2020

CEM110 - Cleaning of memorial at request of families by none NAMM/BRAMM registered companies - 181220

A member authority is interested to hear from APSE members regarding their local practices for companies that wish to undertake cleaning of memorials only, with no masonry fixing or repair work being part of the services they provide.

We have a situation where a company would like to undertake cleaning of memorials, at the request of families, using a small hand brush, bio-degradable solution and water (not through a pressure washer) and historically this has not been allowed in local cemeteries.

A permit system is currently in place for works being carried out which requires any one working on memorials in our cemeteries to be NAMM/BRAMM registered. Hopes are to change this policy and consider what other measures can be in place to allow memorial cleaners who are not stonemasons, therefore not NAMM or BRAMM registered, to undertake their duties at the request of families with a potential permit being issued on the basis of a risk assessment on methods used and sight of public liability insurance.

Does this ever pose any objections or complaints from stonemasons who erected memorials regarding potential damages caused?

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CEM109 - Treatment of weeds/grass around the base of headstones – 091220

A member authority is enquiring as to what other member are doing regarding maintenance around headstones.

They are particularly interested in the following:

• The use of chemical and other methods used around the base of headstones to prevent/remove weeds and grass
• Have local authorities looked at other alternatives to chemicals?

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CEM108 - Bereavement Software systems – 091220

A member authority is currently looking at their Bereavement Software system and its management of Burials, Cremations, Financial Administration and Mapping.

They would like to ask/see if any APSE member has undertaken a tender exercise to renew/replace their software system and if so, can they share the specification for tender.

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CEM107 - Funeral Directors paying Cemetery and Crematorium fees on behalf of their clients

A member authority’s funeral directors pay cemetery and crematorium fees & charges to the authority on a monthly basis on behalf of their clients

The council’s busiest funeral director is now claiming that their fees amount to too great a risk for their business and do not see why they should continue to be money collectors for the Council

I guess my questions for other authorities would be:

1. Do you invoice funeral directors for payment of fees for burials and cremations and associated services?
2. Do you invoice individually per service, weekly or monthly?
3. What are your payment terms – e.g., 7 days, 14 days, 30 days?
4. Has any authority met with opposition from funeral directors in being responsible for the payment of fees & charges?
5. Does any authority collect fees directly from the service user (i.e., the bereaved/funeral applicant)?

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CEM106- Bereavement Service research

A member authority is currently undertaking research into Bereavement Services and are interested to receive information on the following issues:

1. Do you offer financial support to customers? e.g.  do you have affordable funerals on offer and if so when/how do you offer it?
2. What constitutes your bereavement services function? Examples include; Deaths (registrars), crematoria, cemeteries, bereavement support
3. How are Bereavement Services presented on your website?
4. How do you advertise your bereavement services to your residents?
5. Do you have partnerships/arrangements with Funeral Directors? If so, what is the benefit of this?
6. How are bereavement services organised? Specifically in terms of services and teams involved, and also staffing arrangements. If possible, please could you share with us some structure charts.
7. What Bereavement Support do you offer during the cremation/funeral planning process? What Bereavement support is offered post-cremation/funeral?

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CEM105 - Reusing disused cemetery chapels - 270820

A member authority has a number of disused chapels in their cemeteries, that are slowly falling into disrepair.

They are therefore enquiring if other members might be able to share any good practice, they have used to utilise them successfully and share any success stories.

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CEM104 - Provision and maintenance of memorial stones for intern of ashes - 050820

A member authority would be interested to know how other crematorium providers arrange the provision and maintenance of memorial stones for intern of ashes. 

For example, do other authorities tend to have an arrangement with a specific company or are families able to choose their own local masons?

It is likely that the enquiring authority will only offer above ground time limited leases, but they are interested in exploring the full range of memorialisation on offer at crematoriums and how this is arranged in terms of procurement, supply and maintenance.

They would also be interested to know if anyone has a set style guide for any memorials etc.

 

CEM103 - Collecting information on mourners to allow track and trace procedures - 150720

A member authority is interested to hear how other authorities are collecting information on participants at crematorium services that can be provided into the “track and trace” system should an attendee contract COVID-19.

Is the onus being put onto Funeral Directors / family of the deceased to collect this in advance or is the information being collected when the congregation gather at the crematorium? 

Are all attendees names and contact details being recorded or just one or more principal contacts who can then provide the details of others should tracing them become necessary?

 

CEM102 - Cremator and maintenance support group - 130320

APSE has been approached by a member authority who has raised concerns that an international provider of cremators and associated maintenance is in possible difficulties. 

They are therefore enquiring if other authorities who may use this type of cremator and have associated maintenance agreements, would wish to establish a closed network whereby advice and assistance regarding this issue could be shared.

 

CEM101 - Use of compulsory purchase order to acquire land for cemetery – 260220

A member authority is currently looking to extend their main Cemetery. Unfortunately the land owner of the adjacent land is a large estate and are reluctant to sell the required land at the moment. They also own most of the available land in the location. The member authority is therefore enquiring if any members have used Compulsory Purchase Powers to buy land for Cemetery Extensions, or are they aware of it being done anywhere. If so are they will to share any information they have or have a discussion about how they went about it.

 

CEM100a - Digitising Books of Remembrance - 190220

A member authority is looking to offer digital access for their Books of Remembrance, initially to cover Bank Holiday’s.

They are therefore interested to know if any other authorities have experience of the following:
1. Can authorities recommend a company who will scan the books and upload the data as well as provide the software?
2. Did authorities stop the traditional written books, in favour of a digital solution?
3. If so, what was the response of the public, favourable or not?
4. Have any authorities provided a Touch Screen Kiosk in their cemeteries/crematoriums? 
5. If so, have the kiosks been reliable? 
6. Have any authorities increased their fee to help cover the cost of a digital solution?"