BOROUGH OF POOLE
ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
6th SEPTEMBER 2010
REPORT OF THE HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES
CREMATORIUM & CEMETERY FEES AND CHARGES
PART OF THE PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN - YES
STATUS – STRATEGIC
1
Purpose
1.1
To review fees and charges made at Poole’s crematorium and cemeteries.
2
Decision Required
2.1
Members are recommended to:
2.1.1
Consider the information provided concerning fees, charges and regulations
applying to Poole’s crematorium and cemeteries in response to the
Overview & Scrutiny Topic Suggestion Form.
2.1.2
To retain the policy of double fees for non-residents of Poole.
3
Background
3.1
Burial and cremation services are very important and extremely sensitive
and bereaved people rightly expect high standards of service delivery from
the Council.
3.2
Feedback cards returned by bereaved people utilising Poole Crematorium
show the proportion satisfied and very satisfied to be consistently over 90%.
The level of complaints regarding cremation and burial is extremely low.
Officers organise a Bereavement Liaison Forum with external partners
including Funeral Directors and Ministers to ensure regular and open
communication.
3.3
An overview & scrutiny topic suggestion form was submitted 23 rd June 2010
which was referred to this Committee. It raised the following issues:
a) Representation received from residents querying
fairness of existing charges.
b) No recent review or scrutiny of these charges carried
out by members.
c) No details of these charges found on Council
web site.
3.4
The topic suggestion form suggested the following outcomes:
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 1
a) To make sure cemetery and cremation charges
are fair and equitable for Poole residents and
non residents.
b) To publish on Council web site and make information
more readily accessible.
4
Information
4.1
A full schedule of charges and regulations applying to Poole’s crematorium
and cemeteries is provided as Appendix 1 to this report.
4.2
In line with current financial strategy the fees have been increased from 1 st
September 2010. The increase takes into account the very tough financial
situation the Council faces, although the service still delivers good value for
money.
4.3
Level of fees and charges:
For many years Poole’s fees were lower than at comparable authorities,
however for several years now the strategy has been to recognise the
excellent standards at Poole Crematorium and the reducing grave space at
Poole cemeteries by increasing prices to reduce the gap with other
authorities. Appendix 2 gives some cemetery fees comparison information.
Appendix 3 some cremation fees comparison information.
4.4
Residents and Non-residents:
All crematorium fees and charges are the same regardless of resident
status. All cemetery fees are doubled for non-residents. Poole’s Cemetery
Regulations 1975 set out that
“Double fees will be charged in the case of interment of persons not
normally resident in the Borough of Poole and who have not either
normally resided in the Borough of Poole at any time in a period of
five years prior to their death or purchased an exclusive right of
burial while having their normal residence in the Borough of Poole.”
(Para 13.)
There are two reasons for this policy, firstly that (unlike cremation) burial
uses up the limited land assets that are Poole’s four cemeteries. Secondly
that burial is a service subsidised by Council Tax payers. This is normal
practice with many local authorities across the country (see Appendix 2).
4.5
Fees & Charges Information on the Web-site:
Currently this information is not posted on the Council’s web-site. The
reason for this is that most people book these services through local
Funeral Directors who regularly receive updated schedules from the
Council for this purpose. If Members wish the information to be published
(as Appendix A) this can be arranged.
5
Financial Implications
5.1
Figures are not collected to monitor the numbers of non-resident charges
made or the amount of income collected. The numbers are small both
because of the double fees and because people prefer to arrange burial in
their local community. The overall budget summary for bereavement
services is as follows:
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 2
Cemeteries 2009/10:
Expenditure
£384,609
Income
£122,759
Net expenditure
£261,850
Crematorium 2009/10:
Expenditure
£541,091
Income
£1,143,739
Net income
£602,648
6
Legal Implications
6.1
Changing the policy for double fees for non-residents would require
amending the Council’s Cemetery Regulations 1975, this would require
approval by full Council.
