The Accountant, Financial Control and Closing presented a report the purpose of which was to inform the Joint Committee of the projected financial performance for the Crematorium for 2022-23, and to obtain approval from the Joint Committee for the Proposed Budget and Fees and Charges for 2023-24.

He stated that the 2022-23 Revenue Budget was approved by the Joint Committee at its meeting on 4 March 2022 and proceeded to present all sections under the report which included the current situation/proposal and the proposed budget for 2023-2024.

The report also detailed Planned Capital Maintenance Spending Requirements, Fees and Charges and the Accumulated Balance.

A member queried the rate of the increased memorial service fee and the expected revenue resulting from the increase in the fee over the coming year. The Accountant, Financial Control and Closing stated he was unsure if an individual breakdown was available but saw that the general increase was forecast from 1.55million to 1.62million in the year 2023-24. He stated that he would endeavour to obtain further details around the figures.

The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar for Coychurch Crematorium stated that the exact increase in revenue from increasing the memorial service fee had not been calculated. She clarified that they had seen an increase in usage of the larger Chapel for memorial services, particularly prior to cemetery burials, by local funeral directors prior to all funeral services being moved to the second chapel while building works were being carried out,  as the fee was significantly lower than that in the local churches. She stated that the Crematorium’s primary concern was to protect cremation and not become a general place for the hire of a Chapel because they were cost effective.

RESOLVED : The Joint Committee

·         Noted the projected financial performance for 2022-23

·         Confirmed and approve the revenue budget to be adopted for 2023-24

Approved the increase in fees and charges with effect from 1 April 2023 outlined in Appendix 1.