Burials and cremations

Public health funerals are provided by the Council for people who have passed away in Cheshire West and Chester and have no next of kin, or the next of kin, relatives or friends are unable to make the necessary arrangements for a funeral.

This responsibility is placed on the Council by section 46 of The Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 (‘the Act’) and is intended to protect public health and ensure the deceased are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their circumstances.

The Act also states that the Council may recover the costs incurred in making the funeral arrangements from the estate of the deceased (i.e., their property and possessions). If the deceased had a family, the nearest surviving relative will be required to sign a form to this effect.

The Council will not be responsible for providing a public health funeral for residents who have died outside the borough; this will be undertaken by the local authority where they died. Similarly if the deceased dies after being admitted to any hospital as an in-patient, the hospital Bereavement Team will be responsible for arranging a funeral in liaison with the family members. The hospital Patient Liaison contact number for the Countess of Chester is 01244 366066.

Public Health Funerals arranged by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The Council’s Cemeteries and Crematorium team will deal with all aspects of the organisation of the funeral including;

• Registering the death,
• Conducting a property search
• Liaising with the funeral directors to make the funeral arrangements
• Paying for the funeral.

Type of Service

The Council will usually arrange for a cremation (as this the more popular choice in the UK) unless there is a reason to believe that a cremation would be contrary to the wishes of the deceased.

If a burial is required and the deceased did not own a grave, burial will take place in an unmarked public grave. A public grave means a grave for multiple interments (up to 3) in which more than one person of multiple faiths may be buried at intervals but not at the same time. These are unmarked graves with no headstone or plaque in place.

The council will employ a funeral director who in turn will provide a respectful and dignified service, including a coffin, transport of the deceased to the Crematorium or Cemetery in a hearse, and sufficient bearers to transfer the coffin to the Chapel. The funeral director will also arrange for a minister of religion or a representative of the faith of the deceased to lead the service. If a non-religious service is appropriate, a civil funeral celebrant will be used.

If a close family member or friend wishes, they may be involved in the funeral arrangements and the Council will endeavour to accommodate requests including time and date of the service. Family and friends may attend the funeral service.

Following the cremation, the deceased ashes may be returned to them by the Councils Cemeteries and Crematorium team. Alternatively, we can arrange for the ashes can be scattered in an unmarked but recorded location in the Garden of Remembrance at Blacon Crematorium.

For enquiries about public health funerals, please contact the Councils Crematorium team:

• Email: crematorium@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
• Telephone: 01244 972428

Other sources of help

You may be able to claim funeral expenses payment (also called a funeral payment) if you get certain benefits and need help to pay for a funeral you’re arranging. To find out more contact the Bereavement Service helpline Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

• Telephone: 0800 731 0469
• Textphone: 0800 731 0464

The adviser will also help you claim any other bereavement benefits you might be entitled to.