Agenda item

Joint Report of the Interim Corporate Director of Regeneration and Local Services and the Corporate Director of Resources / Treasurer to the Joint Committee.

The Joint Committee considered a joint report of the Interim Corporate Director of Regeneration and Local Services and Corporate Director of Resources and Treasurer to the Joint Committee which set out details of the proposed fees and charges for Durham Crematorium for 2020/21 (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Head of Finance and Transactional Services advised that taking into account inflationary and cost pressures, including the increase of the Medical Referee fee.  It was recommended that the cremation fee is increased by £20 (2.9 percent) to £720 inclusive of medical referee, and environmental surcharge fees where appropriate in 2020/21. This increase had been factored into the draft budgets pending member approval.

Members were reminded that following Local Government Review in 2009 the fees and charges at the Central Durham Crematorium were harmonised with the charges at Mountsett Crematorium and that Mountsett Crematorium Joint Committee had met on 28 January 2020 and agreed their fees and charges.

A full schedule of the proposed fees and charges for Durham Crematorium was shown in Appendix 2 of the report, alongside benchmarking comparison data shown in Appendix 3.

The Head of Finance and Transactional Services noted the proposed increases to a weekend service of £35 and the Wesley Music System for visual display, webcasts and other additional services, which were as a result of increased costs that had been imposed by the suppliers.  He added that even with the proposed increases, the fees proposed would be less than the current fees of other facilities in the region, with those facilities yet to set their fees and charges for 2020/21.

The Chair thanked the Head of Finance and Transactional Services and asked for comments and questions.

Councillor A Hopgood noted the explanation of the additional charges for the Wesley Music System, however she asked for clarification as regards a charge listed of £10 for an urn-box, she felt this was something that should be included within the main fee.  The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar noted that fee was for an additional urn-box, one box was provided as part of the cremation fee.

Resolved:

(i)      That Members of the Joint Committee note and approve the proposed fees and charges at Appendix 2 effective from 1 April 2020, which seeks to increase the cremation by £20 (2.9%) per crematorium from £700 to £720.

(ii)      The proposed fees and charges are incorporated into the 2020/21 budget.