Everyone deserves a fair funeral

Oldham Council must change the way it delivers funeral services, say the local Liberal Democrat group, after a motion to improve funeral provision was rejected by the Labour Party.

Deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats Sam Al-Hamdani said: “This motion highlighted the unfairness and inequality that many people face when trying to organise a funeral – already one of the most traumatic times that people can face. 

“As an example, only one of Oldham’s seven public cemeteries has available space allocated for Muslim graves; one of the faiths that requires people to be buried as soon as possible after death. That’s before you even consider the additional costs that are incurred by organising a funeral at short notice.”

The Liberal Democrat group tried to keep the motion alive by referring it to the Council’s scrutiny committees, which would also have allowed it to review the out-of-date asset transfer policy, as well as the council’s charges for funerals, and planning implications, which failed to be addressed by the original Conservative motion.

Cllr Al-Hamdani continued: “There are a whole range of issues that need to be properly talked through: the Council’s asset transfer policy which currently still requires people to apply to Unity Partnership even though it has been folded back in to the Council; opportunities to adopt the new technique of water cremation, which has environmental benefits; the charges that are in place for funerals and much more; none of which were explored in the motion to Council.

“This needs a proper report, and deserves proper attention to detail. Everyone, of all faiths and none, deserves dignity in death, and we owe it to everyone to look at this properly.”