5.3 Burial Services
All burials shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Confederation of Burial Authorities and the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977.
5.3.1 Council Authorisation
All burials must be authorised by the Council prior to funeral arrangements being publicly announced. Checks will be carried out by the Authority to confirm grave ownership / rights and authority to open the grave and also to establish and confirm that sufficient space in the grave exists.
5.3.2 Notice of Burial
Notice of burial must be given to the Cemeteries Office by no later than 12midday, 2 working days prior to the burial, excluding Saturday, Sundays and Public Holidays. Notice must be given on the documents provided by the Council for this purpose, and must be accompanied by all documents specified, including a copy of the grave deed. Where the exclusive right of burial is not available the registered grave owner shall provide in writing, permission to re-open the grave.
The notice of burial must state the -
- name and address
- age and the date of death of the deceased
- the relationship of the deceased to the grave owner
- the residence at the time of death
- the day and hour of the burial
- and any other such information deemed necessary by the Council from time to time
Upon checking the Grave Register the order for digging the grave will then be issued.
Burials may take place on -
- Monday to Thursday between the hours of 10am and 2pm
- Friday’s between 10.00am and 1.00 pm.
Public and Bank Holidays are exempt.
Where the religious denomination stipulates that the time of burial must be carried out within a designated time after death the Authority will aim to be flexible and so long as all necessary paperwork is received in sufficient time in advance of the burial, same day weekday burials are possible, if the Bereavement Service can facilitate this.
5.3.3 New Grave Dimensions
No new grave owner shall be entitled to have the ground opened to a greater depth than 1.83 metres (6ft), without there being at least 915mm (3ft) of soil between the ordinary surface of the ground and the upper side of the last interred coffin, in which not more than two adult coffins may be interred. A coffin board will be placed on top of the interred coffin to protect the coffin during the back filling of the grave. (no coffin board will be placed on any coffin interred at 1.23M (4ft). Where a grave is reopened for a further burial, a layer of soil not less than 17cm (6ft) depth shall be left undisturbed above the existing coffin. The digging of the graves and preparing for the laying of foundations for monuments shall be done only by persons authorised by the Council.
5.3.4 Grave and Burial Registers
The Council shall keep electronic grave registers in which it will record every burial, specifying the grave, the depth of the grave, the date of burial, the name and age of the person buried and all other requisite particulars and also the name of the person buried will be entered into the appropriate Cemetery Ledger.
No cadaver or cremated remains may be disturbed or removed from an interment location without a licence authorising exhumation being provided to the council. For this a fee may be charged, normally the City Council will assist applicants to apply to the Ministry of Justice for an exhumation licence.
5.3.5 Cemetery Plans and Registers
Plans and Registers for all cemeteries will be kept at the Crematorium Office. These may be viewed by appointment.
5.3.6 Coffins
All cadavers received for burial must be enclosed in an appropriate coffin, approved by the Bereavement Services Manager. All coffins received for burial must be marked with the name of the deceased. Burial may only take place in a biodegradable coffin, casket or shroud
(For any other container prior agreement must be obtained from the Bereavement Services Manager). Where the religion of the deceased may call for a certain type of coffin or shroud this will be considered. Standard coffins used by Funeral Directors (chipboard) are acceptable as are natural wood coffins. In the case of the Priory Woods Cemetery natural grave area, only coffins made of natural materials, such as bamboo, wicker, jute or cardboard are permitted (chipboard coffins are only permissible here so long as they are not bonded with formaldehyde resin - this is toxic). Additionally, the deceased shall not be medically preserved and must be dressed only in natural materials.
5.3.7 Bearing of Coffin
Once the funeral cortege enters the Cemetery gates it is under the jurisdiction of the Council. The Funeral Director is responsible for conducting the coffin to the grave, ensuring it is placed correctly on the grave boards or putlogs and that the coffin enters the grave with the head end of coffin at the head end of the grave (Memorial end). It must be lowered in accordance with standards of safe practice and orderliness acceptable to the Council.
Funeral Directors are always required to bring to the cemetery enough bearers to lower the coffin; however, if some immediate circumstance renders assistance necessary, at the discretion of the Bereavement Services Manager this may be made available, subject to the availability of staff. In such event the Council will not be held responsible for any damage to the hearse or coffin as a result of providing this assistance.
Any mourner who assists with the bearing or lowering of a coffin does so at their own risk.
The Funeral Director must provide staff officiating at the burial the necessary Disposal Authorisation paperwork and the coffin clearly showing the deceases name in order to verify identity. If paperwork is not provided, or identity cannot be verified proceedings will be halted until the Bereavement Services Manager, or their representatives are sufficiently happy the issues have been resolved.
5.3.8 Temporary Removal of Memorials
The grave right holder is responsible for the removal and re-fixing of a memorial in connection with a pending burial in their grave. Only Monumental Masons approved by the Council may undertake such work (access 5.7.1). The Council may undertake the removal of a memorial or part of a memorial for the purpose of re-opening a grave when this is necessary. Should the grave rights holder fail to arrange for such temporary removal of their headstone, the city council may undertake the removal and the costs for this duly passed onto the rights holder.