5.4 Cremation Services
All cremations shall be carried out in accordance with all statutory legislation, namely the Cremation Regulations (England and Wales) 2008 and the Code of Cremation Practice of the Federation of British Cremation Authorities.
5.4.1 Notice of Cremation
All relevant cremation documentation and instructions for cremation must be given on the forms provided by the Council and shall be delivered to the office by no later than 48 working hours prior to the funeral.
Cremation services may be arranged to commence between the hours of 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank and Public holidays).
If, due to religious denomination, an urgent out of hours cremation is required then the necessary arrangements can be made. This will be at the discretion of the Bereavement Services Manager who will oversee to ensure legal requirements and operational needs are met. Additional fees will be payable.
No cremation shall take place except on the written authority of the Medical Referee and upon the issue of the appropriate certificate by the Bereavement Services Manager.
5.4.2 Coffins
All cadavers brought for cremation must be enclosed in a suitable coffin with a solid wooden base and marked with the name of the deceased. The nameplate must be correct and match paperwork received and free from question. For any other container other than an approved coffin prior agreement must be obtained from the Bereavement Services Manager. Chemical treatment, and clothing of the deceased, shall comply in all respects with the requirements of the Cremation Regulations 2008 and the Code of Cremation Practice.
5.4.3 Bearing of Coffins
The conveyance of the coffins into the Crematorium shall be carried out by staff employed by the Funeral Director conducting the funeral.
Funeral Directors are always required to bring enough bearers to convey coffins into the Crematorium; however, if some immediate circumstance renders assistance necessary a bier may be made available and used at the discretion of the Bereavement Services Manager, subject to availability. 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.
A coffin which has been received for cremation and placed on the catafalque shall not be removed from the Crematorium except on the order of the Coroner, Chief Officer of Police or a Court of Summary Jurisdiction. The Bereavement Services Manager may allow the deceased to be released from the Crematorium for storage purposes e.g. to a Funeral Directors premises, and return agreed as appropriate i.e. in circumstances whereby the cremation is not possible same day. The cremation applicant will also be advised and must be agreeable to this.
5.4 4 Committal Room and Crematory
No person shall be allowed to enter the committal room or crematory without the express consent of the Bereavement Services Manager.
Representatives of the deceased being cremated may, by prior arrangement, witness the coffin being placed in the cremator chamber. The number of witnesses shall be at the Bereavement Services Manager’s discretion but normally no more than 6 persons. They must comply with the Manager’s instructions whilst within the committal room and crematory.
The Crematorium, including committal room and crematory, shall be open for public inspection during normal working hours, other than when a funeral service is taking place, by prior arrangement with the Bereavement Services Manager.
5.4.5 Delays to Services
At the reasonable request of the person arranging the funeral, or the applicant, or if it appears that a funeral cortege is so delayed that other funerals would be disrupted, the Bereavement Services Manager may at his/her discretion, postpone the funeral or alter the service to another available chapel. The Manager shall specify the arrangements for carrying out a postponed funeral after consultation with the applicant’s representative.
5.4.6 Flowers
Wreaths, sprays and cut flowers or other floral tributes may only be placed in the areas designated. The Crematorium will provide floral tribute cards for the Funeral Director to place with the floral tributes. These cards will be removed at the end of the working day. All floral tributes will be held at the Crematorium for a week after the funeral. Flowers and floral tributes not removed after the service will be disposed of after the week or used to decorate the crematorium chapels and waiting rooms.
5.4.7 Collection and Retention of Cremated Remains
Cremated remains which are to be removed from the Crematorium shall not be released except on written authority from the person making the application for the cremation, and the signing of a receipt for them by that person or by the Funeral Director acting on their behalf. Cremated remains may only be removed in a container deemed suitable for that purpose by the Bereavement Services Manager.
Cremated remains must be removed from the Crematorium as soon as is practical for the Funeral Directors or families our aim is not to retain cremated remains for a period exceeding 2 months. On the expiry of two calendar months, if no arrangements have been made for the removal, the Bereavement Services Manager shall give two weeks’ notice to the person applying for the cremation of the intention to strew the cremated remains concerned in the garden of remembrance. If no further contact is received the remains will be duly scattered and the location recorded.
If instruction is given prior to cremation for the remains to be strewn with no family present, in no designated area, then the cremated remains will be strewn no sooner than 5 working days after cremation, within the gardens of remembrance at the staff’s discretion.
In the case of the cremated remains of children and stillbirths, all such remains will be kept for a calendar month before strewing in the baby cemetery, Northern Cemetery. Parents of babies can make arrangements in advance of the scattering and be present, arrangements must be made via the Crematorium Administration office and be at least 2 working days before the scattering is due (i.e. date of cremation service plus 1 month minus 2 working days).