6.2
The Local Authorities' Cemeteries Order 1977 requires the Council to keep
a table of fees available for inspection by the public at all reasonable times.
7
Risk Management Implications
7.1
Continuing the double fee risks causing concern and possible financial
difficulty to a small number of nearby non-residents and ex-residents of
Poole.
7.2
Ceasing charging double fees risks a loss of some income, and using up
the remaining grave spaces more quickly. This is felt to be the greater risk.
8
Equalities Implications
8.1
Poole residents are deliberately treated differently from non-residents for
the reasons given above.
8.2
The potential impact on local faith communities has been considered. Some
beliefs require graves to face in a specific direction, if because of this a
single burial uses more than one grave space, only one is charged for.
9
Environmental Impact
9.1
The environmental impacts from burial and cremation are carefully
managed, regulated and monitored. Decisions made in relation to this
report will not impact this.
10
Staffing Implications
10.1
None.
11
Planning Implications
11.1
None.
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 3
CLIVE SMITH
HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES
Contact Officers:
Clive Smith
Karen Fry
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 4
APPENDIX 1
Poole Crematorium and Cemeteries
Scale of Charges from 1st September 2010
CREMATORIUM
£
A still-born child or a child whose age at death did not exceed
six months
55.00
A child whose age at death exceeded six months but did not
exceed 16 years
130.00
A person whose age at death exceeded 16 years
535.00
NVF (contract)
21.00
Body part
21.00
Medical referee fee (set by Home Office)
18.00
Certificate of cremation (full certificate)
21.00
Tape recording of service
18.00
DVD recording of service
36.00
Additional DVD copies
36.00
Extended service (45 minutes inclusive)
645.00
Saturday cremation
1,025
Cremated Remains
Scatter in woodland glades
Free of charge
Witness scatter cremated remains
38.00
Interment in lawn (plots for two sets)
67.00
Witness interment in lawn
105.00
Forwarding remains in the UK
68.00
Temporary deposit of cremated remains (per month – first
month free of charge)
18.00
Fees relating to returned remains or those from other crematoria
Scatter in woodland glades
38.00
Witness scatter cremated remains
77.00
Interment in lawn
130.00
Witness interment
167.00
All returned ashes will incur an administration charge of £ 34.00
Boxing/transferring of ashes into wooden caskets, etc will incur an administration
charge of £34.00
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 5
CREMATORIUM MEMORIALS
Book of Remembrance
£
2 Lines
Inscription with 23 ct gold initial
79.00
5 Lines
Inscription with 23 ct gold initial
118.00
8 Lines
Inscription with 23 ct gold initial
147.00
5 Lines
Inscription with 23 ct gold initial plus motif or coat of arms
219.00
8 Lines
Inscription with 23 ct gold initial plus motif or coat of arms
246.00
Memorial Cards
2 Lines
Inscription with 23 ct gold initial
33.00
5 Lines
Inscription with 23 ct gold initial
55.00
8 Lines
Inscription with 23 ct gold initial
69.00
5 Lines
Inscription with 23 ct gold initial plus motif or coat of arms
92.00
8 Lines
Inscription with 23 ct gold initial plus motif or coat of arms
124.00
Sanctum Memorials
10 years
Prepare and display for 10 year period. An inscribed
tablet for two sets of remains including four lines of
inscription.
1,090
20 years
Prepare and display for 20 year period. An inscribed
tablet for two sets of remains including four lines of
inscription.
1730
30 years
Prepare and display for 30 year period. An inscribed
tablet for two sets of remains including four lines of
inscription.
2,060
50 years
Prepare and display for 50 year period. An inscribed
tablet for two sets of remains including four lines of
inscription.
2,720
Second and final interment (not including inscription)
245.00
Additional inscription for final interment (per letter)
7.00
Other Memorials
Floral tributes
Book or waiting room
Kerbs*
25 year lease
69.00
278.00
*Provision can be made at time of ordering for a second blank kerb to be reserved
next to the one inscribed at current cost.
