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Issue - meetings

Arrangements for Carrying Out Public Health Funerals

 

 

Meeting: 14/04/2026 - Cabinet (Item 40)

40 ARRANGEMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT PUBLIC HEALTH FUNERALS pdf icon PDF 139 KB

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – REGULATORY

 

The purpose of this report is to provide the key information to enable North Herts Council to adopt the Policy to accommodate the provision for carrying out Public Health Funerals in accordance with obligations place on the Council by section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

 

(1)   Adopted the Policy as presented. Please note that this format has been adopted as this document is made available to our residents to help them through the requirements necessary to arrange a funeral should they need to.

 

(2)   Noted that under the provisions of section 46 of the Act, each local authority has the responsibility to make necessary funeral arrangements for anybody who dies in their district where no other suitable arrangements are being or are likely to be made. This policy sets out how the Council will deliver this duty and outlines the limitations of this obligation.

 

(3)   Noted what measures will be followed to try to locate a will, identify relatives who may wish to arrange the funeral and identify anything of value to try to offset funeral costs. The policy also confirms that should the Council arrange the funeral, we will provide a simple but dignified service administered by a minister, a representative of another faith or a civil funeral celebrant as well as permitting friends and family to attend the service.

 

(4)   Delegated future amendments of this Policy to the Director – Regulatory in consultation with the Executive Member for Regulatory in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Constitution.

 

REASON FOR DECISIONS: The reason for recommending the approval of this Policy is to enable the Council to clearly state how it intends to meet its obligations under the Act, whilst putting in place limitations against the unreasonable use of public funds and to protect the reputation of the Council and the officers involved.

Minutes:

Audio recording – 37 minutes 36 seconds

 

Councillor Mick Debenham, as Executive Member for Regulatory, presented the report entitled ‘Arrangements for carrying out Public Health Funerals’ and advised that:

 

·       This report provided the key information to enable the Council to adopt the Policy to accommodate the key provision for carrying out Public Health Funerals in accordance with Section 46 of the Public Health Act 1984.

·       Each local authority was responsible for making necessary funeral arrangements for anyone who died in their district where no other arrangements were being made.

·       In North Hertfordshire, the funeral would be burial in a common grave at Wilbury Hills Cemetery, Letchworth.

·       The burial would be a dignified service and the Council would provide a celebrant if a non-religious service was appropriate.

·       The Council was not legally obliged to comply with the requests of a will but would consider a cremation if there were sufficient funds available in the estate to cover cost.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Daniel Allen, the Environmental Health Manager advised that if a resident had been rehoused outside of the district, the Council would still fund the burial.

 

Councillor Mick Debenham proposed and Councillor Daniel Allen seconded and, following a vote, it was:

 

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

 

(1)   Adopted the Policy as presented. Please note that this format has been adopted as this document is made available to our residents to help them through the requirements necessary to arrange a funeral should they need to.

 

(2)   Noted that under the provisions of section 46 of the Act, each local authority has the responsibility to make necessary funeral arrangements for anybody who dies in their district where no other suitable arrangements are being or are likely to be made. This policy sets out how the Council will deliver this duty and outlines the limitations of this obligation.

 

(3)   Noted what measures will be followed to try to locate a will, identify relatives who may wish to arrange the funeral and identify anything of value to try to offset funeral costs. The policy also confirms that should the Council arrange the funeral, we will provide a simple but dignified service administered by a minister, a representative of another faith or a civil funeral celebrant as well as permitting friends and family to attend the service.

 

(4)   Delegated future amendments of this Policy to the Director – Regulatory in consultation with the Executive Member for Regulatory in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Constitution.

 

REASON FOR DECISIONS: The reason for recommending the approval of this Policy is to enable the Council to clearly state how it intends to meet its obligations under the Act, whilst putting in place limitations against the unreasonable use of public funds and to protect the reputation of the Council and the officers involved.