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 which set out proposals with regards to the 2020/21 Revenue and Capital Budgets for Durham Crematorium (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Head of Finance and Transactional Services noted the report incorporated the information from the previous items, the support services SLA, fees and charges and added that, as stated previously, there would be scope for increase distribution of surplus in future years following the completion of the loan for redevelopment works.

Councillor B Kellett asked as regards the purchase and installation of memorial trees and the costs.  The Head of Finance and Transactional Services noted the trees were in fact metal sculptures, enabling inscriptions to be placed on the trees in memory of people who had passed. 

Councillor J Chaplow showed an example of a silver leaf which would be inscribed and placed on the memorial tree.  Councillor B Kellet asked as regards the cost per leaf and capacity of the tree.  The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar noted the costs was £30, with a capacity of 150 per tree.  Councillor B Kellett noted he felt interest would be high and that there may be a requirement to increase the number of trees.  The Chair noted that if there was a requirement to increase capacity, he was sure this was something that officer would bring back to the Joint Committee.

Councillor J Blakey asked if there was any information as regards the new liner for the fountain, with such liners usually having a 30-year guarantee.  The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar noted there had been a rip which had caused a link and therefore a replacement was required. It was not known what had caused the rip in the liner.

The Finance Manager, Spennymoor Town Council, Tracey Woodhead asked if the increase in distribution of surplus for 2021 onward was a one-off increase for that year alone or would be for that year and subsequent years. 

The Head of Finance and Transactional Services noted the increase in the distribution of surpluses in 2020/21 would be a recurring item thereafter, with the prospect of a further increase once the loan was fully repaid.  Any further changes would be for agreement by the Joint Committee in future budget setting rounds.

Resolved:

(i)      That the revenue and capital budget proposals contained within the report and appendices be noted and approved.

(ii)      That the forecast level of reserves and balances at 31 March 2021 be noted.