New and Renewed Leases
£
Octagon planter tablet
10 year lease
555.00
Vase block tablet
10 year lease
555.00
Seat plaque
10 year lease
290.00
Memorial tablet
10 year lease
290.00
Donations may also be made to the crematorium for enhancement of grounds
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 6
Memorial Replacement Prices
£
Memorial tablets
41.00
Kerbs
129.00
Seat plaques
101.00
Octagon planter
171.00
Vase block
171.00
Brass plaque
88.00
CEMETERIES
£
Interment Fees
A still-born child or a child whose age at death did not exceed
six months
55.00
Body part
55.00
A child whose age at death exceeded six months but did not
exceed 16 years
130.00
A person whose age at death exceeded 16 years at a depth
exceeding 4’ (1.21m) but not exceeding 8’ (2.44m)
500.00
Additional charge for interment over 8’ (2.44m)
120.00
For re-opening a brick grave for each subsequent interment
after the first
245.00
Interment of cremated remains in casket or urn
170.00
Interment of cremated remains under six months
55.00
Use of cemetery chapel
75.00
Please note that there is no provision for scattering of cremated remains in cemeteries
PURCHASE OF EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO BURIAL (including registration)
One grave space measuring 7’
(2.13m) x 3’ (915mm)
50 years
600.00
One grave space measuring 7’
(2.13m) x 3’ (915mm)
100 years
900.00
One grave space measuring 4’
(1.21m) x 2’ (610mm)
50 years
380.00
One grave space measuring 4’
(1.21m) x 2’ (610mm)
100 years
570.00
Surrender of right of interment incurs an administration fee equal to 20% of original fee
PURCHASE OF EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO BURIAL (including registration) /cont ..
Additional charge for selected site
£
Measuring 7’ (2.13m) x 3’ (915mm)
225.00
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 7
Measuring 4’ (1.21m) x 2’ (610mm)
115.00
For preparation and registration of certificate on change of ownership
For vaults of dimensions larger than 7’ (2.13m) x 3’
(915mm), mausoleums and family burial plots
37.00
Such fees as may be agreed
by the Council
GRAVE SEARCHES
£
First half hour
28.00
Each subsequent hour (maximum charge £100) 112.00
56.00
MEMORIALS AND MONUMENTS (only allowed on purchased graves)
Flat stone not exceeding 7” (180mm) thick
124.00
Tomb or monument exceeding 7” (180mm) but not
exceeding 6’ (1.83m) high per grave
198.00
Scroll, headstone, footstone, boulder, cross, tablet ledger book or other memorial
including a single inscription per item if added at that time
Not exceeding 3’ (915mm) high
Exceeding 3’ (915mm) but not
exceeding 6’ (1.83m)
On 7’ (2.13m) x 3’ (915mm) grave
108.00
On 4’ (1.21m) x 2’ (610mm) grave
72.00
On 7’ (2.13m) x 3’ (915mm) grave
150.00
On 4’ (1.21m) x 2’ (610mm) grave
100.00
Kerb – including a single inscription per item if added a that time in respect of
each grave space
117.00
7’ (2.13m) x 3’ (915mm) enclosed
4’ (1.21m x 2’ (610mm) enclosed
81.00
The kerb not to exceed 7” (180mm) in height and 5” (127mm) in width with corner posts
not exceeding 9” (229mm) in height
Vase not being part of a memorial – purchase of grave not required
With or without inscription not exceeding 1’ x 1’ x 1’ (300mm x 300mm x
300mm)
41.00
Inscription
41.00
Every inscription after the first
41.00
Turfing
For turfing one grave space at the time of burial
(*if turf is laid subsequently standard rate VAT will be added)
74.00
MAINTENANCE OF GRAVES – annual charge
£
For keeping a grave in order (grass cutting and 7’ (2.13m) x 3’ (915mm)
weeding only
53.00*
For keeping a grave in order (grass cutting and 4’ (1.21m x 2’ (610mm)
weeding only
30.00*
Maintenance of Commonwealth War Graves
2.50
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 8
*Indicates that an account will be rendered and VAT will be added at that time
The annual maintenance charges do not include the repair of the kerb, memorial or
monument. Graves and monuments must be in good condition, to the satisfaction of
the Head of Leisure Services before maintenance is accepted.
