SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has congratulated Flintshire’s Bereavement Services for being recognised with a national award for the second year in a row.
The Council was named the best performer in the Cemetery and Crematorium Services category at the recent Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE) Performance Network Awards.
Mr Rowlands said: “It is always good to hear that the work of a council in North Wales has received national recognition especially in such an area where they are dealing with extremely sensitive issues where compassion and understanding is needed.
“To be recognised in this way for two years in a row is particularly pleasing and congratulations must go to all the those involved in helping to achieve this.
“It is also great that other local authorities are now using the performance of Flintshire’s Bereavement Services as a benchmark.”
The winners are determined based on data shared with APSE from local authorities across the UK, covering everything from financial management, staff and operational management, to policies and accreditations.
It is the second consecutive year that Flintshire County Council has come out on top in the Cemetery and Crematorium Services category, out of around 50 eligible local authorities, having previously been recognised as the most improved service.
This recognition has led to other local authorities now using the council’s performance as an example to benchmark against.
Flintshire’s Bereavement Services are responsible for the management of 15 cemeteries and eight closed churchyards across the county, including all aspects of ground maintenance along with approximately 450 interments each year.
The team undertakes a memorial safety programme on around 20,000 memorials annually and conducts around 25 public health funerals each year.
APSE is a non-profit body promoting excellence in the delivery of frontline services to local communities across the UK. It works with more than 300 local authorities.
