Agenda item

Report of the Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar.

The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar, Graham Harrison asked Members to note the performance figures from 1 September 2019 to 31 December 2019 and the comparison to the same period for 2018, highlighting that there was a net increase of 41 cremations year on year.  It was noted there was a total of 797 for the three-month period with the September to December profile breakdown showing 250 from Durham, 46 from Spennymoor and 501 from outside of the area.

The Joint Committee were informed that in respect of the new lower cost direct cremation option, for the period 1 April 2019 to 31 December 2019 the Crematorium had carried out nine unattended direct cremations and there had been no attended direct cremations.

Members were asked to note that the number of memorials sold had decreased slightly in comparison to the same period the previous year, with sales being £3,579 less than the comparable period last year.

The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar asked Members to recall that at the September meeting of the Joint Committee it had been agreed to advertise for relief Crematorium Assistant posts.  He explained that four applicants were shortlisted and following interviews on 19 December 2019, with two relief Crematorium Assistants employed.  The Joint Committee were asked to note that the Business Administration Apprentice was due to complete the apprenticeship on 31 August 2020 and Members were asked to note two options in this regard: to delete the current Business Administration Apprentice post and create a full-time Technical Assistant post; or replace the Business Administration Apprentice post when the current post hold completes their apprenticeship in September 2020.

Councillors were reminded that it had been noted at the September meeting that for the eighth year running the Crematorium had achieved the Green Flag Award and that an application for the 2020 award had been submitted and progress would be reported back to a future meeting.

The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar informed Members that the Crematorium had been asked to take part in the Durham “Heritage Open Weekend” in September 2020 and noted that in previous years it had been a popular event with around 80 - 100 attendees over those weekends.

In respect of the Recycling of Metals Scheme, it was noted there had been a second round of surplus nationally in 2019 and a cheque in the sum of £8,000 had been received from the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management for the If U care Share Foundation. 

It was added that arrangements had been made for the Chair to present the cheque and a photograph of the presentation and a letter of thanks were included in the report at Appendix 3.  It was explained that a new nomination for Members to consider was for the Woodland Burial Site, put forward by the Friends of the Woodland Burial Site.

The Bereavement Services Manager noted that for the ninth year running St. Cuthbert’s Hospice had provided a Christmas tree and baubles at the Crematorium, a facility to allow visitors to leave a personal message and place it on to the tree.  A request had been received from St. Cuthbert’s Hospice  to continue to provide a tree in 2020 and it was noted no other requests from other organisations had been received.

Members were asked to recall the 2019/20 Capital Programme included work to alter the existing roadway to allow two-way traffic to enter and exit the Crematorium safely and to alleviate the current pinch point.  It was explained that the works would hopefully be completed by the end of March 2020.

The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar noted that some Members may have been aware of an electrical disruption at the Crematorium due to a cable being severed during housing development opposite the Crematorium.  It was explained that the electricity was down for several hours, with a back-up generator delivered by the electricity company being used until the regular supply was restored.  The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar noted two options for Members to consider in respect of mitigating the risk of further disruption in the future.

The Chair thanked the Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar and asked for comments and questions.

Councillor H Liddle asked who would carry out the work if the Business Apprentice Post was not refilled or no Technical Assistant post was created.  The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar said if there was no replacement in terms of apprentice or creation of a Technical Assistant post then the remaining staff would need to pick up the work, but this wasn’t a long term practical solution as the Business Administration Apprentice role had become an invaluable member of the team.  The Vice-Chair, Councillor J Chaplow, noted that if we had the right person for the job, or there was a need for another apprentice then she believed the Crematorium should take them on.  Councillor A Hopgood added she felt that if an apprentice had been taken on for two years, had completed their training and proved themselves then they deserved an opportunity for a job.  The Head of Finance and Transactional Services, Paul Darby noted that the proposal was that the Technical Assistant post would be advertised, with the opportunity to apply to the specialist post being open for internal applications.

It was anticipated that should the current Business Administration Apprentice apply then they would be a strong candidate for the role.

Councillor A Hopgood noted at the last meeting she had made note of a flooding issue. 

She noted that the Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar and his team had quickly met as regards the issue and had resolved the issue within a week, a fantastic response and wanted to thank the team.

Councillor D Brown asked for further information following a recent article in the Northern Echo which quoted the Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar, with reference to technology linked to reducing Nitrogen Oxide emissions.  The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar noted that the technology would be something to look at, however, this would be at the cremator replacement stage with the current cremators having many years left.  He reminded Members that the priority had been to provide mercury abatement as a consequence of the changes in European environmental regulations.

Councillor P Jopling returned to the issue of the apprentice position and added that she felt if the time and resources had been used to help train the current apprentice, then they should be given the opportunity to apply for any Technical Assistant post that may be created.

Councillor J Blakey thanked the Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar and the work of his team in restoring power to the Crematorium as quickly as possible.  She note that she was aware of some noise disruption due to an air hammer during a service recently, however, she wished her thanks to be passed on to those workers involved in resolving the matter.  She asked as regards a £30 charge in relation to non-viable foetuses, adding she had believed this was something the Crematorium had not charged for.  The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar noted the facility did not charge, however, the £30 was a medical reference fee, not a fee set by the Crematorium or Joint Committee.  The Head of Finance and Transactional Services noted that the proposed fees and charges were set out within a report on the agenda and reminded Members of the harmonisation after Local Government Reorganisation with the Council’s other facility at Mountsett.  He added that the Mountsett Crematorium Joint Committee had agreed the proposed fees and charges at their meeting held the previous day.

Councillor A Hopgood asked if issues at the Woodland Burial site had been resolved, the Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar noted they had, with the issue now being dealt with by the County Council. 

Councillor A Hopgood suggested that in relation to options to mitigate electrical disruption in the future it would be beneficial for figures for both options to be calculated and a further report to come back for Members to consider in due course.

Resolved:

(i)         That the current performance of the Crematorium be noted.

(ii)        That the current situation with regards to the relief crematorium attendant’s position be noted.

(iii)       That a full time Technical Assistant post be created and advertised internally be agreed.

(iv)       That the continued success with regards to the Green Flag Award be noted.

(v)        That the situation with regards to Heritage open Weekend be noted.

(vi)       That the updated position with regards to the recycling of metals scheme be noted.

(vii)      That the friends of the Woodland Burial site being nominated in the next round of recycling of metals scheme be agreed.

(viii)     That St Cuthbert’s Hospice providing a Christmas tree again in 2020 be agreed.

(ix)    That the current situation with regards to the improvements to the roadway be noted.

(x)     That further information as regards costs of options relating to mitigating electricity disruption be brought back to the Joint Committee for consideration.