Burial prices

The request was successful.

Dear Aberdeen City Council,
I would like the following information through the Freedom of Information Act on the prices on Burials in Cemeteries under Aberdeen City Council authority.
1. Can I have the cost of a new burial plot for each Cemetery under Aberdeen City Council authority over the last 5 years?
2. How much from buying a burial plot goes towards maintaining the Cemetery?
3. Over the last few years the price of Burial plots has risen by some margin, can you tell me the councils reason(s) for this?
4. Which elected Council members supported the rising costs in Burial plots? (full list from the last 5 years please)
5. Which Council officers supported the rising costs in Burial plots? (full list from last 5 years please)
6. If neither elected Councillors or Council officers supported the rise in Burial plots, can you tell me which part of the Council did support the increase?
7. What is total money collected from Burial plots over the last 5 years?
8. What is the total cost collected by Aberdeen City Council from headstone being put up in Cemeteries?
9. Where does the money collected from Burial plots and the mounting of headstones go to once it is collected?
10. Where can I get minutes from the meetings held by Aberdeen City Council on the rising costs of Burial plots and headstones? I would prefer these in audio if available.

Yours faithfully,

Brian Ovens

Foi Enquiries, Aberdeen City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Ovens,

 

Information enquiry reference FOI-17-1777.

 

Thank you for your recent request for information, which we received on 22
November 2017.   

 

The scheduled date for our response to your request for information is on
or before 21 December 2017.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any queries in the
meantime.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Salomeh Kheyri Rad

Information Compliance Officer

 

 

Information Compliance Team
Customer Service
Corporate Governance
Aberdeen City Council
3rd Floor North

Business Hub 17
Marischal College
Broad Street
ABERDEEN AB10 1AQ

[1][Aberdeen City Council request email]

Tel 03000 200 292

 

*03000 numbers are free to call if you have ‘free minutes’ included in
your mobile call plan.

Calls from BT landlines will be charged at the local call rate of 10.24p
per minute (the same as 01224s).

 

[2]www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail (including any attachment to it) is
confidential, protected by copyright and may be privileged. The
information contained in it should be used for its intended purposes only.
If you receive this email in error, notify the sender by reply email,
delete the received email and do not make use of, disclose or copy it.
Whilst we take reasonable precautions to ensure that our emails are free
from viruses, we cannot be responsible for any viruses transmitted with
this email and recommend that you subject any incoming email to your own
virus checking procedures. Unless related to Council business, the
opinions expressed in this email are those of the sender and they do not
necessarily constitute those of Aberdeen City Council. Unless we expressly
say otherwise in this email or its attachments, neither this email nor its
attachments create, form part of or vary any contractual or unilateral
obligation. Aberdeen City Council's incoming and outgoing email is subject
to regular monitoring.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Aberdeen City Council request email]
2. http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/

Foi Enquiries, Aberdeen City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Ovens,

 

Thank you for your request for information, made under Section 1(1) of the
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA), and received on 21 November
2017.

 

We would like to ask you to clarify your request so that we can identify
and locate the information which you have requested. Under Section 1(3) of
the FOISA, we do not have to supply you with the requested information
until you have provided us with more detail in this respect.

 

I would like the following information through the Freedom of Information
Act on the prices on Burials in Cemeteries under Aberdeen City Council
authority.

1. Can I have the cost of a new burial plot for each Cemetery under
Aberdeen City Council authority over the last 5 years?

2. How much from buying a burial plot goes towards maintaining the
Cemetery?

3. Over the last few years the price of Burial plots has risen by some
margin, can you tell me the councils reason(s) for this?

4. Which elected Council members supported the rising costs in Burial
plots? (full list from the last 5 years please) 5. Which Council officers
supported the rising costs in Burial plots? (full list from last 5 years
please) 6. If neither elected Councillors or Council officers supported
the rise in Burial plots, can you tell me which part of the Council did
support the increase?

7. What is total money collected from Burial plots over the last 5 years?

8. What is the total cost collected by Aberdeen City Council from
headstone being put up in Cemeteries?

9. Where does the money collected from Burial plots and the mounting of
headstones go to once it is collected?

10. Where can I get minutes from the meetings held by Aberdeen City
Council on the rising costs of Burial plots and headstones? I would prefer
these in audio if available.

The above questions refer to the increase in burial charges, however
Aberdeen City Council has not increased these over the last 3 years.  ACC
is aware Aberdeenshire Council has increased their charges and so we would
be grateful if you could confirm that your request relates to Aberdeen
City Council?

 

Clarifying these points will help us to be sure we are providing, where
possible, the information you are interested in.  Please note we will keep
your request on file for 20 working days whilst we await your
clarification.  It can often be helpful to discuss your request with a
member of our team who may be able to help you frame your request or
explain more about how ACC holds its information; if this is something you
feel may be helpful please do call us, and we will be happy to assist you.

 

We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Anna Buchan

Information Compliance Officer

 

Information Compliance Team

Customer Service

Corporate Governance
Aberdeen City Council
3rd Floor North

Business Hub 17
Marischal College
Broad Street
ABERDEEN AB10 1AQ

[1][Aberdeen City Council request email]

Tel 03000 200 292

 

*03000 numbers are free to call if you have ‘free minutes’ included in
your mobile call plan.

Calls from BT landlines will be charged at the local call rate of 10.24p
per minute (the same as 01224s).

[2]www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail (including any attachment to it) is
confidential, protected by copyright and may be privileged. The
information contained in it should be used for its intended purposes only.
If you receive this email in error, notify the sender by reply email,
delete the received email and do not make use of, disclose or copy it.
Whilst we take reasonable precautions to ensure that our emails are free
from viruses, we cannot be responsible for any viruses transmitted with
this email and recommend that you subject any incoming email to your own
virus checking procedures. Unless related to Council business, the
opinions expressed in this email are those of the sender and they do not
necessarily constitute those of Aberdeen City Council. Unless we expressly
say otherwise in this email or its attachments, neither this email nor its
attachments create, form part of or vary any contractual or unilateral
obligation. Aberdeen City Council's incoming and outgoing email is subject
to regular monitoring.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Aberdeen City Council request email]
2. http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/

Dear Foi Enquiries,
Yes, I would like information that you have from Aberdeenshire Council as well. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Brian Ovens

Foi Enquiries, Aberdeen City Council

Dear Mr Ovens

 

Thank you very much for your clarification.  Aberdeenshire Council is a
separate local authority from Aberdeen City Council and therefore only
Aberdeenshire Council will be able to respond on information relating to
Aberdeenshire.

 

With regards to the following questions, Aberdeen City Council has not
increased its charges over the last 3 years, however is aware that
Aberdeenshire Council have.  We would therefore be grateful if you could
confirm that you would like to receive the requested information from
Aberdeen City Council?

 

3. Over the last few years the price of Burial plots has risen by some
margin, can you tell me the councils reason(s) for this?

4. Which elected Council members supported the rising costs in Burial
plots? (full list from the last 5 years please)

5. Which Council officers supported the rising costs in Burial plots?
(full list from last 5 years please)

6. If neither elected Councillors or Council officers supported the rise
in Burial plots, can you tell me which part of the Council did support the
increase?

 

Clarifying this point will help us to be sure we are providing, where
possible, the information you are interested in.  Please note we will keep
your request on file for 20 working days whilst we await your
clarification.  It can often be helpful to discuss your request with a
member of our team who may be able to help you frame your request or
explain more about how ACC holds its information; if this is something you
feel may be helpful please do call us, and we will be happy to assist you.

 

If you would like to make a separate request to Aberdeenshire Council
relating to Aberdeenshire burial plot costs, the contact details are
available here:
[1]https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/council...

 

Many thanks in advance.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Anna Buchan

Information Compliance Officer

 

Information Compliance Team

Customer Service

Corporate Governance
Aberdeen City Council
3rd Floor North

Business Hub 17
Marischal College
Broad Street
ABERDEEN AB10 1AQ

[2][Aberdeen City Council request email]

Tel 03000 200 292

 

*03000 numbers are free to call if you have ‘free minutes’ included in
your mobile call plan.

Calls from BT landlines will be charged at the local call rate of 10.24p
per minute (the same as 01224s).

[3]www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail (including any attachment to it) is
confidential, protected by copyright and may be privileged. The
information contained in it should be used for its intended purposes only.
If you receive this email in error, notify the sender by reply email,
delete the received email and do not make use of, disclose or copy it.
Whilst we take reasonable precautions to ensure that our emails are free
from viruses, we cannot be responsible for any viruses transmitted with
this email and recommend that you subject any incoming email to your own
virus checking procedures. Unless related to Council business, the
opinions expressed in this email are those of the sender and they do not
necessarily constitute those of Aberdeen City Council. Unless we expressly
say otherwise in this email or its attachments, neither this email nor its
attachments create, form part of or vary any contractual or unilateral
obligation. Aberdeen City Council's incoming and outgoing email is subject
to regular monitoring.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/council...
2. mailto:[Aberdeen City Council request email]
3. http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/

Dear Foi Enquiries,
Yes, just give me the information l requested from ACC please.

Yours sincerely,

Brian Ovens

Foi Enquiries, Aberdeen City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Ovens,

 

Information enquiry reference FOI-17-1778.

 

Many thanks for your recent clarification of your information request,
which we received on 7 December 2017. 

 

The scheduled date for our response to your request for information is on
or before 10 January 2018.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any queries in the
meantime.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Anna Buchan

Information Compliance Officer

 

Information Compliance Team
Customer Service
Corporate Governance
Aberdeen City Council
3rd Floor North

Business Hub 17
Marischal College
Broad Street
ABERDEEN AB10 1AQ

[1][Aberdeen City Council request email]

Tel 03000 200 292

 

*03000 numbers are free to call if you have ‘free minutes’ included in
your mobile call plan.

Calls from BT landlines will be charged at the local call rate of 10.24p
per minute (the same as 01224s).

[2]www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail (including any attachment to it) is
confidential, protected by copyright and may be privileged. The
information contained in it should be used for its intended purposes only.
If you receive this email in error, notify the sender by reply email,
delete the received email and do not make use of, disclose or copy it.
Whilst we take reasonable precautions to ensure that our emails are free
from viruses, we cannot be responsible for any viruses transmitted with
this email and recommend that you subject any incoming email to your own
virus checking procedures. Unless related to Council business, the
opinions expressed in this email are those of the sender and they do not
necessarily constitute those of Aberdeen City Council. Unless we expressly
say otherwise in this email or its attachments, neither this email nor its
attachments create, form part of or vary any contractual or unilateral
obligation. Aberdeen City Council's incoming and outgoing email is subject
to regular monitoring.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Aberdeen City Council request email]
2. http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/

Dear Foi Enquiries,
Why have you sent me a HTML link?

Yours sincerely,

Brian Ovens

Foi Enquiries, Aberdeen City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Ovens,

 

Thank you for your information request of.  Aberdeen City Council (ACC)
has completed the necessary search for the information requested.

 

Please provide the information for Aberdeen City Council:

 

1. Can I have the cost of a new burial plot for each Cemetery under
Aberdeen City Council authority over the last 5 years?

The charge for Burial Lair Rights are the same for all Aberdeen City
Council Cemeteries and are shown below. In 2015-16 the resident and non –
resident price difference was removed and the prices consolidated.

 

  2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
Burial Lair Rights for
Aberdeen City Resident £802.50 £819.00 £850.00 £850.00 £850.00
Burial Lair Rights for
residents outwith Aberdeen
City £1,146.20 £1,170.00 £850.00 £850.00 £850.00

 

2. How much from buying a burial plot goes towards maintaining the
Cemetery?

Any funds received are applied to the in-year running costs of the
infrastructure.

 

3. Over the last few years the price of Burial plots has risen by some
margin, can you tell me the councils reason(s) for this?

From 2012 to 2015 there was an annual increase of 2% as part of a 5 year
Priority Based Budget (PBB). This increase was agree by Council on 10
February 2011. No reason was provided for this increase. The section
regarding price increases for the bereavement service can be viewed on
Page 19 of the ‘Agenda reports pack’ online here:-

[1]https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/i...

 

For 2015-16, the Council decided to remove the different charges for
residents and non-residents of Aberdeen City and the resulting combined
price meant both an increase and decrease. The Council’s legal team
advised that charges for residents and non-residents should be the same to
comply with the provision of service regulations. This was approved by
Council on 5 February 2015. The section regarding price increases for the
bereavement service can be viewed on page 50 of the ‘Agenda reports pack’
online here:-

[2]https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/i...

