Recommendations
It is recommended that the Head of Major Projects and Commercial
Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for
Environmental Services approve the following amendment to the
Council’s Burial Ground Regulations:
1. To permit pre-purchase of grave spaces at Snell Hatch Cemetery
and Little Trees Cemetery, with the following conditions
applied:
(a) Pre-purchase of grave spaces be limited to residents only but
with discretion considered for those that have a strong affiliation
with Crawley (eg, where the deceased lived a large proportion of
their life in Crawley but were living elsewhere immediately prior
to their death).
(b) Pre-purchase of grave spaces will be permissible providing
there remains at least a three year supply of available grave
spaces (based upon the take up of spaces over the previous three
years).
(c) Pre-purchase will normally be on the basis of purchasing the
exclusive right of burial for the next available sequential space
at the time of purchase. However, should the layout of grave spaces
restrict access to facilitate the subsequent digging of the grave,
pre-purchase will be offered on the basis of the next available
space when the individual dies and will therefore be the right to
be buried in the named cemetery rather than in a specific
plot.
(d) Pre-purchase of the exclusive right of burial to be for a 50
year term from the date of purchase with the option available to
purchase a further 50 years at the end of the initial term.
(e) Pre-purchase will be limited to individuals for personal use
with the ability to make provision for transfer to an immediate
family member upon their death.
2. Within the context of the above conditions, the specific wording
of the amendment to the burial ground regulations to be delegated
to the Head of Major Projects and Commercial Services.