Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about poor communication she experienced with a coroner’s officer. This is because their actions were not an administrative function of the Council.

The complaint

1. Miss X complained that she was unhappy with the poor communication she had during her recent contact with a coroner’s officer. Miss X this caused her and her close family unnecessary additional stress at an already difficult time.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate complaints about actions which are not the administrative function of a council. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(1) as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Miss X and I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. Miss X said she was given advice by a coroner’s officer, that she was not able to see her father after his passing. She was subsequently told this was incorrect and complained because of the missed opportunity to see him.
5. We cannot investigate here. This is because any duties a coroner’s officer is undertaking is on behalf of the coroner and therefore, they are exercising the coroner’s functions, not those of the council. Accordingly, this is not an administrative function of the Council.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because the actions Miss X complained about are not administrative actions of a Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman