Public health act funeral policy

If a Public Health funeral is organised by us, we:

• will choose appropriate funeral arrangements (except that para 3 of Section 46 specifies that a burial must be arranged where cremation would be contrary to the wishes of the deceased), consideration will be given to religious, faith and cultural requirement where possible
• will arrange the time and date of the funeral
• will arrange for direct cremation or burial where there are no family members of friends wishing to attend the funeral
• will arrange a service but will decide who conducts this service. Where a service is held, family or friends will usually be allowed to have input into the service, e.g. choice of music, provide details for the eulogy, where this does not result in extra cost for the authority. The religious and cultural beliefs will be respected as much as possible.
• are the first creditor and can access the estate for payment before any other debt is paid
• Public Health funeral will only be arranged by our contracted funeral director. This means that if anyone has given instruction to a firm of funeral directors, they are responsible for any costs incurred. The council will take on financial responsibility from when the council accepts responsibility for the deceased for a public health funeral. The council is only able to do this before the final paperwork has been signed at the funeral directors confirming responsibility for the funeral
• any requests received from relatives or other interested parties incurring additional cost will not be granted