Toys crackdown as council cleans up graveyards

The authority is set to bring in a formal policy for its cemeteries and churchyards for the first time to avoid confusion over what tributes are considered appropriate and how long they can be displayed.

As well as increasing burial charges by two per cent, the council also plans to reduce the exclusive right of burial from 100 years to 60 years.

Relatives will be given an option of renewing the right, and if this is declined the plot would return to "common grave" status, which means another body could be interred on top of the original, although the council said the chances of this happening were "rare".

The policy would strengthen existing guidelines, which could be difficult to enforce.

A report outlining the proposals will go before the council's Cabinet on Monday.

It said: "Enforcement of the existing rules has not always proved to be effective because of the status of the guidelines.

"This has resulted in a small number of high-profile public complaints and has had a noticeable effect upon grounds maintenance practices within the cemeteries."

Other changes include what can be used to mark a grave.

Memorials should be of solid stone with wooden markers needing the approval of the burial authority. Grave markers must also be "aesthetically pleasing" to the authority.

Apart from some items such as children's toys, only floral displays will be permitted to decorate graves, ruling out free standing statues, garden decorations, flags and other mementoes.

Toys will be removed by the sexton after six weeks and disposed of if not collected within two months.

In the lawn sections of graveyards, relatives will no longer be able to plant trees, conifers, shrubs or rose bushes.

Burial charges are set to rise to 655 for over-16s; to 514 for "green" burials; to 167 for under-16s; and to 93 for a stillborn child. Charges are double for weekend burials.

Coun Symon Fraser, portfolio holder for environment and planning, said: "These rules have been drafted out of consideration for all. There are some items which weather and decay, affecting the appearance of the cemeteries which we strive to maintain in a good condition for all who visit the sites.

"The change to the length of exclusive burial will mean the East Riding has a time period which is closer to that which many other authorities use. We hope it will help to reduce complaints about the state of graves.

"In some cases where graves are more than 50 years old the holder of the right of burial, or the family of the deceased are no longer in the area or willing to tend the grave.

"By reducing the time period to 60 years a decision can be made over whether another relative or person would like to take on responsibility for a grave or if they would rather that the plot becomes the council's responsibility to tend."