Cemetery rules and regulations - Copyright of logos, fonts and photographs

45. Memorials are not permitted on un-purchased graves or anywhere in the cemetery excepting with the written permission of the burial authority and in relation to an interment within the cemetery.

46. No memorial shall be erected upon any grave, unless the exclusive right of burial has been purchased and an application for permission to erect a memorial has been made by the registered owner and approved by the burial authority.

47. Applications for permission to erect a memorial are available from monumental masons. The written application should be submitted to the burial authority accompanied by the appropriate fee and proof that the memorial is insured.

48. The full design and installation specification must be provided by the monumental mason to the burial authority in advance of any works commencing on site.

49. In order to protect the memorial from unforeseen circumstances, the grave owner must insure the memorial for the lifetime of the memorial or for the full term of the lease (known as the Exclusive Rights To Burial Grant ) for the plot. Insurance is the grant holders responsibility and each term is 5 years.

Proof of insurance must be provided to the burial authority prior to the installation of the memorial. For the avoidance of doubt, the burial authority will not allow the erection of uninsured memorials in the cemeteries. Insurance must cover as a minimum as an all risks policy:

• Accidental damage, including vandalism (malicious damage)
• Storm,
• Theft or attempted theft
• Impact (e.g. by a mower)
• Flood and frost
• Falling trees
• Subsidence
• Staining other than by natural weathering caused by tree sap, bird or animal droppings, or flowers
• Council action, which includes re opening of adjacent graves and collapse.  
• Animal interference 

50. All memorials when completed shall remain the sole risk of the owner at all times.

51. Each memorial must be kept in good repair by the owner.

52. The burial authority reserves the right to refuse to allow the placing of an inscription upon any memorial if, in the opinion of the burial authority, it is deemed to be libellous, inaccurate or likely to cause offence to any person or body of persons.

53. Any memorial that is erected without the written approval of the burial authority is unauthorised and may be removed and stored until such time as a proper application is made and approved. A fee will be charged in respect of the removal and storage in addition to the appropriate erection fee. The burial authority will take reasonable steps to ensure the safe removal and storage of any unauthorised memorial but will not be held responsible for any damage that may occur as part of this process.

54. All monumental masons carrying out work in the cemeteries shall have at least one person on site that has been registered, or is in the process of being registered with the National Association of Monumental Masons (NAMM).

55. All memorials of 625mm or over (in height) must be designed and erected in full compliance with BS8415.

56. All memorials under 625mm (in height) must have a foundation at least as large as the footprint of the memorial base. The base must be fixed to the memorial using dowels or a recognised lock- down system.

57. In order to ensure that all new memorials achieve the performance standard requirements of BS8415, monumental masons should follow the BRAMM (British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons) guidelines (Blue Book) with regard to ground conditions, foundation design, joints and assembly. The burial authority may insist on corrective or remedial works if, in the opinion of the burial authority, a memorial has not been designed and/or erected in accordance with the BRAMM guidelines. Corrective or remedial works must be completed to the burial authority’s satisfaction within 28 days.

58. All new memorials will be inspected following the fixing by the monumental mason to ensure that they have been securely installed and do not present a health and safety risk. If, in the opinion of the burial authority, the memorial fails this inspection, then corrective or remedial works must be completed to the burial authority’s satisfaction within 28 days.

59. If there are any discrepancies between the memorial and the original application this will be notified in writing to the monumental mason and the grave owner. Any corrective or remedial works required must be completed to the burial authority’s satisfaction within 28 days.

60. Whenever a new memorial fails an inspection or fails to meet the criteria detailed in these rules and regulations, the burial authority will, in accordance with the circumstances of each individual memorial, take appropriate action to remove any health and safety risks. The burial authority reserves the right to charge an administrative fee to the monumental mason or the person to whose order the memorial works were carried out, to cover any costs incurred in this process, including remedial action(s), inspections (including any subsequent re-inspections) and all correspondence.

61. The burial authority requires all monumental masons working in the cemeteries to be fully conversant with the BRAMM guidelines. Any relevant revision to these guidelines may, at the burial authority’s discretion, be applied to the design and erection of all memorials subsequent to the date of the revision. The burial authority will make reasonable efforts to inform monumental masons of such changes, but notwithstanding this it is the responsibility of monumental masons to remain fully conversant with the BRAMM guidelines.

62. The burial authority may refuse memorial applications from monumental masons who have repeatedly been responsible for memorials which have failed inspections or where, in the opinion of the burial authority, there is clear evidence of repeated poor workmanship.

