Issue - meetings
Bereavement Services Development Plan
Meeting: 04/09/2018 - Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee (Item 52)
52 Bereavement Services Development Plan PDF 416 KB
Future plans for Maidstone Cemetery and
Vinters Park Crematorium
Additional documents:
- Enc. 1 for Bereavement Services Development Plan, item 52 PDF 618 KB
- Enc. 2 for Bereavement Services Development Plan, item 52 PDF 166 KB
- Enc. 3 for Bereavement Services Development Plan, item 52 PDF 46 KB View as HTML (52/4) 1 KB
Minutes:
Mrs Jennifer Shepherd, the Head of Environment and Public Realm presented a report on the Bereavement Services Future Development Plan along with Miss Sharon Smith, the Bereavement Services Manager and Mrs Lesley O’Reilly, the Senior Bereavement Services Assistant.
The Committee were reminded that in 2013 Bereavement Services produced its first five year business plan. The plan included the development of the existing service and the introduction of new services such as a pet crematorium at the Crematorium. However, in 2017 the plan was realigned and although the provision of a pet crematorium was deferred there had been a number of other improvements made at the Crematorium. These had included the expansion of the car park, refurbishment of the public toilets and energy recovery for heating the offices and Chapel.
Miss Smith advised the Committee that following a full review of the Cemetery a number of opportunities for improvement had been identified which included the refurbishment of the Chapel to bring it into use again, the demolition of the Gate Keeper’s House which would provide additional space for cremated remains and the provision of new welfare facilities for the Cemetery staff.
The Committee noted that the proposals set out in the recommendation could be partly funded from Capital expenditure already set aside from the pet crematorium project but further capital funds would need to be sought from Policy and Resources Committee for the Phase 2 improvements.
Mrs O’Reilly informed the Committee that she had undertaken a survey with customers and funeral directors on what they would like to see at the Cemetery. The survey results demonstrated that there was demand for services at the Cemetery Chapel. Re-opening the Chapel would also give the benefits of freeing up the Crematorium for more services and reducing traffic crossing town from the Crematorium to the Cemetery.
In the ensuing discussion the Committee declared its support for re-opening the Cemetery Chapel. The Committee also commented that a new welfare facility was long overdue and requested that Officers be thanked for providing such a good report.
RESOLVED:
1) That the
Cemetery business case, including the two phased
approach, be agreed;
2) That the
capital budget previously set aside for a pet
crematorium be used to fund Phase 1 of the cemetery business
plan
instead.
3) That
delegated authority be granted to the Director of
Regeneration
and
Place, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman,
to
determine the most appropriate and cost effective method to
deliver
the
staff welfare facility within the existing capital
budget;
4) That a
review be carried out to explore in detail charging at
Maidstone Cemetery in comparison with other similar
Cemeteries in Kent and South London to inform the Committee
on
a future charging strategy;
5) That the
Officers be thanked for bringing this report forward
and recognising the concerns of the Committee regarding the
staff
welfare facilities and the need to improve the Cemetery.
6) That
further funding be requested from the
Policy and Resources
Committee for the Phase 2 ...
view the full minutes text for item 52