Broxtowe Borough Council (24 021 161)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 19-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s decision the memorial garden on her father’s grave needs to be removed. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council to warrant an investigation.

Birmingham City Council (25 001 403)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 10-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to prepare a grave for her family member. The Council has already apologised, reduced the cemetery fees by £500, waived another fee, and implemented service improvements. An investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to achieve any additional outcome.

Nottingham City Council (24 022 398)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 02-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council was at fault in failing to contact the complainant’s family about the expiry of the lease on a grave, and before removing items he had placed on the grave. There is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant investigation.

London Borough of Islington (24 021 419)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 11-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about damage caused to a memorial bench near a relative’s grave. This is because Miss X has a right to take the matter to court.

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council (24 008 972)

Statement Upheld Cemeteries and crematoria 05-May-2025

Summary: Mrs K complained the Council did not cut the grass in a cemetery, causing it to become overgrown and inaccessible. She also complains the Council did not respond to her complaint about this. We consider the fact the Council did not cut the grass to be service failure, and that there was fault because it did not respond to Mrs K’s complaint. It has agreed to apologise to her for this and offer her a remedy payment for her time and trouble.

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council (24 020 231)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 09-Apr-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a burial in the baby section of a cemetery. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault and injustice.

Telford & Wrekin Council (24 021 225)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 25-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s maintenance of a cemetery hedge. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (24 016 954)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 28-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to require the removal of stone edging from a burial plot. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant investigation.

Thurrock Council (24 007 203)

Statement Not upheld Cemeteries and crematoria 03-Feb-2025

Summary: Mr X complained that the Council failed to take the required precautions when digging a grave, causing it to be unsuitable for its intended use and causing damage to neighbouring headstones. We find no fault in the Council’s actions.

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council (24 017 048)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 16-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to accept liability for damage to his relative’s grave. This is because it is reasonable for Mr X to take the matter to court.