Legal Requirement
The Council has a duty under section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 to “cause to be buried or cremated the body of any person who has died or found to be dead” within the Fylde Borough Council area and where it appears “that no suitable arrangement for the disposal of the body have been or are being made”.
The Council is entitled to recover the costs of the funeral from the estate of the deceased. Before we can arrange the funeral, the death must be registered. The home of the deceased is searched for a will to find details of any interested parties and to locate funds to pay for the funeral. If details of friends and relatives are found, they will be contacted and informed of the funeral arrangement.
Exclusions
The above provision does not apply to anyone who dies in hospital, or in an ambulance on the way to hospital. Under these circumstances, the responsibility lies within the Health Authority.
What Happens
No matter whether the funeral is a burial or cremation, a committal service always take place in our chapel or at graveside and on those few occasions when no mourners are present the crematorium staff & funeral directors staff are always present. Cremated remains of the deceased are usually scattered in the garden of remembrance unless other specific instructions are found amongst the deceased ‘s possessions or in a will. For burials an interment will take place in a non-private grave.
Public health funerals are administered by the Resources Directorate.
The council is responsible for arranging the funeral of any person who has died other than in hospital and where it appears that no other agency or persons are making suitable arrangement for the disposal of the body.
For further information please contact Environmental Health on 01253 658658 or email environmentalprotection@fylde.gov.uk
