St Michael's cemetery, Dumfries.

Susan Murray made this Freedom of Information request to Dumfries and Galloway Council This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was successful.

Dear Dumfries and Galloway Council,

This request relates to the cemetery situated off Craigs Road.

Please advise:

1) Is Dumfries and Galloway Council responsible for the upkeep of this cemetery?

2) Which department is responsible for this precisely?

3) Has the council any policy document on how graves are to be maintained? Does this include items such as keeping graves tidy, decorations on graves, items placed on graves, extending plots, flowers, planting of bushes, roses etc? In the event there is no policy document, are there any instructions given out in relation to this?

4) Is their anyone who deals with concerns over the way in which some graves have been decorated, or extended?

Yours faithfully,

Susan Murray

Dumfries and Galloway Council

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002

Thank you for your request for information which was received on 08/06/2020 which we are dealing with in terms of the above legislation. We have given your request the unique reference 5000674 and we would appreciate it if you could quote this on all correspondence to us.

Under the terms of the legislation, we have an obligation to respond to your request within 20 working days from the day after your request was received. We will therefore aim to respond to your request by 06/07/2020.

However, as you will be aware the COVID-19 pandemic is having an effect on Council resources and staffing levels. These are unprecedented and challenging times and we are working across Dumfries and Galloway to respond to the situation as it develops, following official advice. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

If you have any queries in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact [email address].

Kind Regards

FOI Unit
Dumfries and Galloway Council

This email, from Dumfries and Galloway Council, and any files transmitted with it, is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.

If you are not the intended recipient of this email (and any attachment) please inform the sender by return email and destroy all copies. If you are not the intended recipient or responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, disclosure, review, dissemination, distribution or reproduction of this email is strictly prohibited. Please be aware that communication by internet email is not secure as messages can be intercepted and read by someone else. Dumfries and Galloway Council do not accept liability for any loss or damage which may result from this email or any files attached. It is your responsibility to scan this email and any attachments for computer viruses or other defects.

Any email including its content may be monitored and used by the Council for reasons of security and form monitoring internal compliance with the policy on staff use. Email monitoring or blocking software may also be used.

Any email message sent or received by the Council may require to be disclosed by the Council under the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. For further information and to view the Council’s privacy statement please go to https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/privacy

FOI Responses, Dumfries and Galloway Council

1 Attachment

PUBLIC

Please find below the Council's response to your request 5000674 which was received on 08/06/2020.

Details of request: 1) Is Dumfries and Galloway Council responsible for the upkeep of this cemetery?

2) Which department is responsible for this precisely?

3) Has the council any policy document on how graves are to be maintained? Does this include items such as keeping graves tidy, decorations on graves, items placed on graves, extending plots, flowers, planting of bushes, roses etc? In the event there is no policy document, are there any instructions given out in relation to this?

4) Is their anyone who deals with concerns over the way in which some graves have been decorated, or extended?

Response:

1) Is Dumfries and Galloway Council responsible for the upkeep of this cemetery? Yes

2) Which department is responsible for this precisely? Community Assets - Nithsdale are responsible.

3) Has the council any policy document on how graves are to be maintained? Does this include items such as keeping graves tidy, decorations on graves, items placed on graves, extending plots, flowers, planting of bushes, roses etc? In the event there is no policy document, are there any instructions given out in relation to this?Please find document attached.

4) Is their anyone who deals with concerns over the way in which some graves have been decorated, or extended? Any concerns can be discussed by phoning 01387271122 or emailed to [email address] and the relevant officer will deal with the concern.

Please be aware that the Council holds the copyright, where applicable, for the information provided and it may be reproduced free of charge in any format or media without requiring specific permission. This is subject to the material not being used in a misleading context. The source of the material must be acknowledged as Dumfries and Galloway Council and the title of the document must be included when being reproduced as part of another publication or service.

If you require any further clarification, please contact us. However, if you are not satisfied with the way in which your request has been dealt with, you can request us to carry out an internal review of the decision by emailing [email address] or writing to us within 40 working days of receiving this response.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the review, you have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision. Appeals to the Commissioner can be made online at https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlo... or in writing to: The Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS.

Kind Regards

FOI Unit
Dumfries and Galloway Council

PUBLIC

This email, from Dumfries and Galloway Council, and any files transmitted with it, is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.

If you are not the intended recipient of this email (and any attachment) please inform the sender by return email and destroy all copies. If you are not the intended recipient or responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, disclosure, review, dissemination, distribution or reproduction of this email is strictly prohibited. Please be aware that communication by internet email is not secure as messages can be intercepted and read by someone else. Dumfries and Galloway Council do not accept liability for any loss or damage which may result from this email or any files attached. It is your responsibility to scan this email and any attachments for computer viruses or other defects.

Any email including its content may be monitored and used by the Council for reasons of security and form monitoring internal compliance with the policy on staff use. Email monitoring or blocking software may also be used.

Any email message sent or received by the Council may require to be disclosed by the Council under the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. For further information and to view the Council’s privacy statement please go to https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/privacy