Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Clean and Green Environment

RESOLVED THAT

1.    the officer response and comments in relation to the recommendations of the Cemetery & Crematorium Scrutiny Task Group, as set out within Appendix 2 be noted

2.    the creation of a Cabinet Member Steering Group to consider a longer term solution for the Cemetery and Crematorium service, including members of the Scrutiny Task Group, to help ensure effective implementation be approved.

The Cabinet Member Clean and Green Environment introduced the report which had been deferred from the June meeting of Cabinet. He once again thanked the Scrutiny task group for its report which was most valuable and he accepted the recommendations. In response to the concern raised in the scrutiny report that staff were “out on a limb” he confirmed that he would be meeting the team on a regular basis.

The Cabinet Member referred to the briefing note attached to the Cabinet papers. Lessons had been learned but there remained ongoing operational issues and he assured members that he was doing all he could to address these concerns and focus on the future.

He took the opportunity to update members on the tender process and reported that the advert for expressions of interests closed on Friday 12 September and 13 applications had been received. A shortlisting process was now underway and the draft tender brief would be finalised. As the Cabinet member responsible he was keen to see the tender brief and sign it. He had made a commitment to the working group and would also give them an opportunity to be involved in the sign off process. He anticipated that this process would be completed at the end of the week of 20 September. Thereafter there would be an invitation to tender on 8 October and on 31 October an evaluation and shortlisting process, with interviews anticipated between 3 and 7 November. Consultants would be appointed on 17 November.

The Leader of the Council thanked the scrutiny task group for its work and highlighted the recommendation to Cabinet to create a Cabinet member steering group to consider a longer term solution for the service, which included members of the Scrutiny Task Group.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    the officer response and comments in relation to the recommendations of the Cemetery & Crematorium Scrutiny Task Group, as set out within Appendix 2 be noted

2.    the creation of a Cabinet Member Steering Group to consider a longer term solution for the Cemetery and Crematorium service, including members of the Scrutiny Task Group, to help ensure effective implementation be approved.