Agenda item

The Superintendent and Registrar, Alan José asked Members to note the performance figures from January 2013 to March 2013 and the comparison to the same period for 2012, highlighting that there was a net increase of 77 cremations, with a total of 730, with 300 from Durham and 430 from outside of the area. 

Members were also asked to note that the number of memorials sold had decreased in comparison to the same period the previous year, with sales being approximately £9,066 less.  The Superintendent and Registrar noted that while this perhaps could be attributed to the more general economic climate within the country, sales over the first two weeks of April had shown an increase.

The Joint Committee noted that as in previous years, arrangements for the Councillor J Marr had been made to attend the Joint Conference of the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities and The Cremation Society of Great Britain being held 1-3 July 2013 at Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Superintendent and Registrar informed the Joint Committee that he had advised both Officers and Members of Durham County Council (DCC) and Spennymoor Town Council (STC) of his resignation from post with effect from 31 May 2013. 

The Joint Committee noted that options put forward to the Chair and Vice-Chair of both the Durham and Mountsett Crematorium, Members appreciating that there was a vacancy in terms of the Superintendant and Registrar of the Mountsett Crematorium, were for: joint management arrangements with the Mountsett Crematorium; support via a Service Level Agreement with Durham County Council’s Bereavement Services; or direct replacement for the Superintendent and Registrars.  Members noted that following discussions with the Chair and Vice-Chairs of both committees, it was proposed that a replacement for the Superintendent and Registrar be sought. 

Members noted that a meeting with Funeral Directors, Clergy, Funeral Celebrants and other interested parties was to be held on 20 May 2013 to explain the proposals for the replacing the Superintendent and Registrar and to note a feasibility study that would look at how public areas of the Crematorium could be improved.

The Joint Committee noted that in order to ensure business continuity in the short to medium term, arrangements had been made for a member of staff to be appointed on a temporary 3 month contract, the officer having previously provided cover at the Crematorium in the past.  Councillors were also asked to consider proposals for the appointment of a Business Administration Modern Apprentice, which could offer business continuity in the longer term for the Crematorium and reduce the administrative burden on the new Superintendant and Registrar.

Members noted the costs involved and details of the scheme as attached to the agenda papers and were reminded that while the costs were not reflected in the budgets presented at the January meeting, if the Joint Committee agreed the proposals for a Modern Apprentice, then a revised budget would be presented at a later date.

The Superintendent and Registrar referred to the Pre-payment Bond that had been proposed for Durham Crematorium, reminding Members of the information received from the Financial Services Authority (FSA).  It was added that further advice had been sought from specialist consultants - Bovill, and that the Council’s application for FSA registration had been withdrawn due to the potential wider implications regarding Durham County Councils regulated activities. Full details of Bovill’s response, was included in the report. The Head of Finance (Financial Services) advised that the scheme now represented too high a risk and recommended that the Committee cease and further development of the proposals.

The Head of Finance - Financial Services, Paul Darby explained to the Joint Committee that there was good progress to date as regards the green energy proposals for the Crematorium, including the initial stages of a feasibility study as regards the use of waste heat from the remaining cremators that were not currently recycling that energy.  Members were informed of several options and noted those that would not be practical or provide a return upon capital investment.  The Joint Committee noted that the option to use waste heat to provide electricity for use and income generation via a feed-in tariff was the only really feasible route; however, further information would be needed in order to present Members with a full breakdown of the costs and potential income generation.  The Superintendent and Registrar added that potential grants to help fund any capital works were also being investigated.

The Superintendent and Registrar informed Members of an incident that occurred at another local Crematorium with the result being that a coffin was cremated in error.  Members were reassured that the processes in place at Durham were robust, however, in light of this incident it was proposed to have an additional Coffin Footplate and to add a check of this footplate with records to provide additional assurance.  Members asked the cost of this extra process and the Superintendent and Registrar noted that the cost would be for Funeral Directors to bear, but was a minor cost, approximately £1 per footplate.  It was added that some Funeral Directors already provide such a footplate and that the extra check was in addition to the other procedures in place as regards coffins received at the Crematorium.

Resolved:

(i)         That the update report in relation to current performance of the Crematorium be noted.

(ii)        That the update report in relation with regard to the sale of memorials be noted.

(iii)       That the arrangements with regards the Joint Conference of the            Federation of Cremation and Burial Authorities and The Cremation        Society of Great Britain be noted.

(iv)       That the date of the meeting with Funeral Directors, Clergy and             interested parties be noted. 

(v)        That the current situation with regards to the staffing operations be       noted and the temporary 3 month contract at the Crematorium be       approved.

(vi)       That the post of Superintendent and Registrar for Durham          Crematorium be advertised.

(vii)      That the creation of a Business Administration Apprentice post be       approved.

(viii)     That the Council’s application for FSA registration as regards a Pre-Payment Bond for Durham Crematorium be withdrawn and that the scheme was not put in place.

(ix)       That the progress with regards to the Green Energy Proposals be noted and that a further feasibility report be presented to a future meeting of the Joint Committee.

(x)        That with effect from 3 June 2013, the Committee adopt a policy of insisting that all coffins have a Breast Name Plate and a Foot Name Plate.