CREMATION & BURIAL CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 2011, BRISTOL - 4/5/6 JULY

We are delighted that the International CremationFederation has again decided to incorporate its General Council Meeting with our conference and exhibition as this brings an added international dimension to its content. It provides an opportunity to learn about international developments and how our overseas colleagues approach and deal with these and problems that we face in the United Kingdom.

Continuing the on-going co-operation of like-minded organisations the programme will contain presentations on important issues to all those in the death care industry. It will be of particular interest to representatives from cremation and burial authorities who wish to keep abreast of the latest developments affecting their services and facilities.

Centrally located in the historic and lively city of Bristol the Grand has recently undergone a majorrefurbishment of rooms including the main meeting room and exhibition areas. Conference residents will have the benefit of free car parking. All rooms have a work desk, coffee and tea making facilities, flat screen LCD TV, direct dial telephone, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, trouser press and complimentary toiletries.

For overseas delegates this is an opportunity to mix business with pleasure and have the opportunity to experience and explore the many interesting and varied sights of Bristol and the surrounding area.

Conscious of the difficult economic climate in which both the public and private sectors are having to operate, we have been able to negotiate a delegate fee below the 2007 level. The conference delegate fee is fully inclusive of three nights’ accommodationand provides excellent value for money when compared with other similar events.

The Cremation Society of Great Britain

The Association of Burial Authorities was formed in 1993 to fulfil the need for a consumer orientated organisation to co-ordinate the activities of burial grounds and provide a tangible link between them and the public.

The Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities represents 90% of all cremation authorities in the UK and has recently widened its scope to allow full membership of the FBCA to burial authorities.

The Cremation Society of Great Britain is the founder and pioneer of the cremation movement in the UK. It established the first crematorium in the country and is a founder member of the International Cremation Federation.

The Association of Private Crematoria represents 75% of all private crematoria in the UK. Nearly all new crematoria are being established by the private sector.

PHOENIX AWARDS 2012 CEMETERY DESIGN COMPETITION

Details available during July 2011.

Sam Weller FCIPR FCB

Sam Weller, founder and chairman of the Association of Burial Authorities, died in London on 12th June, 2006.

Editor, designer, illustrator, author and consumate PR professional, Sam's passing is regarded as a major loss to the burial and funeral community.

More about Sam Weller's work in the death care industry.

Picture by Gwynne Stock

BCAG HARD WORK...

BCAG (the Government's Burial and Cemeteries Advisory Group) has been putting in some hard work since its move from the Department for Constitutional Affairs to the newly created Ministry of Justice. It is hoped to introduce a pilot scheme for re-use of graves during the summer. The coroner's team has introduced "new blood" into the group with people nominated by several original members, including the ABA, to participate in workshops focussed on specific issues.

The issue of safety guidance was not covered in this series of workshops. Since the ICCM refused to be a signatory to the guidance drawn up by the other members of the Memorial Safety Subgroup, Health and Safety Executive and Home Office, the project has been in abeyance. However, February 2008 saw the reconvention of the Memorial Risk Sub-Group. Reports of progress are expected towards the end of the year - which please replace with : Publication of Guidance for Natural Burial Ground Operators is expected shortly. Further progress reports on Burial Law Reform will are expected in the autumn of 2009.

NEW PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE

The Local Government Ombudsmen have published a Special Report on Memorial Safety in Local Authority Cemeteries available at www.lgo.org.uk/special-reports.htm

EXTENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES IN CLOSED CHURCHYARDS

THE ABA OPINION that local authorities are not obliged to inspect nor make safe memorials in closed churchyards has been welcomed by many authorities, but with less enthusiasm by some that have already undertaken the task on the basis of conflicting advice.

What has to be done about memorial safety in closed churchyards is set out in articles by ABA chairman Sam Weller in the winter editions of Zurich Municipal's health and safety bulletin and in ABAinfo.

OFF THE ABA HELPLINE

Jack Sills of I.M.I (Independent Memorial Inspections) asks: In a closed churchyard maintained by a Local Authority, who has ultimate control? If I am employed by the Authority to undertake an inspection but then told by a church officer to stop the inspection, who’s instruction do I follow?

ABA answers: Since maintenance of a closed churchyard does not include a duty to make memorials safe, there is no obligation to test. If therefore, the church authorities do not want their memorials tested, they can order them not to be tested. (We assume that by the word "inspection" you mean "testing").

Of course if you suspect that a memorial is unsafe but you are not allowed to test it, you would be entitled to refuse to do maintenance work within the area of the possible danger round the memorial until the church had satisfied you that the memorial was not dangerous. No local authority should order its employees to work within an area of danger in a churchyard unless precautions can be taken to ensure their safety.

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Sun through the stones at Kensal Green Cemetery. Photograph by Robert Stephenson.