Leader's anger over council department's stance on grave tributes

NEW RULES REJECTED BY BEREAVEMENT SERVICE WOULD ALLOW SOME DECORATIVE ITEMS TO STAY

- By LAUREN MONAGHAN Local democracy reporter

THE leader of Broxtowe Borough Council has criticised the authority's bereavement service over its stance on changes to cemetery rules in the borough.

The council's cabinet met on Tuesday, when a report proposing policy on graveside tributes across the borough's cemeteries was due to be discussed.

The topic has caused controversy and protests since October 2024, when bereaved families started a petition in response to a July 2024 cabinet decision that led to “unofficial surrounds” being removed from some graves at council-run cemeteries. The council said the decision was based on maintenance difficulties, health and safety and because the rules already existed but had not always been enforced.

Cabinet documents from 2009 confirm rules were in place since then, but the council's bereavement service only updated its “Notice of Internment” forms in 2023 to note prohibited grave items such as fencing, bedding plants, vases, windmills, glass and alcohol.

The controversy led to the council's leader, Councillor Milan Radulovic (Broxtowe Alliance) calling a 12-month suspension on the rules in October 2024 and setting up a working group with impacted families to find a “common sense” approach.