Gedling Borough Council. Bereavement Information

Transcription

1 Gedling Borough Council Bereavement Information

2 Gedling Borough Council manages and maintains three cemeteries within the Borough. Carlton Cemetery Cavendish Road, Carlton Established 1886 Chapel, Garden of Rest Book of Remembrance Gedling Cemetery Arnold Lane, Gedling Established 1926 Garden of Rest Redhill Cemetery Mansfield Road, Redhill Established 1879 Chapel, Garden of Rest Book of Remembrance

3 Arranging a Funeral and Choosing a Funeral Director Rights and Options Following a bereavement in England and Wales, the main legal requirements are that the Death Certificate is certified by a Doctor or Coroner, registered with a Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths, and the body is either buried or cremated. You do not have to have a funeral ceremony You do not have to use a Religious Minister You do not have to use a Funeral Director A ceremony does not have to take place in a crematorium or place of worship There are more options concerning the content of a funeral ceremony and its duration than many people realise, eg traditional, non traditional, cremations and woodland interments. Requests for special requirements will be considered by the Cemetery The majority of people choose to make their arrangements through a Funeral Director. However, some people see do-it-yourself funerals as more personal and less expensive. If this approach appeals, and you have time to research and prepare, contact Gedling Borough Council s Cemetery Administrator for guidance. You could also get information from the Natural Death Centre. Some Funeral Directors are willing to help with such funerals. Choosing a Funeral Director Funeral Directors will manage funeral arrangements and give advice and support. Check if the Funeral Director you choose belongs to a Trade Association. This requires them to provide full information about their services. These factors may influence your choice: Location of the firm s premises Range of services provided The way you are treated by staff Recommendation of those who have used the service. Ownership - small family business or large firm A Simple Funeral Most people would probably require the Funeral Director to provide the following services as a minimum: Make all the necessary arrangements Provide appropriate staff Provide a suitable coffin Transfer the deceased from the place of death to the Funeral Director s premises Care for the deceased prior to the funeral Provide a hearse to the cemetery or crematorium of your choice Arrange for the burial or cremation as appropriate Embalming, viewing of the deceased, or providing a limousine for mourners are optional extras. Funeral Costs Costs for the same services may vary considerably from one Funeral Director to another. You may wish to get more than one quote to compare costs.

4 Disbursements These are fees paid to others for items such as crematorium, minister, doctor s certificates, newspaper announcements, flowers, purchase of a grave, interment fees etc. Ask the Funeral Director for a written quotation detailing all these fees. Funeral Payments are normally recoverable from the deceased s estate. Remember, the cheapest service is not necessarily the best value. Financial Help If you arrange a funeral you are responsible for paying the bill, so check where the money will come from first. If you are finding it difficult to pay for a funeral that you have to arrange, you may be able to get a Social Fund Funeral Payment providing you or your partner receive one of the following: Income Support Housing Benefit Council Tax Benefit Job Seekers Allowance (income based) Disabled Person s Tax Credit Children s Tax Credit Working Tax Credit Buying a Grave Exclusive Rights You can purchase Rights of Burial to a grave space for a period of 50 years. You will have an option to renew your rights to the grave at the end of this period. The lease runs from the date of purchase. This means no burial can take place during this period without your consent. You can erect a monument on the grave (see the section on burial areas/monuments & memorials in this leaflet). If you wish to prepurchase a grave space, which can be paid for in instalments, please contact the Cemetery The cemeteries are provided primarily for the benefit of Gedling Borough residents. When the facilities are used by non residents of the Borough, all fees and charges are quadrupled. Non Private Grave Those wishing to have a burial in a non-private grave will hold no rights to the plot. It is possible that other burials will take place in the grave. No monument can be erected on the grave space, although a small vase is acceptable. Burial Areas There are three burial areas within Gedling Borough Council s Cemeteries. See back cover for examples. Lawn (Headstone only) You can have a Headstone up to one metre in height. No further memorial is allowed on the grave area due to maintenance requirements. Traditional (Kerb) You can have a Headstone up to one metre 37cm in height. Kerbs around the grave are allowed up to 2 metres x 90cms, vases and plaques are permitted on the grave area. Cremation Plots Special family plots will take up to 4 interments or 4 scattering of ashes. A small headstone up to 91cm, vase or plaque is permitted.