63. Each memorial shall have on the side close to the base the masons name and the number of the grave and an anchor symbol to indicate when a ground anchor has been fitted.

64. Flower vases must be securely fixed to the base and form an integral part of the overall memorial.

65. All rubbish and surplus materials of any kind arising from an erection, removal, repair, alteration or cleaning of any memorial must be removed from the cemetery by the monumental mason or person who has carried out the work. Should any such material be left by persons working on memorials the cost of removal and disposal may, at the burial authority’s discretion, be recharged to the monumental mason who submitted the memorial application or the person to whose order the memorial works were carried out.

66. No hewing or dressing of any memorial will be permitted in the cemetery.

67. No erection or other works to memorials will be permitted in the cemeteries at weekends or on public holidays excepting remedial works in response to health and safety issues. Any such works will be permitted at the burial authority’s discretion and with formal written approval.

68. The burial authority will carry out a continuous programme of safety inspections to establish whether memorials are at risk of falling and causing damage or injury. If any memorial is found to be unsafe the burial authority has a duty to minimise the risk and will take the action which best suits the circumstances relating to the individual memorial. Action may need to be taken immediately following an inspection.

69. The burial authority will follow relevant guidelines and best-practice and will publish full details of the inspection programme and procedure. The burial authority will use its own website, local media and cemetery signage to communicate details of the programme. The burial authority will make reasonable efforts to contact grave owners, subject to paragraph 40 of these rules and regulations.

Conditions regulating the baby lawn sections QQ.69 and Baby EEM

The burial authority will seek to accommodate the reasonable requests of the families of deceased children and will explain if, for any reason, certain requests cannot be met.

Children can be buried in either a designated baby section (babies one year and under), a designated children’s section, or in an adult grave. The options available will be further explained by bereavement services staff on request and/or by funeral directors.

70. Memorials fixed in a designated baby section must not be larger than 24” high including the base. The width of the base must not exceed 22”. The thickness of the base cannot exceed 3”. The maximum length is 12”. The maximum length overall of the plot is 34” flower containers must be incorporated and not free-standing. Any flat stone application must be flush to the ground. A specification sheet is available on request. 

71. Within the designated grave space allocated by the burial authority, families may place items of remembrance. However, grave owners must be aware that the burial authority accepts no responsibility for the safety of such items and any such items are always left entirely at the grave owner’s own risk. For this reason, the burial authority advises against placing any items of significant value. The burial authority may remove any glass vases, jars or other fragile materials which have been placed on the grave if, in the opinion of the burial authority, they present a health and safety risk (particularly if damaged).

72. No fences or edging of any kind will be permitted other than the grave edging provided by the burial authority at the time the grave is prepared.

73. All plots will be laid out in a border with edging and stone chippings provided by the burial authority. White stone chippings will be provided. 

74. All plots in the designated baby section will be allocated consecutively by the bereavements officer.

75. All items placed on the grave must be contained within the personal grave space.

76. Noisy items and lights are not permitted as these create a nuisance for other cemetery users.

77. Items found to be outside the personal grave space will be moved back into the personal grave space and the owner of the grave will be informed by letter. Where there are a large number of items that cannot all be moved into the personal grave space the owner of the grave will be informed by letter and requested to remove the items. If the grave owner has not done so within a reasonable time-frame (minimum 14 days from notification) then the items outside the personal grave space may be removed by the burial authority. These will be stored on site (space permitting) for up to three months and arrangements can be made to collect these items by contacting the Burial authority. The burial authority cannot accept responsibility for the safety of such items and can only store them for up to 3 months subject to suitable space being available.

78. In order to prevent memorials being hidden and to maintain the dignity of the burial area items placed on baby graves should not be over 300mm (12ins) in height. Balloons and soft toys should be removed and properly disposed of before they begin to degrade.

79. The burial authority must ensure that the cemeteries are maintained for quiet contemplation by all visitors and may, therefore, remove anything which does not comply with these regulations, which has become unsightly or which may cause distress to other cemetery users.

80. Any section of the cemeteries that is designated as a baby section by the burial authority will be exclusively for the burial of babies of one year old and under. The burial authority will make every effort to accommodate the wishes of bereaved parents of young children when grave locations are being discussed, however, any section designated as a baby section will not be used as a general burial plot for children of any age regardless of whether such burials have previously occurred in other designated baby sections.