local authority services

Issues such as housing, highways, waste, Council Tax and local matters of law and order should be directed to your Local Councillor who will be happy to look into such matters on your behalf. Click here to find out more about Shropshire Councillors.

Shropshire Council is also responsible for a wide variety of other local matters, including education of children, young people and adults. The Council is also responsible for a huge range of social care, encompassing care of children, families, adults, people with disabilities and older people.

Other areas covered by Shropshire Council include libraries and museums, arts and heritage, economic development and tourism, planning and licensing, sports and recreation and the registrar for births, marriages and deaths.

Shropshire Council's offices are situated at the Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury. You can telephone them on 0345 678 9000 or visit their website for more information at www.shropshire.gov.uk.

In addition, Shrewsbury Town Council covers the whole of Shrewsbury town centre and adjoining residential areas. It is responsible for horticultural services, the Quarry, many small parks, sports pitches, recreation grounds, allotments and highway verges. The Town Council is also responsible for provision of markets, community facilities, bus shelters, street lighting and public toilets.

The Town Council's offices are situated at the Guildhall, Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury. You can telephone them on 01743 281010 or visit their website for more information at www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk.

useful information for constituents

Please click on one of the following topics to find out more.

• Benefits, Pensions and National Insurance
• Child Support Agency
• Health
• Housing
• Immigration
• Tax Credits
• Utilities

tax credits

Tax Credits are the responsibility of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and a lot of useful information is available on the Tax Credit part of the HMRC website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/Taxcredits. You can also telephone the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900.

complaints procedure

If you have a complaint about the way HMRC have dealt with you over your Tax Credits, you should follow the Tax Credits complaints procedure.

If you disagree with a decision on your Tax Credits, you should appeal to HMRC within 30 days of receiving the decision, by filling in an appeal form. The Tax Credit Office will consider your appeal and will explain why they have made the decision that they have made. If you are still unhappy with the decision, you send the appeal to the Tribunals Service who will consider your appeal at a hearing. Their website is at www.appeals-service.gov.uk or you can telephone the Birmingham Office on 0121 634 7201.

All the information about appeals and complaints are available on the HMRC Tax Credits website by following the link marked 'complaints, appeals, penalties, enquiries'.

the adjudicator's office

If you have exhausted the Tax Credit Office's appeal and complaint procedures and you have a final response from them, then you may take the matter to The Adjudicator's Office, as long as you do so within 6 months of receiving the final response from the Tax Credit Office. Their website is at www.adjudicatorsoffice.gov.uk or you can telephone 0300 057 1111.

the ombudsman

The final step you can take is to go to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. The website is at www.ombudsman.org.uk or you can telephone 0345 015 4033. You must have followed the rest of the complaints procedure given above before you do so. You can download a copy of the complaint form from the website.

Daniel and his staff are not able to make the complaint or appeal for you, but can supply a covering or supporting letter for you, as appropriate.

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