Agenda item

The Superintendent and Registrar, Alan José, presented a Report relating to the following issues associated with the Crematorium. 

Cremations

The Superintendent and Registrar reported the number of cremations for the period 1 April 2009 to 30 June 2009 inclusive.  These were 518 (+ 11 NVF), a decrease of 122 (+ 1 NVF) on the same period in the previous year.  The total of 518 (+ 11 NVF) included 329 from outside the area, with the remaining total being 189 for the area.

Memorial Gardens

The Superintendent and Registrar reported that during the period 1 April 2009 to 30 June 2009, the following Vase Blocks and Memorial Plaques had been sold:

Vase Blocks              3

Large Plaques           7

Small Plaques           6

Total                           16

Financial Information (Net of VAT)

Vase Blocks              1,070.00

Large Plaques           1,692.29

Small Plaques           1,170.00

Total                           £3,932.29

Influenza Pandemic – Planning

The Superintendent and Registrar asked Members to note that a comprehensive Report giving details of the cremation and burial capacity of the County had been forwarded to the Civil Contingencies Unit.

The Superintendent and Registrar informed Members that the four additionally trained Cremator Operators would undertake one day a month on-site experience beginning from August.

In addition, the Superintendent and Registrar made Members aware that he had spoken to Ian Hoult from the Durham County Council’s Neighbourhood Services Directorate as regards additional volunteer Cremator Operator coverage for the County and the possibility for further volunteers to be trained, specifically for the Mountsett Crematorium.

Other Matters

The Chair asked why the agenda papers did not contain a Report from the Superintendent and Registrar outlining the options that the Joint Committee could take in relation to works to the Crematorium, specifically those of replacement of cremators, mercury abatement and potential expansion of the facility. 

The Chair noted that there was an urgency in moving forward quickly in relation to these matters as he recalled at a meeting relating to Crematoria Abatement of Mercury Emissions Organisation (CAMEO), there would be a requirement to pay a contribution to burden share if no abatement had been put in place by 31 December 2012.  For the Durham Crematorium, this could be approximately £100,000 per annum.  The Superintendent and Registrar agreed that this would be approximately the amount, based upon a figure of £50 per cremation as from 31 December 2012.

Councillor Stoker asked whether the error within the minutes of the previous meeting could have lead to Officers believing that the report outlining options was not in fact required for this meeting, but for the meeting to be held in October.  The Democratic Support Assistant apologised for any ambiguity in the minutes from the previous meeting.  The Superintendent and Registrar noted that the Members had requested two Reports, one Report from the Superintendent and Registrar outlining options available to the Joint Committee to be made available to Members at this meeting, and a second more comprehensive Joint Report from the Superintendent and Registrar and the Treasurer to follow at the October meeting.  The second Joint Report would set out details of the financial implications for various options and timescales for implementing such options as the Joint Committee may wish to pursue.  Members were asked to note that the Superintendent and Registrar had in fact prepared an outline report for Members as requested, but he was requested not to present it to Members in its current form prior to input from the appropriate Finance Officers from the Durham County Council. 

The Chair understood that whilst it may have been necessary for the Superintendent and Registrar’s Report to have been held back in order to ensure all details were correct, he noted that he should have been made aware in advance of the meeting and an explanation should have been provided for Members.  The Clerk apologised to the Members and added that she would speak to the Officers involved as regards the reasons for the Report being held back.

Members proposed an additional meeting may be required prior to the October meeting in order to receive the Superintendent and Registrar’s Report.  The Clerk would liaise with the Superintendent and Registrar, Treasurer and the Chair as regards a date should this be the wish of the Joint Committee.

Resolved:

(a)       That the Report be noted.

(b)       That an additional meeting be called, with a date to be determined and circulated to Members.