PERSONS NON-RESIDENT IN THE BOROUGH OF POOLE
The cemeteries are provided for the interment of persons who are residents of the
Borough of Poole. All the foregoing fees except maintenance of graves will be
doubled for persons who have not either normally resided in the Borough of Poole at
any time during the period of five years prior to death.
If a non-resident is the first person to be interred in a plot purchased for the normal
single fee and such interment is within three months of the purchase then an
additional fee equal to the single purchase price shall become payable.
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 9
Cemetery charges 2010
Burial
fee
Doddinghurst
£120
Pembrokeshire £333
Non
Exclusive
Cremated
Operation
resident Right
Non
Remains Non
of double
fee
Resident Resident Resident Resdient or triple
fee non
residency
£120
£349
£698
£200
£440
Single
Fees
£499
£463
£695
£82
£123
50%
surcharge
£694
£684
£1,368
£90
£180
Double
Fees
£730
£600
£1,200
£80
£160
Double
Fees
Chelmsford
£347
Mansfield
£365
North east
Lincolnshire
£404
£808
£349
£698
£52.50
£105
Cotswold
£410
£900
£850
no data
£165
no data
Poole
£450
£900
£540
£1,080
£155
£310
Weymouth
£451.50
£903
£672
£1,344
£126
£252
Bournemouth
£468.50
£937
£702
£1,126
£95
£142.50
Great
Yarmouth
£488
£938
£547.50
£938
£169.50
no data
Harrogate
Dartford
£538
£540
no data
£1,620
£998
£675
no data
£2,025
£184
£160
no data
£480
Bath and North
Somerset
£550
£1,100
£750
£1,500
£145
£290
Bury
£580
£1,080
£525
no data
£260
£570
Timeside
£610
£1,220
£495
£990
£150
£300
Kirkless
Barking
£650
£650
no date
£1,300
£720
£980
no data
£1,960
£200
£161
no data
£322
Trafford
Eastbourne
£660
£750
no date
£1,500
£615
£750
no data
£1,500
£150
£150
no data
£300
Oxford
£800
£1,600
£620
£1,240
£160
£320
Lewis
£875
£1,750
£700
£1,400
£150
£300
Aldershot
£968
£1,936
£1,120
£2,240
£307
£614
Lewisham
£1,082
£4,328
£1,599
no data
£158
£632
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Double
Fees
Double
Fees
Double
Fees
Double
Fees
Double
Fees
Double
Fees
No Data
Treble
Fees
Double
Fees
Double
Fees
Double
Fees
No Data
Double
Fees
No Data
Double
Fees
Double
Fees
Double
Fees
Double
Fees
No Data
Page 10
Lambeth
Farnham
£2,000
no data £3000
no data
no data
no data
No Data
Joint
burial &
purchase
fee
Taking a cross section of 25 burial authorities across the country the table shows Poole is
the 7th cheapest for burial interment fees, 6th cheapest on purchase of graves and 11th
cheapest on interment of cremated remains. This places Poole well below the national
average. Note that nearly all the authorities operate double fees for non residents.
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 11
APPENDIX 3
Background information:
Cremations in the United Kingdom
From:
PHAROS – International Statistics Issue
Summer 2010
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 12
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 13
EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW AND
SCRUTINY COMMITTEE HELD ON 6 SEPTEMBER 2010
EOS32.10
CREMATORIUM AND CEMETERY FEES AND CHARGES
The Head of Leisure Services submitted a report reviewing fees and charges made
at Poole’s Crematorium and Cemeteries. An Overview and Scrutiny Topic Suggestion
Form had been submitted on 23 June 2010, which had been referred to this Committee
raising issues with regard to the fairness of existing charges; that no recent review or
scrutiny of these had been carried out by Members and no details of the charges could be
found on the Council’s Website.
