Decision report 201101260

Summary
Mr C complained that the council failed to take appropriate action to deal with vandalism at a cemetery. Mr C was not an adjoining neighbour of the cemetery and had not specifically stated that he was a lair holder or had loved ones buried there. We, therefore, considered his complaint on the basis that he was an interested member of the public who was concerned that the cemetery should not deteriorate further. In the absence of a specific claim of injustice, or that Mr C suffered particular hardship, we considered only whether the council properly considered the points he raised with them and provided appropriate responses, particularly where they decided that they were unable to take the corrective action Mr C specified.

When we investigated, we found that the council had responded appropriately to the points Mr C made. The fact that he did not agree with these responses or the level of corrective action taken did not give us grounds to question the council further on these matters. The council have discretion to decide how to spend their resources and we cannot question this in the absence of any administrative or service failure on their part.