2025

CEM0196 - Permits for headstone - 140425

CEM0195 - Coroners forms and their opportunity, to indicate 'unknown' when answering the question regarding a medical implant - 110425

A member authority has a query regarding Coroners forms and their opportunity, to indicate 'unknown' when answering the question regarding a medical implant.

This is particularly unhelpful because it is often left to the LAs Bereavement Services team to chase medical examiners and GPs to determine if the deceased did or didn't have a medical implant.

Regularly this information is received with in a day or even less, than the scheduled cremation date and a decision may be made to cancel a cremation.

Has you authority been able to create a work around for this situation?

CEM0194 -  Health and safety risk assessments for bad weather and letter to grave owners regarding unauthorised structures - 070425

A member authority has a couple of queries that they are seeking information from other local authorities

1. The member authority is drafting a protocol and associated health and safety risk assessments in relation to adverse weather conditions (strong winds, gales, heavy rain etc) which may affect our cemetery and crematorium. Is anybody willing to please share any existing template documents with us please.
2. Does your authority have any example letters which have been sent to grave owners in relation to unauthorised structures / memorialisation which contravene cemetery rules and regulations that they would be happy to share and please could provide any feedback on the success of the letter(s) that would be much appreciated too.

CEM0193 - Closed churchyard maintenance - 040425

A member authority is seeking information regarding closed churchyard maintenance. Specifically, the member authority would like to know the following:-

1. How frequently do you carry out grass cutting in closed churchyards?
2. What type of inspections of the churchyard walls do you carry out to ensure they remain in good condition? Who carries out these inspections? How frequently is this done?
3. Where significant wall repairs are identified, or a section of wall collapses, who do the authority employ to carry out the repair/rebuild?

CEM0192 - Payment policy and online booking system - 180325

A member authority would like to hear from other authorities in relation to the following:-

1. Does your authority operate a full payment in advance policy at the point of booking for burials and cremations. If so, what good practice or feedback can they share about it?
2. Does your authority operate an online booking system for burial/ cremation bookings? If so, what software do you use?

CEM0191 - Transfer of Deeds - 110325

A member authority is seeking information regarding the Transfer of Deeds form

Specifically, the member authority would like to know the following:-

1. Can you provide an example of a Transfer of Deeds form that is used when the lair holder is the deceased?

2. Do you request for other siblings/and or family members to give permission for said person to take ownership?

CEM190 - Collection of Christmas wreaths within cemeteries - 270225

A local authority would like to know how other member authorities address the collection of Christmas wreaths within cemeteries? In particular:-

1. Does you cemeteries service take the wreaths to the local authority waste facility or have you a repurposing option and if so what?

2. Is the cost of removal covered by the cemeteries service itself?

CEM0189 - Cemetery Gates - 300125

CEM0188 - Delivery models for Bereavement Services - 130125

A member authority is seeking information from other authorities regarding what delivery model they have in place for Bereavement Services.

The member authority would like to know the following:-

• Do you deliver new burials via an in-house or outsourced arrangement?

• Do you deliver cemetery grounds maintenance via an in-house or outsourced arrangement?

• Do you deliver memorial safety via an in-house or outsourced arrangement?

• Do you deliver crematorium operation via an in-house or outsourced arrangement?

For any outsourced arrangements would you be happy to share details of the benefits of this arrangement?

CEM0187 - Using an ATI Cremator - 080125

A member authority is currently experiencing issues with their ATI cremator and would like to hear from other authorities who use the same cremator, and if they are experiencing any issues.