2023

CEM0169 - Public Health (Section 46) funerals - 111223

A member authority is seeking information regarding Public Health (Section 46) funerals. Specially, the member authority looking for details on the following:

• Is your local authority experiencing an increase in referrals?

• Is your authority finding more referrals where a family has stated they have no funds but then try and stipulate funeral wishes?

• Do you hold a full service?

• Do you allow ashes to be returned to NOK? If so, what documentation do you require if any and do you make a charge for this?

CEM0168 - Managing areas that are traditionally used for scattering ashes - 231023

A member authority would be interested to hear from other local authorities with regards to how they manage areas, within their ownership, that are traditionally used for scattering ashes such as glades. Specifically, the member authority would like to know the following:-

• Do member authorities allow memorials to be installed by families – flowers, plaques, benches etc?

• If not do you provide notice to families to remove memorials?

• Would removals be annually or twice yearly?

• If you have a policy document for areas used for scattering of ashes could this be shared?”

CEM0167 - Public Health Funeral Policies - 050923

A member authority is interested to receive any information on the following questions regarding Public Health Funeral Policies:

• Do you have a Public Health Funeral policy and if so are you willing to share it with us?

• Do you remove possessions from properties or just take photos?

• How much effort do you go to trace NOK e.g. house search, contact GP, or do you place adverts in local papers or engage the services of heir hunters?

• If the deceased owned their property and the Treasury Solicitor has passed the case back to you (as NOK have been found via Heir Hunters etc) how do you deal with approaches from Heir Hunters? What proof do you require from them before handing over personal effects and indeed house keys?

• How long do you keep hold of keys /properties (e.g. if heir hunters are taking a while to get a claim in to you) and do you arrange house insurance etc?

• Any other useful information you feel might help this range of queries.

CEM0166 - Anatomical Cremations - 050923

A member authority is currently reviewing the ways the council supports anatomical cremations in the Borough. They are keen to benchmark themselves against other councils who deliver a similar services in partnership with university’s or hospitals. They would therefore be grateful for any responses to the following questions:

• What days/times of the week do anatomical cremations take place?

• What is the councils charging policy for undertaking anatomical cremations (please identify provide the cost for each a) for a flat donation fee per annum b) the charge payable per cremation, c) the charge payable per medical referee certificate d) a combination of B&C.

• Are anatomical cremations attend or unattended by family members. If the cremation is attended is there and additional cost to provide this service • Are there any restrictions in place for the acceptance of anatomical cremations?

CEM0165 - Building and operating a new crematorium - 110823

A member council does not currently operate a Council owned crematorium in their Borough, the nearest crematoria being located just over their border and privately owned and operated. The council is at the very early-stages of exploring as to whether there is sufficient demand and income generation potential to open a Council operated facility in the Borough. They would therefore be interested to hear from any member authorities who own and operate crematoriums, particularly those that have been opened in the last 10 years. Any details which could be provided regarding their business case that informed their initial decision would be welcome, together with information as to how successful the operation is from an income generation perspective.

CEM0164 - Alternatives to memorial seats - 070823

A member authority is looking at alternative options to memorial seats to fulfil the many requests from members of the public who wish to commemorate loved ones. They would be interested to know how other councils manage these requests and which alternatives have been successful.

CEM0163 - Management of cemetery grounds - 280723

A member authority is currently reviewing their grounds management practices in their cemeteries and would be interested to receive the following information from other local authorities: Does your authority have a dedicated cemetery grounds maintenance team or does it rely on a team who have a workload incorporating other maintenance areas, for example parks, highways verges etc. Does your authority have a maintenance policy which stipulates frequency of cuts and what is their acceptable standard. Does your authority strim around memorials and areas that are inaccessible by the ride on mower. Does your authority weed kill around memorials. Does your authority leave areas to rewild to improve biodiversity, is this done as a managed programme or left to nature. If managed are you happy to share their management plan.

CEM0161- Servicing and maintenance contracts for cremators and ancilliary equipment – 290623

A member authority needs to procure a servicing and maintenance contract for their cremators and ancillary equipment.

They believe it would be useful to see specifications for this contract (or similar ones) from other local authorities.

In particular they would like to see:

• Specification and/or procurement documents relating to the cremators, servicing etc.
• Information on the experience you had in procuring your contract or how you got the contract is you didn’t go through the traditional procurement route?

Any information will be gratefully received.

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CEM0159 - Tracing next of kin associated with Public Health Funerals – 260523

Following a recent APSE seminar comments were received about the use of  'Bona Vacantia' ( vacant goods) to trace relatives of recently deceased persons who appeared to have no relatives and therefore would be requiring a public health burial or cremation.

At the seminar it was made clear that Bona Vacantia does not deal with estates where there are known or are likely to be entitled relatives who survived the deceased, even if these have subsequently died, cannot be traced or do not wish to deal with the estate.

 It is estimated that over 80% of estates referred to the Government Legal Department (GLD) each year are not bona vacantia and will therefore not be pursued as bona vacantia.

 The Government Legal Department which deals with bona vacantia cases therefore feels that it is not appropriate that GLD is used as a tracing agency for missing kin or executor and therefore before anyone refers an estate to GLD they should be as sure as they can be that the estate is, in fact, bona vacantia.

 With this knowledge in mind, APSE is looking as to how local authorities approach next of kin enquiries - usually, but not exclusively, connected with funerals under s.46PHA.

When tracing next of kin do you:

• Refer all cases to BV/GLD out of habit or as a result of there being no agreed procedure within the council on these matters for any other approach.
• Refer all next of kin enquiries to BV  as you have been told this is the correct procedure
• Refer all such cases to next of kin tracing agencies in order to establish as quickly as possible whether there are relatives, thereby avoiding problems when relatives contact the council about the deceased after a public health funeral has taken place - notwithstanding that the duty under s.46 stops with arranging the funeral.

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CEM0159 - Carbon offsetting schemes for greener cremations - 030423 

A member authority is currently investigating the introduction of a carbon offsetting scheme for residents who would like a greener cremation or burial.

With this in mind, they would be interested to hear from any other authorities who are investigating or have introduced this.

In particular,

•              how they went about it,

•              what aspects were included in the carbon calculation,

•              how is the carbon offset e.g., local, or international tree planting schemes

•              whether the carbon offsetting is voluntary or built into the price?

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CEM0159 - Carbon offsetting schemes for greener cremations - 030423 

A member authority is currently investigating the introduction of a carbon offsetting scheme for residents who would like a greener cremation or burial.

With this in mind, they would be interested to hear from any other authorities who are investigating or have introduced this.

In particular,

•              how they went about it,

•              what aspects were included in the carbon calculation,

•              how is the carbon offset e.g. local or international tree planting schemes

•              whether the carbon offsetting is voluntary or built into the price?

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CEM0159 – Bricking of earth graves by the Muslim community – 210223

A member authority is interested to know how other authorities manage the need for bricking of earth graves by the Muslim Community.

They provide pre-installed vaults to ensure cultural burial needs are met, but they have a certain part of the community who prefer to brick out an earth grave.

This was stopped by the enquiring authority recently due to poor ground conditions which made it unsafe for anyone to be in an unsupported earth grave for any length of time. They do shore the grave but this is removed  prior to bricking.

Therefore, the enquiring authority would be interested in how other authorities manage the cultural need for quick burial and if they allow earth graves to be bricked by the community.

 

•              If they do allow bricking, what safety measures do they take?

•              Do they require method statements and risk assessments for each grave prepared?

•              Does this delay burial and do the community accept the delay?

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CEM0158b - Experiences of installing pre-formed chambers – 240323

A member authority has recently had pre-formed chambers fitted. On installation they were placed at 5 feet deep, which left 2 feet above the chamber. As they were installed in trenches, all of the centre walls have collapsed.

