Agenda item

Update from the chair of the scrutiny task group - Cemetery and Crematorium, Councillor Chris Ryder, following their first meeting on 17 December 2013

The scrutiny task group was set up by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its last meeting following concerns raised by Councillor Chris Ryder. A meeting was held on 17^th December 2013 between the task group members, officers and representatives of the site and the minutes of that meeting had been circulated in advance of this meeting.

Councillor Chris Ryder, as chair of the task group, thanked all those who had attended the meeting and explained that the staff at the crematorium had worked tirelessly to fulfil their obligation to the public. Several staff had worked over and above their normal day to ensure the smooth running of the facility when a cremator was down or not working to full capacity. It may be appropriate for the staff to receive official thanks for their work. Funeral directors using the site had expressed a lack of confidence and trust in the crematorium as there had been reported cases of bereaved families waiting up to three weeks for cremations to take place. The task group have been invited as observers to a meeting on 15^th January 2014 between the funeral directors and Rob Hainsworth, the operational manager for bereavement services.

Further to the questions and responses recorded in the minutes of the meeting of the 17^th December, 2013, Councillor Ryder informed the meeting of the following:

There are some unused greenhouses on the site which could be demolished to make room for further car parking but the task group had been advised that there are planning issues to be considered.

There is an £80,000 retention being held be the council but as the contractors who installed the cremators have gone into liquidation, the council are considering all their options.

Councillor Roger Whyborn, as Cabinet Member for Sustainability, appeared before the committe to answer questions from Members.

He explained that the council had entered into the contract with Crawfords, the supplier of the cremators, after extensive research and no problems had been identified as at March 2013. During the commissioning of the cremators the company went into liquidation. The council has taken steps to ensure that the maintenance and software suppliers are in place and are also seeking the advice of a consultant to enable the continued use of the facilities. It is more cost effective to continue with the existing equipment rather than start afresh.

A member asked about the mercury pollution and whether CBC could be fined if not compliant with the mercury abatement regulations. Councillor Whyborn responded that whilst not desirable it was not illegal to operate the facility at present although the council does have to pay financial penalties.

In response to a suggestion from a member that a capital sum should be ring fenced in the budget for the crematorium, the Cabinet Member acknowledged that it may be appropriate to consider making some provision for the crematorium costs in future budgets but it was too early to say at this stage.

Members expressed concern about the work load being placed on the staff. Jane Griffiths, director of commissioning, advised members that Executive Board had also raised this issue and she could reassure the committee that the staff were working acceptable shift patterns.

The chair asked the  Cabinet Member whether he could give a date when the cremators would be fully operational and compliant. The Cabinet Member could not give a date but he reassured members that all the technical issues with the cremators were being worked on with all possible urgency.

A member suggested that an apology should be made by the council to bereaved families who may have been affected by the problems at the crematorium. In response the Cabinet Member advised that he was not aware that there had been a three-week delay as reported in the media and his understanding was that generally staff were  keeping up with the workload.

It was agreed by the committee that it would receive an update of the situation at its next meeting.