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Decision details
Bereavement Services - new memorial opportunities
Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Environment (Cttee)
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
To consider the introduction and associated charges and grounds development for new memorials being provided at the Vinters Park Crematorium and the Maidstone Cemetery.
Decision:
1. That the proposed range of new memorials being introduced at the Crematorium and the Cemetery as set out at Appendix A to the report of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services be agreed.
2. That the associated charges and income/expenditure projections for the new memorials being introduced as set out at Appendices B and C to the report of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services be agreed.
3. That the proposed development of new pathways and strewing area and the refurbishment of the Woodside walk be agreed.
Reasons for the decision:
The
Crematorium site has recently undergone a major upgrading and
redecoration/refurbishment programme to the buildings and some
landscaping to the grounds that makes it one of the best facilities
in the south east. As part of this upgrading work, consideration
was also given to improving the customer service and chapel service
side of the operation and this has been particularly well received
by visitors and local funeral directors.
An area
of the service that now needs to be considered in Bereavement
Services is the memorial opportunity for both the Crematorium and
Cemetery sites.
A
review of the demand for the current range of memorials offered at
the Crematorium suggests that some are not as popular now as in
years gone by.
At the
Cemetery the only memorial opportunity offered by the council is
confined to dedicated benches though the main focus for families is
usually a headstone which is obtained from a stone mason.
This
range of memorials at the Crematorium and Cemetery has been
maintained for many years with few additional or different
opportunities being introduced. Whilst this situation satisfies the
wishes of bereaved families who choose to adopt their personal
memorials for a loved one, the industry has developed a number of
new memorials that have proved to be very popular at neighbouring
crematoria and cemeteries around the country.
In
tandem with introducing new memorials at the Crematorium will be
the opportunity to develop associated pathways and improve access
to the Woodside walk area and also to create a new strewing area as
part of the on going work to improve the grounds and their
ambiance.
The new
memorials
Appendix Ato the report of the Assistant Director of Environment
and Regulatory Services sets out the range of new memorials that it
is proposed are made available at the Crematorium and Cemetery.
Many of these memorials will assist in the development of the
grounds and create a location for the interment or strewing of
cremated remains.
The proposed charges for the new memorials are set out at Appendix Band Appendix C of the report of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services, showing the income/expenditure projections.The charges presented have been reviewed against other neighbouring authority charges for similar products and provide a range of prices that will allow families individual choice over the type and period of their preferred adoption.
Alternative options considered:
An
alternative action would be to maintain exactly the same memorial
opportunities as at present, but this situation is not recommended
as it would result in the further reduction in the adoption of
memorials from the current range as they become less popular. Not
reviewing and offering new memorial opportunities would deprive and
restrict bereaved families from more choice to match their personal
preferences.
Wards Affected: (All Wards);
Details of the Committee: Bereavement Services Fees & Charges 2011-12 report
Contact: Email: timjefferson@maidstone.gov.uk.
Report author: Tim Jefferson
Publication date: 10/06/2011
Date of decision: 10/06/2011
Decided: 10/06/2011 - Cabinet Member for Environment (Cttee)
Effective from: 18/06/2011
Accompanying Documents:
- Cabinet Member Report for Bereavement Services - new memorial opportunities enc. 1 PDF 67 KB View as HTML (1) 49 KB
- Cabinet Member Report for Bereavement Services - new memorial opportunities enc. 3 PDF 43 KB View as HTML (2) 10 KB
- Cabinet Member Report for Bereavement Services - new memorial opportunities enc. 2 PDF 1 MB View as HTML (3) 4 KB
- Cabinet Member Report for Bereavement Services - new memorial opportunities enc. 4 PDF 44 KB View as HTML (4) 10 KB