Their first burial was scheduled to take place but the loose soil around the grave collapsed into the chamber, and it was deemed unsafe for all involved to be near the grave site.

They are therefore keen to hear from other authorities if they offer burial chambers of any variety, and at what depth they are installed.

They would particularly like to know:

•              Which company installed them?

•              Do you have any with collapsing sides that you have had a similar issue with?

•              What your soil conditions are like?

•              Are you willing to share any steps you have taken, be it safety kit or a policy, that they might be able to look at trialling?

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CEM0158a - Recycling of floral tributes – 060223

A member authority is trying their best to recycle, reuse and buy locally, however they have an issue with the floral tributes that are left after a service, particularly those with plastic lettering and which are filled with oasis.

At present, the floral tributes stay at the crematorium for two weeks and then are removed by the bereavement services staff into the general waste.  They are looking at reducing this wastage and would like to know if anyone has a recycling/reuse scheme in place for floral tributes, what this entails and how this was implemented. Or if there are any other ideas for tackling the waste created by these floral displays.

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CEM0158 - Cemetery and Crematoria back-office systems – 210223

APSE is currently undertaking a survey of the back-office software packages used by its Bereavement Services members to help in developing appropriate speakers and exhibitors at its Advisory Groups and Seminars.

We would therefore be grateful if members would identify which software packages they use and for which part of the service.

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CEM0157 - Bereavement Manager's position recruitment - 050423          

A member authority will be recruiting to their Bereavement Manager's post shortly. The post will cover management of the Crematorium, the Cemetery and Public Health Act funeral provision. They are after some information around the advertising of the post and the interview questions used by other authorities when they recently recruited for a similar post.

Any information would be greatly received and responses will be shared amongst all who reply.

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CEM0156 - Destabilisation of headstone foundations through spraying around headstones – 010223

A member authority is interested to find out if any member has any research or evidence to back up that having a policy of spraying around headstones and creating a bare earth area, this is without doubt accelerating the rate of erosion and the destabilisation of foundations of headstones.

Also, if any members use alternative treatment methods, they would be grateful to receive information on these.

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CEM0155 - Remembrance plaque schemes – 270123

A member authority is looking for information regarding  where local authorities have plaques schemes in place:  for example on seats or trees or walls

• How long are they leased to family for?  example 15yrs/20yrs etc?
• What options are given to the family when the lease comes to an end?
• Do you charge to re lease the plaques and are these for the same amount of time 15yrs etc.

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CEM0154 - Identifying meeting cultural needs in the management of cemeteries - 270123            

A member authority is interested to find out whether any member authorities that own and manage cemeteries have specific provision in place for the cultural needs of the community e.g. the provision Muslim brick/burial vaults and requests for burials at short notice, facilities for the preparation of the deceased, washing the body etc.

For those that provide specific cultural needs what is the minimum notice they need for a same day burial, are there any special provisions in place for out of hours burials and the management of these burials by the community themselves.

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CEM0153 - Academic study on future cemetery design - 060223

APSE has been approached by a student who is studying future cemetery planning and is enquiring as to whether local authorities could help offer information to support his area of study.

He has provided a series of questions which he would be grateful for any thoughts or considerations you could provide, either corporate or personal.

1. What are the most influential factors for local authority cemetery planning? i.e. Budget, Policy, public demand etc. Please explain why.
2. Are you aware of any increasing discussions surrounding the concept a multi-functional cemetery design; particularly within the woodland burial sector? 
3. Have you considered changes in design features within cemetery design recently? If yes, what are they and how significant are they?
4. What would consider barriers to adopting a multi-use cemetery ‘park like’ design and use
5. What could be the advantages of a well-designed woodland burial ground? For example, health and well-being. How and why do you think so?
6. How do you see cemetery design evolving over the next 5 – 10 years