Sefton Council's burial and cremation service has been recognised for continuing to improve its offer.

The service was commended with an Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) award for the most improved performer in the cemetery and crematorium category.

The APSE awards recognise both ‘Best Performers’ and ‘Most Improved Performers’ to encourage excellence and promote continuous improvement in local government.

Cllr John Fairclough, Cabinet Member Locality Services, said: "Congratulations to the whole team to be recognised in this fashion.

"Our improved performance stems from efficiencies, as we’ve always delivered a caring and professional service, but now we’re more efficient in the way we run.

"These awards celebrate excellence in a wide range of frontline service areas, and use performance data as a means to assess the quality, cost and productivity of frontline local government services."

Sefton Council manage and operate Bootle Cemetery, Duke Street Cemetery (Southport), Liverpool Road Cemetery (Birkdale/Ainsdale), Southport Crematorium and Thornton Garden of Rest cemetery and crematorium.

APSE Chief Executive, Paul O’Brien, said: “The winners and finalists of these awards are proof that, despite the squeeze of austerity and continuous budget cuts, local councils can still offer excellent frontline services that successfully serve their communities.

"It is a pleasure to be working with these innovative, determined champions of local government.”

Once the coffin arrives it is placed on the catafalque and will remain there for the duration of the service.When the service is over the whole coffin is placed unopened into the cremator were everything is burnt.There are no flames as such ..its so hot that the coffin bursts into flames.

The process takes between 1 1/2 to 2 hours to complete.The remains are left to cool and then crushed by machine and placed into a box for collection.See below for answers to FAQ.

Hope it features strongly in the "Southport Development Framework"
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