National Award for Flintshire’s Bereavement Services

Flintshire County Council has been recognised with a national award for its Bereavement Services 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.

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.

The APSE Performance Network Awards winners were announced at a ceremony in Blackpool.

Councillor Ted Palmer, Cabinet Member for Highways, Assets and Public Protection, said:

“We’re incredibly proud of our Bereavement Services team for their hard work and commitment to delivering a first-class service.

“The team provides a vital service to the people of Flintshire at what can be some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and they do so with professionalism and compassion.

“That their efforts have once again been recognised at a national level is a real testament to the high standards they uphold every day.”

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.