IRRV Alert - week ending 29th September 2023
News
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. Buckinghamshire Council (23 005 603)
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that Council fault caused delay in Mr X being able to sell a property as the complaint is made late to us and there are not good reasons to investigate now. London Borough of Harrow (23 002 788)
Summary: The Council was at fault for the way it dealt with Mr X’s council tax accounts. This caused injustice as Mr X spent a significant amount of time trying to rectify his accounts with the Council and received several Court summonses over unpaid council tax. The Council offered Mr X a payment to acknowledge the inconvenience he suffered, made a payment to his solicitor for costs incurred and withdrew all enforcement costs. This is suitable to remedy the injustice caused. London Borough of Tower Hamlets (23 004 257)
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s process for issuing Energy Rebate Grants as there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation. Burnley Borough Council (23 005 202)
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about misinformation from the Council because the complaint has been remedied. Slough Borough Council (23 005 868)
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to publish a statement of intent about an energy efficiency scheme as it is a voluntary scheme and there is no evidence of fault. Mid Devon District Council (23 005 576)
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax because there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal. Cheshire East Council (23 005 623)
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Council tax liability dispute because the matter has been remedied and there was a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal. Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (22 015 322)
Summary: The Council was at fault for failing properly to consider Ms X’s application for financial assistance from its support fund to help her meet the costs of fleeing domestic abuse. The Council was also at fault for sending its response to Ms X’s complaint to several Council officers without explaining the reason to Ms X. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a new decision on Ms X’s application, and act to improve its services. Allerdale Borough Council (22 013 762)
Summary: Mrs X complained the Council unfairly instructed bailiffs to collect a historic council tax debt without trying to reach her. She says this resulted in her unfairly having to pay bailiff costs. The Council is at fault for failing to send a notice before taking enforcement action. This did not cause any injustice to Mrs X but the Council will take action to prevent reoccurrence. London Borough of Lambeth (23 001 217)
Summary: The Council failed to amend a Council Tax bill to add a single person discount when first asked. The Council’s response to queries about a deceased person’s account was slow and after the final bill, it made a change to the account which cannot be explained. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment for distress and complete a review of its actions to prevent future problems. This will remedy the injustice caused. East Staffordshire Borough Council (23 005 136)
Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the Council pursuing Mrs X and her husband for council tax arrears over several years. This complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Mrs X could not have complained to us sooner. Coventry City Council (23 005 220)
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to hold Mr X liable for unpaid council tax. This is because Mr X has appealed to the Valuation Tribunal about his liability and so the complaint falls outside our jurisdiction.
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