Overview
The complainant (Ms C) said that Midlothian Council (the Council) notified her, three days after her father's funeral, that her family's three-interment burial lair would not be able to accommodate a third interment. Her father (Mr A) was the second person to be interred in the lair (Mr A's mother being the first) and it was his and Ms C's mother's wish to be buried together. Ms C feels that her family should have been made aware of this situation prior to her father's funeral so that alternative arrangements could have been made to ensure both of her parents could be interred in a lair together.
Specific complaint and conclusion
The complaint which has been investigated is that the Council failed to give advance notification of the fact that the complainant's family's three-interment lair would only be able to hold two interments (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Council review their procedural document, and include in it guidance to staff on what action should be taken should lairs be found to be unsuitable for their intended number of interments upon opening, whatever the reason for the problem.
The Council have accepted the recommendation and will act on it accordingly.