Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the name associated with Mr X’s relative’s grave in a cemetery. This is because the complaint is late, about historic matters, and we could not achieve anything worthwhile by investigating.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the incorrect name is on his relative’s grave in a local cemetery.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
3. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mr X says the name associated with his relative’s grave in a local cemetery is incorrect.
7. Mr X has been aware of this issue for more than 10 years, so this matter is not only late but also historic.
8. We do not in any event have any power to change the name on the grave or say the Council must do this. Therefore, we could not achieve anything worthwhile by investigating the complaint.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the complaint is late and about historic matters. We also could not achieve anything worthwhile by investigating.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman