Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to properly establish a business rate account and failed to give enough advice about the rate reliefs available. As a result, he was then too late to apply for rate relief. Mr X said this impacted him financially. There was fault in the way the Council registered the account to the wrong address initially. This fault did not cause Mr X an injustice.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s award, and subsequent removal, of the council tax single person discount. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Miss X’s council tax. The law prevents us considering what happened during court action. The Council has already done much of what Miss X wanted. Miss X could reasonably take court action if she wants compensation. It would be disproportionate for us to investigate any other points and we would be unlikely to achieve significantly more.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax and rent because there is a right of appeal to a tribunal and the rent matter is for the Housing Ombudsman.

Summary: Miss X complained the Council wrongly billed her for a council tax payment which she says she has already paid. Miss X says the Council’s actions caused her avoidable frustration and worry. We found fault by the Council. The Council has agreed to apologise to Miss X and reduce the backdated arrears on her council tax account.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council failing to tell him that deductions being made from his disability benefits had been stopped. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault. In addition, the claimed fault has not caused any significant injustice and an investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about BID charges and Business Rates liability because this is a matter for the Valuation Office Agency, a public body out of jurisdiction. Further any liability issues are for the court and there is a right of appeal to a Planning Inspector against planning delay.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax liability as there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal and he could take action in court.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax because it affects all or most of the people of the area.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council assessed the complainant’s Council Tax Reduction in 2017. This is because it is a late complaint, and the complainant could have used his appeal rights.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a Housing Benefit overpayment. It is reasonable to expect him to appeal to the Tribunal.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s retrospective claim for housing benefit made without the complainant’s knowledge and delay in responding to the complaint. We do not consider Mr X has suffered a significant personal injustice because of the Council’s actions. And we consider an apology for the delay in responding to the complainant is a suitable remedy to this part of the complaint.