Agenda item

Joint Report of the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Climate Change and the Interim Corporate Director of Resources and Treasurer to the Joint Committee.

The Joint Committee considered a joint report of the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Climate Change and Interim Corporate Director of Resources and Treasurer to the Joint Committee which set out details of the proposed fees and charges for Durham Crematorium for 2021/22 (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Finance Manager, Neighbourhoods and Climate Change advised that taking into account inflationary and cost pressures it was recommended that the cremation fee increased by £20 (2.8 percent) to £740 inclusive of medical referee, and environmental surcharge fees where appropriate.

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 Finance Manager, Neighbourhoods and Climate Change noted a matrix set out at paragraph 10 of the report which indicated the extra income that could be received / budgeted with varying levels of assumptions on cremation numbers and fee increases.

The Chair thanked the Finance Manager, Neighbourhoods and Climate Change and asked for comments and questions.

Town Councillor I Machin asked as regards the budget being ran prudently and what would be done if the levels of cremation continued at the level greater than forecast as a result of the pandemic.  The Finance Manager, Neighbourhoods and Climate Change noted that the last year had been very difficult in terms of the pandemic and therefore the budget would not be set looking at those numbers, rather the prudent levels pre-pandemic.  He added that if the higher level of cremations did continue then the budget would be looked at accordingly.

Resolved:

(i)      That Members of the Joint Committee note and approve the proposed fees and charges at Appendix 2 effective from 1 April 2021, which seeks to increase the cremation by £20 (2.8 percent) per crematorium from £720 to £740.

(ii)      The proposed fees and charges are incorporated into the 2021/22 budget.