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Planned System Maintenance - Limited Service

Sunderland City Council will be carrying out planned system maintenance from 12 noon on Friday 5th June until 7am on Tuesday 9th June. During this period, we will only be able to respond to urgent enquiries. If your enquiry is not urgent, please contact us before or after these times when full services will be available. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding.

Terms and conditions - remembering a loved one purchases

Blossom tree plaque - conditions of lease

  • The charge for the lease includes the plaque, inscription and lease term of five or 10 years
  • The lease holder should notify the council of any change of address or contact details to ensure accurate records are maintained
  • The council reserves the right to prohibit any inscription which is considered to be inappropriate or offensive
  • No additional items are to be placed on or around the tree
  • An extended lease is available at the end of the initial period and, where possible, the lease holder will be contacted one month prior to the end of the agreement when the cost of renewal will be reviewed
  • At the end of the term if the lease holder does not wish to extend, the plaque will be removed and made available for collection by the lease holder, any plaque not collected after a period of one month, or where it is not possible to contact the lease holder the plaque will be removed and environmentally disposed of, the location will then be made available to another lease holder
  • The council will not be held responsible for any delay or failure to comply with its obligations under these conditions if the delay or failure arises from any cause which is beyond its reasonable control. This condition does not affect your statutory rights

 

Cremated remains grave - conditions of ownership

  • The charge for a cremated remains grave includes:
    • The supply of the memorial, the plaque, and exclusive rights of burial for a maximum of 100 years
  • The grave owner should notify the council of any change of address or contact details to ensure accurate records are maintained
  • The grave may hold up to two sets of cremated remains, interment of which must be arranged through Sunderland City Council's Bereavement Services
  • The inscription of the plaque is the responsibility of the grave owner and must be completed by a BRAMM/NAMM registered stone mason, the stone mason must submit an application prior to any installation
  • Plaques may only bear the names of those interred in the grave
  • Only one plaque is permitted on each memorial
  • The council reserves the right to prohibit any inscription which is considered to be inappropriate or offensive
  • Personal items, for example, flowers, trinkets and ornaments are only permitted within the personalisation area provided by Sunderland City Council
  • No additional vases, extended border stones, edging, solar lights or other items are permitted
  • The council reserves the right to remove any unauthorised items without notice

 

Cremated remains grave personalisation area - conditions of ownership

  • The charge for a personalisation area includes the supply and installation
  • Personal items, including but not limited to, for example, flowers, trinkets and ornaments are only permitted within the personalisation area provide by Sunderland City Council. Items outside this area will be removed without notice and disposed of
  • No additional vases, extended border stones, edging, solar lights or other items are permitted outside the personalisation area
  • The council will not be held responsible for any delay or failure to comply with its obligations under these conditions if the delay or failure arises from any matter which is beyond its reasonable control. This condition does not affect your statutory rights

 

External wall tablet - conditions of lease

  • External tablets are located in the Garden of Remembrance at Sunderland Crematorium
  • The charge for the lease includes:
    • Tablet and inscription
    • 10-year lease
  • The lease holder should notify the council of any change of address or contact details to ensure accurate records are maintained
  • The council reserves the right to prohibit any inscription which is considered to be inappropriate or offensive
  • An extended lease is available at the end of the initial period and, where possible, the lease holder will be contacted one month prior to the end of the agreement when the cost of renewal will be reviewed
  • No additional items are to be placed on or around the tablet
  • At the end of the term if the lease holder does not wish to extend, the tablet will be removed and made available for collection by the lease holder. Any tablet not collected after a period of one month, or where it is not possible to contact the lease holder, the plaque will be removed and environmentally disposed of, the location will then be made available to another lease holder
  • The council will not be held responsible for any delay or failure to comply with its obligations under these conditions if the delay or failure arises from any cause which is beyond its reasonable control. This condition does not affect your statutory rights

 

Memorial trees - conditions of sponsorship

  • Memorial trees are available for sponsorship for a fixed term of 10 years, with extension available beyond the initial term, or in perpetuity, for the lifetime of the tree however long that may be
  • Memorial tree sponsorship includes:
    • Supply of a memorial tree, the species of which is to be determined by Bereavement Services depending on the location
    • 10-year lease, or lease in perpetuity (perpetuity being defined as the life of the tree)
    • Memorial plaque
    • Personalisation area
    • Planting of tree (new trees only)
  • The tree is and will remain the property of Sunderland City Council, who retain responsibility for maintenance and care. Should the tree require removal for any reason, the council reserves the right to do so without notice, however notice will be given to the sponsors where practicable to do so
  • If for any reason, the tree comes to the end of its life within the first 10 years, the tree will be replaced without charge
  • Trees reaching the end of life for any reason beyond the initial 10 year sponsorship would result in the sponsorship term ending and replacements will not be provided
  • Extended sponsorship periods are available. Where possible, sponsors will be contacted prior to the end of the agreement to discuss. Sponsorships extended beyond the initial 10 year period will be provided thereafter in perpetuity for the remaining life of the tree, however long that may be
  • Memorial tree sponsorships are not transferrable and sponsorship extensions cannot be provided to any person other than the original tree sponsor
  • Should the tree be affected by vandalism, storms, or any other cause outside of the council's reasonable control, the council will endeavour to notify the sponsor prior to its removal. Where this occurs within the first ten years of the agreement, the tree will be replaced by Sunderland City Council
  • Only one plaque is permitted per tree. If the existing plaque needs replacing or amending, the replacement must be purchased through Sunderland City Council
  • Inscriptions on memorial plaques are subject to approval by Sunderland City Council and the council reserves the right to prohibit any inscription which it considers to be inappropriate
  • Personal items are permitted within the allocated personalisation area provided at the base of memorial trees
  • Items placed within the personalisation area are subject to a height restriction of 12 inches/30cm, including but not limited to floral tributes, trinkets and ornaments. Items are not permitted on or in the tree or outside of the personalisation area provided. Any items placed incorrectly will be removed without notice
  • The personalisation area is the sole responsibility of the lease holder to maintain. Sunderland City Council reserve the right to remove items and maintain the area within the tree ring where the condition of such is having a detrimental effect on the visual appearance of the cemetery. Notice of such action will be notified in writing to the lease holder where possible
  • The personalisation area must not be removed, amended or replaced under any circumstances
  • The council does not permit the burial or scattering of ashes under or around memorial trees
  • The lease owner must notify the council of any change of address or contact details to ensure accurate records are maintained
  • The council will not be held responsible for any delay or failure to comply with its obligations under these conditions if the delay or failure arises from any matter which is beyond its reasonable control. This condition does not affect your statutory rights

