Buckinghamshire Council (25 029 226)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 28-Jun-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs Z’s complaint about liability for injury sustained in a Council-maintained cemetery. Only a court can determine liability and award compensation.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (25 026 214)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 18-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council charging more for burial costs to a non-resident person, than it does to one of its residents. It is unlikely we would find fault, and the Council’s actions have not caused X a significant personal injustice. In addition, there is no worthwhile outcome achievable.

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (25 025 718)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 18-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council charging more for burial costs to a non-resident person, than it does to one of its residents. The Council’s actions have not caused X a significant personal injustice and there is no worthwhile outcome achievable.

Leicester City Council (25 013 555)

Statement Not upheld Cemeteries and crematoria 07-Jun-2026

Summary: The Council was not responsible for telling the family about issues digging Mr X’s grave on the day of his burial. Therefore, the Council was not at fault.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 020 830)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 07-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of concerns he raised about a crematorium employee. This is because the claimed injustice is not significant enough to warrant further investigation and we could not achieve a worthwhile outcome.

Adur District Council (25 019 540)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 18-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the condition of a closed church yard. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s actions to justify an investigation.

London Borough of Hillingdon (25 022 810)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 26-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s burial charges. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council to warrant an investigation.

Adur District Council (25 026 969)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 01-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the conduct of Council officers during a family member’s funeral. There is insufficient evidence of fault for part of the complaint regarding Council officers standing near a ceremony. For another part of the complaint, the Council apologised and reminded officers not to begin filling graves before all mourners have left the area. An investigation is unlikely to achieve anything further.

London Borough of Haringey (25 016 827)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 20-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the Council’s supervision of a cemetery maintenance contract. 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.

Nottingham City Council (25 009 236)

Statement Upheld Cemeteries and crematoria 18-Mar-2026

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s actions before and on the day of his father’s funeral, which resulted in the burial plot being changed on the morning of the service. We find the Council at fault because it departed from its own policy and failed to maintain accurate records about the condition of graves. This caused Mr X and his family avoidable distress. The Council has apologised and agreed to review procedures and retrain staff, which we consider a suitable remedy, so make no further recommendations.