The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar presented a report on the Business Plan and expenditure programme for 2017/18 which included proposed increases in cremation fees.

The Business Plan was presented annually to the Joint Committee for approval which included service objectives and proposed maintenance and improvement projects to enhance and maintain the Crematorium grounds and buildings for the forthcoming period. The total number of cremations for 2016 was 1589, made up of 950 from Bridgend, 190 from Vale of Glamorgan and 366 from Rhondda Cynon Taff, with 83 non-residents. An agreement with the Princess of Wales Hospital for the cremation of non-viable foetal remains (NVF) had resulted in an additional 6 communal cremations. A further 9 individual NVF cremations were arranged directly with families. Statistical records for the period from January to December 2015 and 2016 were included in the Business Plan for comparison.

The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar summarised the key achievements over the past 5 years including the high level of public satisfaction maintained and the completion of the construction of an extension to the crematory to provide space for new cremators and a mercury abatement plant.

The local performance indictor relating to user satisfaction reported annually to the Joint Committee continued to be 100%.

The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar presented the service developments and objectives. In 2005 the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced its plan to reduce mercury emissions from UK crematoria by 50%, effective from 31^st December 2012. This was later revised and eventually commenced in January 2013.

The Federation of British Cremation Authorities (FBCA) and the Cremation Society formulated a proposal to offset the costs for those crematoria that installed abatement plant to reduce mercury emissions by contributions from those that did not. Coychurch Crematorium opted to burden share the costs until such time as their cremators were replaced. The charge for 2015/16 related to the total number of cremations in 2015 and equated to £41k for that period. The installation of abatement plant, which was completed to schedule by April 2016, would reduce this figure to zero for 2016/17. Those crematoria that had abated more than 50% of their cremations could sell the excess mercury abated cremations to those which had abated less than the target, via CAMEO. Those who had abated derived an income, and those who had not shared the financial burden. Consequently, Coychurch Crematorium was awaiting confirmation of the potential amount of income it could expect to generate in 2017/18.

In 2009 the Committee approved the construction of an access road and additional car parking into the new land, and the layout for the extension to the memorial gardens inside the new land extension. Phase 1 of these works was carried out at that time and the new memorial gardens had been well received. At the meeting on 4^th March 2016 the Joint Committee approved the Service Level Business Plan for 2016/17, which included design costs of £30,000.00 for the planning of Phase 2 infrastructure to facilitate the continuation pf the access road and an additional car park. At the meeting on 2^nd December 2016 the Joint Committee approved the issuing of tenders for the construction works, which were planned for 2017/18.

Improved landscaping to the concrete burial plots was postponed from 2016/17 in order to combine it with the landscaping to the new land infrastructure. The replacement of the failing fencing adjacent to the public footpath  to match the higher quality fencing already installed at the exit gate and along the main car park was planned. This would improve security and make the area more aesthetically pleasing.

The Crematorium had a series of flat roofs with drainage channels that required regular pedestrian access to enable maintenance due to the amount of debris that gathered from nearby trees. In order to comply with current health and safety laws the Crematorium had been investigating the various safe access systems available for permanent installation on the roofs that would be unobtrusive in order to comply with the planning requirements of the Crematorium’s Grade 2* listing. Bridgend County Borough Council’s Health and Safety Department was advising on the most efficient and cost effective method. Projected costs for the objectives were detailed in the report.

The current cremation charge placed the Crematorium at 230 out of 278 cremation authorities in a national fee league table published in summer 2016 (highest first). The fees had been reviewed and it was not considered necessary to increase the cremation fee by an additional £25 (to provide funding to support the future programme of improvements) this year but this would continue to be reviewed on an annual basis.

All variations to expenditure and income as outlined in the Service Level Business Plan, had been incorporated into the Treasurer’s report.

Members thanked the Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar for an excellent report and business plan. Members considered the fees and that compared to other authorities there was scope to increase the fees to fund improvements in future. The Clerk and Technical Officer explained that there were sufficient funds to cover existing projects. The site was of a very high standard which was appreciated but plans to develop the site further could be counter-productive.

Members asked for more information regarding the full capacity of the crematorium. The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar reported that at its peak the total number of cremations was 1800 in a year. Numbers had then decreased to 1450 per year but were now starting to creep back up. The number of cremations from Rhondda Cynon Taff were increasing and the crematorium was busy but there were no backlogs. There were no plans to increase capacity however there were two chapels that could be in use at the same time but this would require additional staff.

RESOLVED            The Joint Committee:

1)     Approved the Service Level Business Plan 2017/18

2)    Confirmed the cremation fee for 2017/18 at £636.70.