COUNCIL bosses were at fault for the way they handled complaints about cemetery spaces, housing spaces and road closures because of fireworks, according to a report.

Chelmsford Council’s governance committee was set to discuss findings from the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) over how they handled four separate complaints last night.

The first relates to a woman who complained the council had changes it policy about the number of people who could be interred into a single plot from four to two.

The family had leased a plot in 2012, when they were told a maximum of four people could share it, but when they wanted the ashes of a third family member to go in two years ago, were told the policy had changed.

Council bosses allowed the family a free plot directly next to the existing grave but the LGO said the council should have told plot holders about the change.

Another complaint came when council workers removed a man’s application for housing without his knowledge. He had applied to move to Chelmsford to move closer to his son as his health was beginning to falter.

When the man complained, he was told it was a “one-off administrative error which was not part of a larger issue.”

He was later reinstated to the list, but removed last year when councils were given the power to trim their housing waiting lists for people who had a desire, but not need, to move into the area.

Another complaint upheld came from a private landlord who was told by housing officers he did not need to return his tenant’s deposit as he applied for him to be removed from the property.

The council apologised and paid £50 to the landlord because the poor advice held up proceedings.

The ombudsman also recommended the council paid £150 to a resident who officers failed to adequately respond to regarding his queries about a road closure for an annual Bonfire Night event.

The report said: “The LGO found there were repeated failings by the council.

“It often failed to reply, or to reply promptly, or to provide responses to questions asked.”