FIFE COUNCIL
Adults Services Committee
12 April 2002
Agenda Item
BURIAL SERVICES FOR DIFFERENT CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS
GROUPS
1.0
Introduction
1.1
Fife's black and minority ethnic communities make up between 2% and
4% of the total population. The majority of the communities
(approximately 3,000 people) are of Asian Pakistani origin and there
are approximately 600 Chinese people. There are very much smaller
groups of Asian Indian and Bangladeshi, African-Caribbean and
Turkish people. Many of the first black and minority ethnic communities
to come to Fife arrived in the 1970s and 1980s. In general the new
immigrants were relatively young and came to develop a new life in
Fife. These initial "pioneers" are now an ageing population and need
access to services for older people. The new Kingdom Housing
Sheltered Housing Complex for Chinese people is an example of
specific services designed for black and minority ethnic communities
within mainstream service provision.
1.2
Black and minority ethnic groups have brought many customs and
traditions from all over the world to Fife. This has been celebrated in
the Fife Community Safety Partnership's Mixed Fife: A Richer Life
campaign. Burial traditions are equally varied among different ethnic
and religious groups. This paper proposes that Fife Council
acknowledges and makes provision for different burial customs of
different communities.
2.0
Community Burial Needs
2.1
Islam is the world's fastest growing religion. Most people of Pakistani
origin are Muslim. Muslim burial practices include the following
requirements:
 One burial per plot
 The body must be ritually washed and prepared for burial (at a
mosque)
 Interment as quickly as possible after death (within 3 days)
 The face of the deceased should face Mecca
 The grave should be raised at least 6" from the ground
2.2
There is a Muslim burial ground in Dunfermline, with 20 plots remaining
of the 40 plots dedicated in 1992. There is capacity to increase this as
necessary.
2.3
Chinese communities may bury or cremate their dead. Ancestors
continue to communicate after death. It is essential that Chinese
(Cantonese, Hakka and Mandarin) speakers are located close to each
other in death. Fife's Chinese communities are using burial services in
Manchester because of the lack of appropriate provision in Fife.
Chinese cemeteries are generally signified with a pagoda-style
archway.
2.4
Hindu and Sikh people cremate their dead. There has been no request
for specific services in Fife and both religious groups currently use the
Fife Council crematoria.
2.5
Local authorities who serve larger black and minority ethnic
populations, e.g., Birmingham, have developed separate burial
provision for different religious and cultural groups. This is generally
provided in the form of separate cemeteries dedicated to a particular
group.
3.0
Consultation with Black and Minority Ethnic Communities
3.1
Fife Chinese Older People's Association (FCOPA) has repeatedly
requested that Fife Council consider the burial needs of Chinese
communities. Burial services issues have often been the outcome of
meetings with Asian Pakistani communities. Community Services and
Policy and Organisational Development have worked jointly in
considering this issue. A formal consultation meeting was held with
representatives of FCOPA and the Imams and Secretaries of the 4
mosques in early April. The meeting considered how the community
needs might be met in both the short and longer term.
3.2
It was agreed that
 The Birmingham model would not be appropriate to Fife's small and
scattered populations. Provision of separate cemeteries would
result in less choice about location and they might be more
vulnerable to racially motivated vandalism.
 The communities would prefer a number of sites across Fife where
burial services would be available. They would not object to these
sites being within mainstream cemeteries so long as they met their
religious and cultural needs.
 The communities would like to delineate their own areas with a form
of appropriate landscaping or archway.
4.0
Financial Implications
4.1
The Bereavement Service charges are based on the cost of each lair.
Irrespective of whether the purchaser wishes 1 or 3 burials per lair, the
cost of the plot is the same.
4.2
When Muslim burials are required on Saturdays or Sundays, the
service is provided and charged at overtime rates.
4.3
The Bereavement Service provides landscaping and maintenance of
cemeteries. Any additional furniture or memorial within a cemetery is
usually donated by the families of the deceased.
5.0
Recommendations
5.1
It is recommended that members:
-
Agree the principle of providing specific burial services for
different religious and cultural groups
-
Request that the Head of Community Services identify
appropriate sites within existing cemeteries that could be
reserved for Muslim or Chinese burials
- Agree that all future new cemeteries should include specific
burial provision for black and minority ethnic communities.
Fife House
Fife House
North Street
GLENROTHES
Fife KY7 5LT
Development
DWS/HM/CR/3rd April 2002
David Somerville
Head of Community Services
Mike Enston
Head of Policy and Operational