The Head of Leisure Services reported that a full schedule of charges and
regulations applying to Poole’s Crematorium and Cemeteries was included with his report.
In line with current financial strategy, the fees had been increased from 1 September 2010
and the increase took into account the very tough financial situation the Council faced,
although the Service still delivered good value for money. The report specifically
highlighted the following:
Level of fees and charges – for many years Poole’s fees had been lower than
at comparable Authorities, however, for several years now the strategy had
been to recognise the excellent standards at Poole Crematorium and the
reducing grave space at Poole Cemeteries by increasing prices to reduce the
gap with other Authorities.

Residents and non Residents – all Crematorium fees and charges were the
same regardless of resident status. All Cemetery fees were doubled for non
residents and Poole’s Cemetery Regulations of 1975 set out that:“Double fees will be charged in the case of interment of persons not normally
resident in the Borough of Poole and who have not either normally resided in
the Borough of Poole at any time in a period of 5 years prior to their death or
purchased an exclusive right of burial while having their normal residence in the
Borough of Poole”.

Fees and Charges Information on the Website – currently this information was
not posted on the Council’s Website. If Members wished the information to be
published, this could be arranged.
A Member who had submitted the Scrutiny Topic Suggestion Form stated that the
request was in no way a criticism of staff or the level of service, which was very high. Her
concern was that there was a financial anomaly which she wished to share.
The Committee was advised of a particular situation where a resident had
purchased a plot in a Poole Cemetery suitable for six caskets. When various members of
the family died, being Poole residents they were charged only once. However, four years
ago a brother-in-law had died who was not a Poole resident and he was interred in the
plot but the family was asked to pay double the interment fee because he was not local.
Additionally, the family had decided to place a stone tablet on the plot to mark the brotherin-law’s place and again they were asked to pay double the fees.
The Committee was asked to consider the situation carefully, especially as the plot
had already been purchased and had room for six caskets so the family was not using up
additional land space, nor was being subsidised by Council Taxpayers. Interment into an
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 14
already purchased plot and in use plot did not take up any remaining grave spaces.
Surely, in this case, the family should not be asked to pay double, especially as the family
had exclusive rights. Additionally, when she had been asked to look into this anomaly,
there was no information on the Council’s Website and she felt that this should be
remedied. In conclusion, she was concerned that if a family plot was used, which had
already been purchased for the family, why they should in some circumstances be
charged double?
The Head of Leisure Services stated that he was not familiar with this particular
case, but from the information provided, it sounded like it could be a possibility that this
family had been overcharged. The Cemetery Regulations, as mentioned above, stated
that double fees should not be charged if they had purchased an exclusive right of burial
as Poole residents. There appeared to be a possibility of a mistake and he undertook to
investigate this particular problem and felt that the exceptional circumstances needed to
be clarified.
In response to a question about excessive increases in fees twice this year, the
Head of Leisure Services responded by stating that the previous decision to increase fees
was so that the Council was comparable with other Local Authorities and the latest
increase was about the tough financial situation being faced by the Council.
RECOMMENDED that
(i) this Overview and Scrutiny Committee notes the information provided
concerning Fees, Charges and Regulations applying to Poole’s
Crematorium and Cemeteries in response to the Overview and Scrutiny
Topic Suggestion Form;
(ii) the policy of double fees for non residents be retained;
(iii) the Fees and Charges applying to Poole’s Crematorium and Cemeteries
be posted on the Council’s Website as soon as practical; and
(iv) The Head of Leisure Services be asked to investigate the particular case
brought to the Committee’s attention and to clarify the Regulations to
avoid any ambiguity in the future and for a refund to be given, if it is
found that an error has occurred.
Report Version: 4 – 23/8/10
Page 15