Public health funerals

We have a duty to make appropriate funeral arrangements where it appears that no other person is willing or able to do this for someone who has died in the borough.

If a person dies without a known next of kin we normally act on written instructions received from the local coroner's officer. Wherever possible we will recover funeral expenses from the estate of the deceased. If the remaining estate is over £500, there are no other bills outstanding and no known next of kin, the council refers the estate to the Treasury Solicitor. Where we find details of family and friends they will be informed of the death and invited to make the funeral arrangements.

Bona Vacantia

The Bona Vacantia Division of the Treasury Solicitor's office administers the estates of persons who die interstate without known kin and collect the assets of dissolved companies and failed trusts.

Details of public health funerals held in Cheltenham borough

In response to freedom of information requests relating to public health funerals, the details below fulfil the obligations of section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

This information is updated as and when necessary.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, names and addresses may have been redacted or withheld under the following two examples:

Section 21 - Information accessible to applicant by other means

Although we hold some of the information, we hold this on behalf of the Treasury Solicitor. Some details of the estate of the deceased which have been passed on to the Treasury Solicitor can be accessed via the Government Legal Department's Bona Vacantia webpages.

Section 31(1)(a) - Law enforcement (prevention and detection of crime)

We will not disclose address details to the public where they relate to a deceased person's property as it is likely to be unoccupied and might still contain the deceased's personal papers and effects. It is not in the public interest to disclose information relating to empty properties prior to a full and thorough securing of the assets of the estate which will be carried out by the Treasury Solicitors. Additionally, giving out the full name of the deceased could lead to properties being identified by using other information easily available, such as the electoral roll, telephone directory entry or internet searches.