Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member Clean and Green Environment

The Cabinet Member Clean and Green Environment, Councillor Coleman introduced the report. He was delighted that he was able to bring this report to Cabinet and he gave thanks to the excellent team of officers who had made a tremendous input to the project. He also acknowledged the contribution made by Councillors Reid, McCloskey and Ryder as members of the Cabinet Member working group who had been a very useful sounding board to himself and the rest of the team.

It had been acknowledged that investment was needed to improve public facilities and in particular, the reliability of the cremators at Cheltenham’s cemetery and crematorium. This follows the poor quality cremator installation which took place in 2011, during which the main contractor went into liquidation, leaving a number of authorities with sub-standard equipment issues. To ensure that the best solution was secured, architects Robert Potter and Partners were commissioned to look at a number of options ranging from installing new cremators in the current building, to building a new chapel and crematorium. The options identified were diverse and had different operational, customer service and financial implications. All options had been considered in detail by the Project Board and at gateway review meetings before selecting option E as the preferred one. He was confident after all the work that had been done, that option E was financially viable given the increase in fees recommended.

The report set out the results of the public consultation process which had included professionals as well as the public. There had been an encouraging response in favour of option E including support for increasing fees. He concluded that the cemetery and crematorium was seen as a hugely important service to the town by its residents and by Council Members. He was now seeking Cabinet endorsement of the recommended preferred option for implementation, subject to Council agreement to the financial implications of the project.

Cabinet Members praised the work done in bringing this project to this stage and felt it was a huge step forward given the situation 12 months ago. The level of public response had been heartening and demonstrated the importance of the service to people in Cheltenham. It sent a message to the town that the council is committed to protecting and delivering quality local services. They fully endorsed the recommendations and hoped the Council would take the same position and support the financial implications.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    it be agreed that Option E be progressed- a new build facility on Council-owned land to the east of the current cemetery site - as the preferred option for the future provision of its crematorium service;

2.    authority be delegated to the Director of Environmental and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Clean and Green Environment and the Head of Property Services to prepare and submit the necessary planning application for the new building, cremator plant and associated works;

3.    it be noted that, subject to Council approving the project budget;

3.1   the Head of Property Services will undertake the procurement for the design and construction of the new crematorium, cremators and associated works, in consultation with the Director of Environmental and Regulatory Services, the Cabinet Member for Clean and Green Environment, the Section 151 officer and the Borough Solicitor;

3.2   following the procurements referred to in recommendation 3.1 a report will be presented to the Cabinet Member for Clean and Green Environment requesting approval to award the contracts to the successful contractors;

4.    authority be delegated to the Head of Property Services in consultation with the Director of Environmental and Regulatory Services to take all necessary steps and undertake all necessary procedures, including the entering into of legal or other documentation, as may be required to implement or facilitate the project;

5.    the cross-party Cabinet Member Working Group which has been helpfully acting as a sounding board for the project be asked to continue its role in relation to the new build project, with updated terms of reference as appropriate;

6.    It be agreed in principle to an increase in the cremation fee by 2017/18 to sufficiently cover additional revenue costs.

Council be recommended to:

7.    allocate the budgets for financing Option E as detailed in Appendix 4 (exempt).