PAPER
C
FIRE
AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE – 19
JULY 2004
BEREAVEMENT
SERVICES ISSUES
REPORT
OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR FIRE,
EMERGENCY PLANNING AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE
CONSIDERATION
This report provides the Select Committee
with an update on issues that have been addressed by the Bereavement Services
Task Group over the last 12 months. The
Task Group last reported to the Select Committee in August 2003.
ACTION REQUIRED BY
THE SELECT COMMITTEE
To determine whether
or not the Bereavement Services Task Group should continue to operate.
In the event that the
Task Group is to continue to provide guidance as to issues for future scrutiny.
The Bereavement Services Task
Group has met on 4 occasions during the year. Consideration has been given to the following
issues:-
Crematory and Temperature Control
Staff have expressed concerns
about temperature control in the crematory during hot weather in the summer
months. Health and Safety requirements
do not give a specified maximum indoor workplace temperature. The temperature can reach 100 degrees F or
more in the crematory. Employers should
make the working conditions suitable for employees to work in as comfortable as
is reasonably practical. With this in mind advice has been sought from
colleagues in Property Services on the issue of temperature control.
The nature of the service provided
by the crematorium has posed difficulties for a realistic and achievable
solution to this problem. A site visit
was made to Swindon Crematorium. Swindon was chosen as it is similar in size
and layout to the crematorium at Whippingham.
Swindon also have the same Shelton Diamond cremator machines.
The site visit was made by Mr D.
Sedgley and Mr N. Hayton from Property Services and Mr M. Houghton and Mr. I.
Tester from Bereavement Services. The
site visit was a positive one and officers now have a better understanding of
the problem at Whippingham. After
receiving a report from officers on the site visit the Task Group concluded
that partial air conditioning in the crematory was the preferred solution. Detailed costings are being prepared.
Closed Churchyards
The Council, through Bereavement
Services are responsible for the maintenance costs of eleven closed
churchyards. A churchyard is deemed to
be closed when there are no more burial spaces and there has been an Order in
Council issued by the Home Office.
There was some uncertainty as to
whether all these churchyards were indeed legally closed. After a request was made by the Task Group
officers made investigations into this issue and the outcome was that all the
churchyards under Bereavement Services control are indeed closed. The Council now has documentary evidence
establishing the legal status of each of these churchyards.
East Cowes Extension
On 29 January 2003 the Executive
agreed in principle for a further cemetery extension in East Cowes. The Task group has been kept informed of
progress at recent Task Group meetings.
Plans have been prepared and a planning application made. Bore holes were dug on the plot to enable an
environmental evaluation to be undertaken to determine site suitability.
Home Office Consultation – Burial
Law
Task Group members discussed a
consultation paper from the Home Office.
The government believes that
burial law is in need of reform, and the Home Office has published a
consultation paper- “Burial Law and policy in the 21st
century”. The aim of this consultation
is to provide an opportunity for informed debate on this sensitive and
important issue and to gain views on the provision and maintenance of burial
grounds in the future.
The existing legislation at this
present time relating to burial and exhumation does not apply evenly to all
providers of burial grounds. An example
of this would be the Church of England and the Church of Wales burial grounds
are subject to ecclesiastical law.
Municipal cemeteries are subject to the Local Authorities Cemeteries
Order 1977 which allows management discretion while regulating such matters as
plans and record keeping, fees, maintenance, depth of burial, offences and
penalties.
The government believes that there
is scope for improvement, the consultation paper looks at how this might be
achieved. The application of the burial
law more consistently across the various providers would result in a better
service and a wider choice for those seeking to use burial facilities.
The government believes that there
may be a case for placing an obligation on local authorities to assess their
communities needs for burial space.
There is a fundamental problem facing all burial grounds and those
wishing or needing to provide burial facilities that is maintenance. This service is provided in perpetuity and
most burial authorities have not got the income to do this. Burial grounds after all are a diminishing
asset and the income from existing grave purchasers is rarely sufficient to
generate enough income indefinitely.
Observations from the Task Group
have been incorporated into a response to the consultation process. The consultation ended on 13 July 2004.
Crematorium site visit
Task Group members have recently
visited the crematorium. The
Bereavement Services Manager gave them a tour of the facilities and the
grounds. Although members had visited
the crematorium in the past they were able to see and hear about improvements
at the site. The woodland walk is a success with the members of the public and
it will shortly be extended. Chimney
repairs had been completed and no further problems had occurred. During the visit members suggested how
improvements could be made to the floral tribute area i.e:- covered area.
During the last year Station Lane
has been repaired and resurfaced, car parking arrangements improved and a
disabled toilet added. Signage has been
upgraded.
Income Trends
Demand for cremation has gained
popularity over recent years, whereas burials seemed to have declined over the
same period. With this in mind the Task
Group discussed the financial implications this would have on Bereavement
Services. Officers outlined the
implications. The Bereavement Services
Manager is evaluating this trend and will be in a position to report to the
Task Group at a future meeting on the likely impact on income. A reduction in adult burials has a negative
effect on income.
Bereavement Services received a capital
allocation of £50k for 2004/5. Monies
have been allocated to continuing essential Health and Safety works,
particularly associated with memorial and tree safety. Asset condition surveys provide the focus
for other spend priorities.
The Friends of Ryde Cemetery in partnership
with Bereavement Services and Ryde Development Trust are preparing an
application for a lottery grant. This
grant would be to support improvements to Ryde Cemetery, these works would
include:-
A cemetery management plan is
being prepared. This plan sets out the
conservation, management and other objectives for Ryde Cemetery for future
years. The broad intention is to
restore the Cemetery and recreate the Victorian era.
Lottery funding at Ryde cemetery,
if awarded, could set a precedent for other Island cemeteries
Carisbrooke church wall (St
Mary’s)
An electronic book of remembrance
Cremator renewal
Possible future task group issues include
plot conversion and grounds maintenance arrangements. Closure on outstanding issues is also likely to be of importance.
RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES
AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Consumer Protection Service Plan
Bereavement Service Best Value Review
CONSULTATION PROCESS
The Task Group has sought advice and guidance from Property Services personnel and officers responsible for managing the dog warden service. Local members have been consulted. The Bereavement Services Manager continues to be a member of Friends of Ryde Cemetery.
FINANCIAL, LEGAL,
CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS
The controllable cash limit for
Bereavement Services during 2004/5 provides a net income over-expenditure
surplus of £264k.
Many Select Committee Members are aware of the increase in vandalism in the cemeteries and it is fast becoming a serious concern. A culture of deteriorating condition can foster disrespect and further vandalism. The Task Group is very keen to reverse what some might see as a downward spiral.
BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE
PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT
Bereavement Services
Task Group Meeting papers for meetings 11 December 2003, 5 March 2005, 22 April
2004, 8 June 2004
Home Office
Consultation Burial Law and Policy in the 21st Century
Executive Minutes 29
January 2003
Bereavement Services
Asset Condition Surveys
Contact Point: Malcolm
Houghton, Bereavement Services Manager, ' 822288
Email
[email protected]
CLLR DAVID KNOWLES
Portfolio Holder for Fire, Emergency
Planning and Consumer Protection