Agenda item

Report of the Bereavement Services Manager

The Joint Committee considered a report of the Bereavement Services Manager & Registrar which provided an update relating to performance and other operational matters (for copy see file of Minutes).

It was reported that there were 422 cremations undertaken during the period 1 September 2017 to 31 December 2017, compared to 445 in the comparable period last year, a decrease of 23 year on year. The total number of cremations undertaken in the 9 months to 31 December is 976, compared to 1,044 in the same period last year, a year on year reduction of 67 (6.5%).

Performance was also reported in respect of the sale of memorials. In overall terms the number and value of memorials sold of 15 / £5,436, compares with 10 / £2,881 in the same period last year, an increase of 5 / £2,555 year on year.

The Bereavement Services Manager went on to report that the Crematorium did not currently benefit from Wi-Fi connectivity and several requests had been received from members of the public, funeral directors and clergy for this to be provided. The estimated cost of installing Wi-Fi connectivity was approximately £2,750, though the exact cost was to be confirmed. Costs could be met from within existing budget provisions. It was also reported that providing Wi-Fi at the Crematorium would bring the building in line with other council buildings.

Members were also advised that the existing two year Cleaning Service Level Agreement which currently costs £6,599 per year commenced on 1 April 2016 and was therefore due to expire on 31 March 2018. A high quality service had been provided and Members were therefore asked to approve a revised SLA for the period April 2018 to March 2020, costing £7,280 per year. It was explained that service would cost £7,280 per year (a 10.3% increase on the recharges levied in 2017/18) however took into consideration inflationary pressures such as the staff pay award.

The Bereavement Services Manager reminded Members that Mountsett Crematorium was successful in retaining its Green Flag for the sixth year running in 2017. An application would be submitted for the 2018 Award and progress would be reported to future meetings.

Details were then reported with regard to the possible development of a dedicated website for the Crematorium. The suggestion had come following attendance of the Chair at the most recent ICCM Conference and following enquiries a business case had been submitted to Durham County Council’s Digital and Customer Services team. A dedicated website would incur a one of cost of £4,944 for design and site build and £578 per year in respect of annual hosting and maintenance costs. These costs had also been factored into the 2018/19 budget.

In line with recycling of metals scheme, the Crematorium received a cheque from the recycling of metals from the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management to the sum of £5,000 for Stillbirth and neonatal death charity on 1 September 2017. The Chair of the Joint Committee presented the cheque to SANDS on 20 November 2017.

Moving on, the Bereavement Services Manager went on to advise that an update on the replacement of cremators and installation of mercury abatement plant would be provided under Item 9.

Councillor Dodds asked whether it was necessary to go to the expense of providing WiFi when most devices would be able to access good 4G connectivity. The Head of Finance and Transactional Services advised that there was an expectation by the public that all publically accessible buildings have free WiFi connectivity. He further noted that Mountsett Crematorium was one of the only council owned buildings which did not.

The Bereavement Services Manager advised that there had been one complaint received from a member of the public and clergy members had also requested that it be provided.

Following a query regarding the cost of installation, it was noted that the WiFi if installed, would cover the whole of the site and with such would be available in the Book of Remembrance building.

Further discussion took place regarding whether the facility was offered at Durham Crematorium and Gateshead Crematoria. It was noted that the same proposals were to be considered by the Durham Crematorium Joint Committee.

Councillor Batey went on to comment that she considered the website to be a great idea however queried the associated costs. In response it was reported that the website would be provide by DCCs own ICT. Furthermore by utilising the councils own service, it was guaranteed that the site would be secure by being held on a public sector network and future proofed for any future improvements that wished to be made, for example transactional services such as the facility to be able to purchase memorial plaques online for example.

Councillor Charlton agreed that provision of a site through in-house services would be preferable given the obvious safeguards that this provides.

Further discussion took place regarding the proposed content of the website and it was suggested that given the sensitivities relating to any proposed website, that further research be undertaken and that the joint committee delegate responsibility to the Chair and Bereavement Services Manager to agree the final details.

Resolved:

·         That the current performance of the crematorium be noted.

·         That the installation of Wi-Fi connectivity at the crematorium be agreed.

·         That the SLA with regards to cleaning be agreed.

·         The application for the Green Flag Award 2018 be noted.

·         That the development and associated costs of a dedicated website be approved in principle with the final determination being delegated to the Chair of the Joint Committee alongside the Bereavement Services Manager.

·         The distribution of recycling income to the respective charity be noted.