 

Since 2015-16 there has been no increase in prices for the above.

 

ACC is unable to provide you with information on the councils reason(s)
for this from 2012 to 2015 as it is not held by ACC.  In order to comply
with its obligations under the terms of Section 17 of the FOISA, ACC
hereby gives notice that this information is not held by it. 

 

4. Which elected Council members supported the rising costs in Burial
plots? (full list from the last 5 years please)

With regard to the years between 2012 to 2015, this budget was approved by
Council on 10 February 2011. The attendance details of this committee can
be viewed online here:-

[3]https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/i...

 

With regard to the consolidating of charges for 2015-16, this was approved
by Council on 5 February 2015. The attendance details of this committee
can be viewed online here:-

[4]https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/i...

 

From 2015-16 to present, there has been no increase in costs of burial
lairs.

 

5. Which Council officers supported the rising costs in Burial plots?
(full list from last 5 years please)

Council officers do not approve this matter. This is a matter for
Councillors to approve.

 

ACC is unable to provide you with information on which Council officers
supported the rising costs in Burial plots as it is not held by ACC.  In
order to comply with its obligations under the terms of Section 17 of the
FOISA, ACC hereby gives notice that this information is not held by it. 

 

6. If neither elected Councillors or Council officers supported the rise
in Burial plots, can you tell me which part of the Council did support the
increase?

Please see our answer to Question 4 and 5 above.

 

7. What is total money collected from Burial plots over the last 5 years?

 

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|2011-2012 |2012-2013 |2013-2014 |2014-2015 |2015-2016 |2016-2017 |
|------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------|
|£102,310.00 |£120,386.13|£100,982.60|£153,419.98|£121,020.58|£128,502.74|
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

8. What is the total cost collected by Aberdeen City Council from
headstone being put up in Cemeteries?

 

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|2011-2012 |2012-2013 |2013-2014 |2014-2015 |2015-2016 |2016-2017 |
|------------+------------+------------+-----------+----------+----------|
|£30,757.47 |£25,647.06 |£13,218.96 |£7,217.80 |£6,986.73 |£4,602.40 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

9. Where does the money collected from Burial plots and the mounting of
headstones go to once it is collected?

Funds are applied to the in-year running costs of the infrastructure.

 

10. Where can I get minutes from the meetings held by Aberdeen City
Council on the rising costs of Burial plots and headstones? I would prefer
these in audio if available.

Please see our answer to Question 4. Information on accessibility can be
found here:

 

[5]https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/accessib...

 

We hope this helps with your request.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Grant Webster

Information Compliance Officer

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE HANDLING OF YOUR REQUEST

 

ACC handled your request for information in accordance with the provisions
of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Please refer to the
attached PDF for more information about your rights under FOISA.

 

 

Information Compliance Team

Customer Service

Corporate Governance
Aberdeen City Council
3rd Floor North

Business Hub 17
Marischal College
Broad Street
ABERDEEN AB10 1AQ

[6][Aberdeen City Council request email]

Tel 03000 200 292

 

*03000 numbers are free to call if you have ‘free minutes’ included in
your mobile call plan.

Calls from BT landlines will be charged at the local call rate of 10.24p
per minute (the same as 01224s).

[7]www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail (including any attachment to it) is
confidential, protected by copyright and may be privileged. The
information contained in it should be used for its intended purposes only.
If you receive this email in error, notify the sender by reply email,
delete the received email and do not make use of, disclose or copy it.
Whilst we take reasonable precautions to ensure that our emails are free
from viruses, we cannot be responsible for any viruses transmitted with
this email and recommend that you subject any incoming email to your own
virus checking procedures. Unless related to Council business, the
opinions expressed in this email are those of the sender and they do not
necessarily constitute those of Aberdeen City Council. Unless we expressly
say otherwise in this email or its attachments, neither this email nor its
attachments create, form part of or vary any contractual or unilateral
obligation. Aberdeen City Council's incoming and outgoing email is subject
to regular monitoring.

References

Visible links
1. https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/i...
2. https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/i...
3. https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/i...
4. https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/i...
5. https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/accessib...
6. mailto:[Aberdeen City Council request email]
7. http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/