 

Memorial benches - conditions of sponsorship

Memorial benches are available in various locations across the city including local authority managed cemeteries and predetermined locations at Sunderland seafront.

  • The charge for sponsorship of an existing bench includes:
    • Plaque and inscription
    • Remedial works to bring bench to standard
    • Contribution to a 5-year maintenance plan. Please note: the fee payable covers the sponsor of the memorial bench for a 5-year period only
  • The charge for sponsorship of a new memorial bench includes:
    • Supplying a memorial bench
    • Plaque and inscription
    • Base and installation
    • Contribution to a 10-year maintenance plan. Please note: the fee payable covers the sponsor of the memorial bench for a 10-year period only
  • Payment of appropriate fee is to be made upon receipt of your invoice, within 28 days. Failure to pay within this period will cancel your application
  • The lease owner should notify the council of any change of address or contact details to ensure accurate records are maintained
  • A single, or double plaque for an additional fee, is permitted on each allocated bench and the council reserves the right to prohibit any inscription or design which is considered to be inappropriate or offensive
  • In some cases, existing street and park benches maybe be sponsored. Where possible, the bench maybe replaced with a new bench, or offered as an existing memorial sponsorship opportunity. The Council reserves the right to determine the renewal of existing benches
  • Benches will not be installed in new locations specifically for memorial sponsorship
  • In all cases, the council will repaint/stain the seat on a three yearly cycle
  • No maintenance will be allowed at all by the sponsor, their family or third party
  • The service life of any public bench is 20 years, at which time the condition of the bench will be assessed
  • Should the bench be deemed to be beyond reasonable repair due to vandalism, wear and tear or any other cause outside of the council's reasonable control, the council will endeavour to notify the sponsor/representative prior to its removal
  • The council reserves the right to reposition the seat.  However, should a seat need to be repositioned, it is the objective of the council to reach a prior agreement with the sponsor/representative
  • An extended sponsorship period of five years is available at the end of the initial sponsorship period and, where possible, the sponsor/representative will be contacted 1 month prior to the end of the agreement when the cost of renewal will be reviewed
  • At the end of the sponsorship term or if the sponsor/representative does not wish to extend the sponsorship period, the plaque will be removed and made available for collection at Sunderland Crematorium. Any plaque not collected after a period of one month, or where it is not possible to contact the sponsor/ representative, will be environmentally disposed of
  • No items are to be placed on or around seats and will be removed without notice. Owners will be contacted, where possible, to make arrangements for collection.  Any item not collected after one month following notification, will be disposed of
  • The council does not permit the placing of, or burial of ashes under benches
  • The council will not be held responsible for any delay or failure to comply with its obligations under these conditions if the delay or failure arises from any cause which is beyond its reasonable control. This condition does not affect your statutory rights.

 

Purchase a burial plot - conditions of ownership

    For full details, please refer to the Bereavement Services Cemetery and Crematorium Regulations document, section 9. Burials.

     

    Sanctum above ground vault - conditions of ownership

    • The charge for a Sanctum 2000 above ground vault includes:
      • The lease of the memorial, the plaque and exclusive rights of interment for a maximum 100 years
      • Inscribing of the plaque, up to 80 characters
    • The grave owner should notify the council of any change of address or contact details to ensure accurate records are maintained
    • The vault may hold up to 2 sets of cremated remains for interment of which must be arranged through Sunderland City Council's Bereavement Services
    • Plaques may only bear the names of those interred in the vault
    • Only one plaque is permitted on each memorial
    • The council reserves the right to prohibit any inscription which is considered to be inappropriate or offensive
    • Flowers are only permitted within the flower vase that is integral to the memorial vault
    • No additional vases, extended border stones, edging, solar lights or other items are permitted
    • The council reserves the right to remove any unauthorised items without notice

     

    Trident below ground vault - conditions of ownership

    • The charge for a Trident below ground vault includes:
      • The supply of the memorial, the plaque, vase, pebbles, and exclusive rights of burial for a maximum of 100 years
    • The grave owner should notify the council of any change of address or contact details to ensure accurate records are maintained
    • The vault may hold up to two sets of cremated remains for interment of which must be arranged through Sunderland City Council's Bereavement Services
    • The inscription of the plaque is the responsibility of the grave owner and must be completed by a BRAMM/NAMM registered stone mason, the stone mason must submit an application prior to any installation
    • Plaques may only bear the names of those interred in the vault
    • Only one plaque is permitted on each memorial
    • The council reserves the right to prohibit any inscription which is considered to be inappropriate or offensive
    • Personal items, for example, flowers, trinkets, ornaments etc are only permitted within the personalisation area provide by Sunderland City Council
    • No additional vases, extended border stones, edging, solar lights or other items are permitted
    • The council reserves the right to remove any unauthorised items without notice