5 You can also bury or scatter ashes on a family grave. Permission must be obtained prior to scattering any ashes within the cemetery from the Cemetery Garden Of Rest All the Council s cemeteries have a Garden of Rest where ashes can be scattered among the flower beds. A commemorative vase or bronze plaque may be installed with permission from the Cemetery Meadowland (Carlton Cemetery Only) This special area adjacent to the garden of rest is available for scattering of ashes in a natural meadowland environment. No memorials of any kind will be allowed. Chapels (loop system installed) Our chapels at Carlton and Redhill Cemeteries can be booked for funeral services. They are suitable for any religion and will seat approximately 45 people with 12 standing. There is an organ and CD/Tape player available for use. Hymn Books (Funeral Services of the Christian Churches in England - new edition 2002) are also available. Please remember, If you would like a quiet moment s reflection when visiting the cemetery, you may ask the cemetery gate person for access to the chapel. Book of Remembrance Books of remembrance are located in both our chapels. If you would like to add a short inscription for your loved one, please ask for an application form from the Cemetery Monuments/Memorials Before choosing a grave you must consider which type of monument, if any, you may want to place on the grave, Headstone only, or full Kerbs (see section on burial areas). You are free to choose any Stonemason who is permitted to work within our cemetery (approved list available). You may wish to get more than one quote to compare costs. The grave owner has sole responsibility for the safety of the memorial. The council is not responsible for any repairs or damage caused by storm damage or vandalism and suggest that insurance is purchased. We do not permit ornaments to be placed on the grave. Damaged Headstones Wherever a headstone/monument is deemed to be unsafe, every effort will be taken to track the grave owner or relatives. If no contact is made within one month, the Council will take appropriate action. This may ultimately involve the removal of the headstone from the graveyard. Shrines Any unauthorised memorials of any description placed within the Council s cemeteries will be removed immediately. Floral Tributes & Wreaths The council will remove all floral tributes and wreaths 14 days after an interment. If you would like them to remain longer please contact the Cemetery Administrator no later than 10 days following an interment. Christmas wreaths will be removed at the end of January

6 each year. Please contact the Cemetery Dead Flowers Dead flowers in vases will be removed at the discretion of the Cemetery Administrator to ensure the appearance of the graveyard is maintained to a high standard. Artificial Flowers Artificial flowers that have been affected by the weather, will be removed at the discretion of the Cemetery Administrator to ensure the appearance of the graveyard is maintained to a high standard. Vehicle Access Access is permitted for those attending funerals or interment and scattering of ashes. Elderly and Disabled visitors to the cemetery will be allowed access during normal opening hours, except when a funeral is taking place. Access will then be restricted 30 minutes before and during a funeral. Please telephone the Cemetery Administrator for times when access is restricted. Opening times The Council s cemeteries are open from 9am each day until dusk. The closing times are posted on the cemetery gates. Conduct in Cemeteries All visitors must conduct themselves in a quiet and orderly manner at all times. Council representatives have the right to exclude or remove any member of the public at their discretion. Under the provision of the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977 and the Byelaws, it is an offence for a person to wilfully: Create any disturbance in a cemetery. Commit a nuisance in a cemetery. Interfere with any burial taking place in a cemetery. Interfere with any grave or vault, any tombstone or other memorial or any flowers or plants in any such manner. In addition the following are prohibited: Playing at any game or sport in a cemetery. Entering or remaining in a cemetery when it is closed to the public, unless authorised by the Council to do so. No pedal bicycles, skateboards, skates, scooters may be ridden in the Cemeteries. Smoking in the Cemetery buildings is not permitted. No animals will be allowed in the Cemeteries (except for guide dogs or hearing dogs) without prior permission of the Cemetery Children under the age of 12 years shall not be permitted to enter the Cemeteries unless accompanied by an adult. No religious services or ceremonies are allowed other than the service at the time of interment No musical instrument or other soundproducing device will be allowed into the Cemeteries except when used as an integral part of a funeral service. Cyclists are asked to dismount whilst in the cemetery.

7 Complaints Most funerals are conducted well, but if you have a complaint about the cemetery, you should contact the Cemetery Administrator at Gedling Borough Council on If the complaint relates to other Funeral matters, then you should contact your Funeral Director. The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) Funeral Standards Council (FSC) The Funeral Arbitration Scheme (FAS) deals with complaints that cannot be resolved by the NAFD. It deals with any complaints relating to their members. Other trade associations have their own client redress schemes and should be contacted for details. Advice may also be obtained from your local Trading Standards department. Telephone Further information available from National Association of Funeral Directors, 618 Warwick Road, Solihull West Midlands B91 1AA Tel: The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors 3 Bullfields, Sawbridgeworth Hertfordshire CM21 9DB Tel: Funeral Standards Council 30 North Road, Cardiff CF1 3DY Tel: The Funeral Arbitration Scheme 618 Warwick Road, Solihull West Midlands B91 1AA Tel: Fax: Natural Death Centre 3 Priory Road, Bristol BS8 1TX Tel: Office of Fair Trading A consumer s Guide to Funerals What to do after a death Free booklet (D49) from the Benefits Agency If you have an enquiry regarding cemetery services, please contact the Cemetery Administrator on This information is available in large print, Braille, on tape and in foreign languages. Please phone

8 Garden of Rest Lawn Section Traditional Cremation Plot Gedling Borough Council, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold, Nottingham NG5 6LU Cemetery Administrator Tel: Website LE3068CemeteriesLeaflet/20/2/03