IRRV Alert - week ending 12th February 2021
News
Circulars
Consultations
Reports
New benefits and taxation decisions
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A weekly update on benefits and taxation decisions |
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Please note: our decisions are published six weeks after they are issued to councils, care providers and the person who has made the complaint. The cases below reflect the caselaw and guidance available at the time of issue and the individual circumstances of each case.
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about delay in resolving an issue about the complainant’s liability for council tax. Any fault by the Council has not caused the complainant significant injustice. Slough Borough Council (19 011 828)
Summary: Mr X complains the Council wrongly billed him for council tax even though his property was exempt. He says the Council did not respond to his correspondence helpfully and the repeated incorrect billing caused him an injustice as he was very distressed. Following our enquiries, the Council has taken steps to remedy the situation. We do not find the Council is at fault. Birmingham City Council (19 018 802)
Summary: Mrs X says the Council acted wrongly in taking enforcement action against her for unpaid council tax. She says she suffered an injustice as she was visited by enforcement officers and charged fees, causing financial hardship. The Council is not at fault. North Norfolk District Council (20 008 333)
Summary: Mr X complains that the Council will not reduce his council tax liability for a period when he was unable to let his property. We will not investigate this complaint because there was a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal. London Borough of Hounslow (20 007 552)
Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint that the Council is over charging Mrs X council tax for late 2011 to the end of 2015. It says her home was split into two flats. Mrs X and/or her late husband had a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal if they wanted to dispute council tax liability. The complaint is made late. It is not likely investigation will achieve the desired reduction in the tax bill.
Summary: Ms Y complains about the way the Council handled her applications for a Discretionary Housing Payment. The Ombudsman has found fault by the Council causing injustice. It has agreed to remedy this by apologising to Ms Y, paying her £150 to reflect the distress caused and carrying out a service improvement. Northumberland County Council (20 002 086)
Summary: Mrs X complains the Council refused her a business grant and rates relief, causing her business increased financial loss. We find no fault in the Council’s decision making process. Dover District Council (20 007 627)
Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council wrongly issues building completion notices in relation to council tax liability. Mrs X does not have a personal injustice. A person affected can appeal a completion notice to the Valuation Tribunal. Fareham Borough Council (20 007 860)
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to award him a government grant for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because it is unlikely we would find fault by the Council.
Summary: We shall not investigate this complaint about the Council refusing Mr X a business grant. An investigation would be unlikely to find fault.
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