Agenda item

Mountsett Crematorium Performance and Operational Report

Report of the Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar.

Minutes:

The Neighbourhood Protection Manager provided the Committee with a quarterly update on performance and operations on behalf of the Bereavement Services Manager who was attending the Institute of Cemetery and Cremation Management Learning Convention and Exhibition (for copy see file of minutes).

 

The Joint Committee noted that the number of cremations had increased by 12 from the previous year. The increase was linked to families utilising the service from outside the Gateshead and Durham areas, given that Mountsett Crematorium was one of the cheapest crematoriums in the region. The increase could also be attributed to direct cremations, whereby families could choose to have no service and just a cremation alone, which made it cheaper. It was clear that funeral poverty remained an issue. Direct cremations were a growing trend nationally and demonstrated that there was demand for this type of cremation.

 

There was a designated area within the grounds of Mountsett Crematorium where families could now place a plaque in memory of their loved ones and scatter ashes. This had increased the number and value of memorials sold from the previous year.

 

Mountsett Crematorium had achieved the Green Flag Award for the eighth year running. This was down to all the hard work achieved by staff working at the Crematorium.

 

The Joint Committee agreed to advertise for two Relief Crematorium Attendant posts.  One post was successfully filled with the other post being re-advertised in the hope of finding a suitable candidate.

 

The Neighbourhood Protection Manager informed the Joint Committee that work would soon be underway to explore a new greener alternative to cremation and burial involving water.  The process called ‘resomation’ was more environmentally friendly and would provide customers with more choice.  A further report would be brought back to the Joint Committee in due course.

 

The Service Asset Management Plan (SAMP) had been updated to include budget pressures and divisions of works into different priorities and how the work was planned.

 

There was a proposal that a non-living metal memorial tree could be included in the types of memorials that Mountsett Crematorium could offer. The tree would allow families to purchase an inscribed leaf and attached to the tree.  The tree would then grow over time with all the leaves being placed on it. This would expand the types of memorials offered and provide customers more choice and provide a return.

 

Councillor Burnett wished to know how Mountsett Crematorium was determined to be the cheapest and was this based on a national costing. The Neighbourhood Protection Manager explained that the Joint Committee had considered its pricing approach previouslyby comparing the costs of other local crematoria and by taking into account the poverty agenda against investments made. 

 

The Head of Finance and Transactional Services further explained that there were no national regulations on setting prices for cremations.  Each Council or privately-owned crematorium set their own charges for the services provided on an annual basis as part of the budget setting process.  Charges for Mountsett Crematorium were harmonised with Durham Crematorium.  Generally, each facility was different dependent on the aged of cremator and types of service offered. 

 

Councillor A Bainbridge noted that all staff should be commended for all their hard work for the green flag award.  Councillor O Temple followed by stating that the commendations should also include all staff who worked on producing a clean audit report.

 

Resolved:

     I.        That the report be noted; and

 

    II.        That the success with regards to the Green Flag Award be noted; and

 

  III.        That the updated position with regards to the Relief Crematorium Attendants be noted; and

 

 IV.        That a report on Resomation Cremations be scheduled for a future meeting; and

 

   V.        That the contents of the Service Asset Management Plan be noted and approved to be factored in to the budget planning in 2020/21 and beyond.

 

Supporting documents: