was altered in 2025 so that she then had to pay an increase in Council tax.
Ms X says that she has now appealed to a Valuation Tribunal about this decision.
The Ombudsman cannot investigate a complaint where an appeal to a Valuation Tribunal has been used and so the complaint is out of jurisdiction.
Final decision
We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because Ms X has appealed to a Valuation Tribunal.
Investigator’s decision on behalf of the Ombudsman
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman