A couple claimed their wedding day was ruined when the council registrar failed to show up.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigated a complaint made against Westmorland and Furness Council that a registrar failed to attend a wedding ceremony.
The report on the decision identifies the complainant as Mrs X and said: “Mrs X complained the council’s registrar did not attend on the day of her wedding, and nobody answered the telephone number they had provided for emergencies.
“She says this ruined her and her partner’s wedding day, caused significant distress and meant they had to take further time off work to attend at a later date for a legal ceremony.
“She wants the council to pay the full costs for their wedding and compensation for the subsequent impact on them.”
According to the report by the ombudsman, Mrs X sought £10,000 for the emotional impact of events, as well as the costs of the wedding itself.
But the watchdog said it will not investigate the claim as it was best considered as a negligence claim in the courts.
The matter was best considered by the courts as the complainant was seeking significant compensation, the watchdog added.
The report said: “The council acknowledged that due to an administrative error, it had been at fault. The parties have been unable to agree a suitable amount to remedy the impact of events.
“When we recommend councils make payments to remedy injustice caused by fault, it is usually a modest amount, intended to be symbolic.
“It is not our role to assess economic losses, nor can we recommend significant compensation for things such as distress.
“Where we decide it is appropriate, we will normally recommend a remedy payment for distress of up to £500.
“Mrs X seeks £10,000 for the emotional impact of events, as well as the costs of the wedding itself. We could not achieve the outcome she seeks.”
The inspector’s report concluded: “We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it is best considered as a negligence claim in the courts.”
The report did not identify where in Westmorland and Furness the wedding took place.
The ombudsman closed the investigation after initial inquiries on January 11.
Westmorland and Furness Council said: “This was an unfortunate error last year for which we fully apologised to those concerned.
“The council worked with the customer to fulfil the ceremony soon after. The complaint has subsequently been resolved to the full satisfaction of the couple, who have requested that the matter remains private.”
