
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
22 | FREEDOM FUNERALS
Inability to pay and assisted
burials
A lot of people that come to us just
don’t have the money to pay for a
funeral. The industry as a whole is
somewhat skewed; everybody wants
payment for every individual aspect
upfront, and between the cost of a
vicar, a cremation and the various
other elements involved, it comes to a
rough minimum of £1,000.
When you’re living with nothing,
however, the minimum figure doesn’t
matter – finding £1,000 is just not an
option. If you can’t afford it at all, then
the council will eventually conduct an
assisted burial, but they do absolutely
everything to avoid that as an option
and try then to recoup all costs from
the estate of the deceased.
There just doesn’t seem to be a viable
option for those who can’t afford to
bury their loved ones – at least not one
that doesn’t come up against some
resistance. Sometimes applications for
a grant from the Department for Work
and Pensions are successful, but even
then, they only pay a portion rather
than covering the full amount. It only
leads to further debt and misery at an
already-difficult time in one’s life; the
government really should outline and
formulate a strategy for the people
who can’t afford a funeral.
Environmental legislation –
remaining green is expensive
We are members of the Association
of Green Funeral Directors and we
carry out a significant number of
green burials every year, but remaining
sustainable is only getting more
difficult and more expensive.
Take into account the Ultra-Low
Emission Zone in London, for example,
and the requirement for businesses to
use Euro 6-compliant vehicles. That’s
fine when it comes to vans and lorries,
but finding a classic hearse – a very
unique vehicle – with the right engine
is nearly impossible and a significant
further expense.
We also don’t need Euro 6 vehicles
where we’re situated in Colchester –
but when we have to go into London
just to bring people back to the
cemetery, this becomes an issue. We’re
a small business, one that doesn’t have
the capacity to deal with big pieces
of legislation like this, and it really
seems pointless for us to have to buy
compliant vehicles we’ll barely use.
Changing how people think
about funerals
The other trade bodies out there for
the sector aren’t really helping to drive
things forwards. When magazines
come out showing pallbearers in
morning suits, it just shows that
nothing’s changed. I firmly believe our
attitude towards death and funerals
as a national and global community
needs to change.
People know that you’ll need a hearse
and a coffin – we don’t advertise that.
For us, funerals are about celebrating
life, not mourning the death of a loved
one. We want to get our name out
there and get people talking about
death in a completely different light.
We have made
it our aim to
keep costs
down and
help everyone
get exactly the
service they
want without
breaking the
bank
“
“
Lee’s son, William (far
left) with the team
23ANGUS COUNCIL |
CIVIL SOCIETY
CEO Margo Williamson
and Council Leader David
Fairweather
Angus aerial shot
Angus, with its population of approximately 110,000, is
located in the east of Scotland and sits between the cities
of Aberdeen and Dundee. It is bounded by the North
Sea to the east and the Cairngorms National Park to the west.
Angus Council, one of its main champions, says that its thriving
community, good infrastructure and beautiful scenery combine
to make it a wonderful place in which to live and work, as
well as to visit. Angus Council’s CEO, Margo Williamson, tells
TheParliamentary Review
more.
A welcoming place for all
Angus has seven towns, with Forfar being the administrative centre for the area,
and contained within it is a broad base of industry, including manufacturing
and agriculture. Arbroath is the largest town in Angus and has a rich heritage of
manufacturing, retail and, more recently, service businesses. Montrose, with its
port and easy access to Aberdeen, is a thriving town, with the commercial activity
centred on the energy sectors. Brechin, Carnoustie, Kirriemuir and Monifieth are
busy towns with both national and local companies.
A number of local, national and international companies have also made their home
in Angus, including GlaxoSmithKline, Don & Low, Baker Hughes, GE Company, and
AG Barr.
Visiting Angus
Angus is an area of outstanding beauty, with unspoilt beaches, rolling hills and
glens, championship golf courses, attractive towns and villages and a fascinating
FACTS ABOUT
ANGUS COUNCIL
»CEO: Margo Williamson
»Council Leader: David
Fairweather
»Services: Unitary authority,
responsible for local authority
public services and schools
»No. of employees: 5,000
»Margo Williamson is the first
female CEO in Angus since it
was established
»The county of Angus is
approximately 842square
miles
»www.angus.gov.uk
»www.businessangus.com
Angus Council