Agenda item

The Joint Committee considered a report of the Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar which provided a quarterly update relating to performance and other operational matters (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Bereavement Services Manager provided a summary of performance for the period 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022. He advised that 416 cremations had been undertaken during the period, compared to 487 in the comparable period last year, a decrease of 71. The total number of cremations in 2021/22 was 1,463 compared with 1,758 in 2020/21, a decrease of 295, mainly due to the COVID pandemic peak in 2020/21.

The actual number of cremations undertaken was therefore 163 more than the budget position, resulting in an over achievement of cremation fee income of £96,080 in year.

Moving on to the sale of memorials the number and value of memorials sold of 39 / £5,597 compares to 24 / £5,701 in the same period last year, an increase of 5.

The Bereavement Services Manager further provided details of the Joint Conference of the Federation of Burial & Cremation Authorities and the Cremation Society of Great Britain which was to be held in June 2022. He asked that any member who wished to attend contact him for the necessary arrangements to be made.

Details were then reported regarding the recycling of metals scheme and it was noted the ICCM Board had opened a new round of nominations. One nomination per scheme was requested and the charity was to be bereavement related or linked to life limiting conditions, survivors and their families.  

In conclusion the Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar provided an update on the cremator replacement works, noting that the two new cremators were now full operational and an independent inspection had been carried out on Cremator 1 which had fully passed the tests. With regard to the temporary cremator that was purchased during COVD-19 it was noted that an options report on future requirements would be brought back to the committee later in the year.

Councillor Walton asked whether the Great North-East Air Ambulance was an eligible charity for ICCM nomination and she asked that where possible a local charity should be chosen. In response the Bereavement Services Manager advised that the GNEAA had previously been nominated. He agreed that a local charity should always be selected where possible and asked that any nominations be emailed to him before the closing date in July.

Councillor Charlton asked for some further clarification on the intended course of action to be taken in relation to the temporary cremator. The Bereavement Services Manager advised that an options report would be brought back to a future meeting.

Resolved:

That the Joint Committee

a.       Note the current performance of the crematorium.

b.       Note the date of the Joint Conference of the Federation of Burial &     Cremation Authorities and the Cremation Society of Great Britain and inform the Bereavement Services Manager of any representation from the Joint Committee.

c.        Note the latest round of recycling of metals.

d.       Note the update with regards to the cremator replacement project.