Agenda and minutes

Margam Crematorium Joint Committee - Friday, 25th September, 2015 2.15 pm

Venue: On site

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on the 26th June 2015 pdf icon PDF 19 KB

Minutes:

Chair on behalf of the Committee wished Mr.D.Michael a speedy recovery from his recent stay in hospital.

 

RESOLVED:

that the Minutes of the previous meeting held on the 26th June 2015 be confirmed as a true and accurate record of proceedings with the following update.

 

 

CAR PARKING ARRANGEMENTS AT MARGAM CREMATORIUM

 

Members received a verbal update on the car park facilities at Margam Crematorium.  The costs for improvement works would be circa £14,000 this includes costs for weekend and evening works to ensure that there is minimum disruption to Crematorium Services.  The costs would be funded from the Crematorium budget.

 

RESOLVED:

that the Head of Property and Regeneration be authorised to commence the works to the car park at Margam Crematorium to the agreed limit of circa £14,000 which will be funded from the Crematorium budget.

 

2.

Applications for Cremations

Minutes:

Members received information regarding applications for cremations, for the period 1st April to the 30th June 2015.

 

RESOLVED:

that the report be noted.

 

3.

Annual Return pdf icon PDF 843 KB

Minutes:

Members received a report providing details of the Margam Crematorium Joint Committee’s Annual Return 2014/15 as detailed in the circulated report.

 

Members noted Wales Audit Office undertook an annual audit exercise and identified a misstatement of the Total Borrowing figure in the Annual Report that included costs relating to the new cremators, which are the Council’s assets.  Also, the costs where shown within loan charges when they should have been included in other payments but these changes did not have an impact on the overall financial position.  An updated accounting statement was included in the circulated report.

 

RESOLVED:

1.      that the external auditors report on the Margam Joint Committee Annual Report be noted;

 

2.      that the updated Annual Return be approved with the Chair signing the Certification of the updated accounting statements and the Annual Governance Statement;

 

3.      that the Treasurer ensures that the final accounts are certified by Wales Audit Office by 30th September 2015;

 

4.      that the Annual Return is published before the 1st October 2015 on the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council website.

 

 

4.

Memorials Offering and Fees and Charges pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Minutes:

The Treasurer presented Members with the Memorials Offering and Fees and Charges Report which includes the proposals from the recently held workshop.

 

In relation to the purchasing of granite benches Members agreed that the Superintendent and Registrar be granted delegated authority to purchase six benches initially and thereafter to purchase as and when required and to periodically report back to Committee on the numbers purchased for Members information.  Members to note that such purchases will need to be built into the annual budget.  Additionally, Members asked that where families wished to purchase a whole bench they would be charged for three plaques but at a reduced rate of £1,600 for a 10 year lease and £3,000 for a 20 year lease..

 

RESOLVED:

 

 

1.      that approval be granted for 20 year leases to be made available in addition to the current 10 year leases;

 

2.      that Baby Memorial Plaques be made available for babies up to 12 months old at a reduced fee for new and renewal applications payable from 1st October 2015 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the circulated report be approved;

 

3.      that approval be granted for the Kerbstone Memorials and Plaques at Horseshoe Path be made available at a reduced fee from 1st October 2015 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the circulated report.

 

4.      that the fee levels for Kerbstone Memorials and Plaques at the Garden of Remembrance as detailed in Appendix 1 of the circulated report be approved;

 

5.      that approval be granted for the provision of Granite Bench plaques be made available on 10 and 20 year leases and for each bench to have 3 plaques per Bench;

 

 

 

6.      that approval be granted for families to purchase 10 or 20 year leases for all 3 plaques per bench at a reduced cost of £1,600 or £3,000 respectively (subject to annual review).

 

7.      that approval be granted for the Superintendent and Registrar to be given delegated authority to purchase six granite benches initially and thereafter as and when necessary and to report back to Committee periodically on numbers purchased;

 

8.      that approval be granted to continue to provide other Memorials including the Books of Remembrance, Altar and Window Vases, Miniature Book of Remembrance and Memorial Card at the fee level already set for 2015/16;

 

9.      that approval be granted for the Triptych Memorials to be discontinued;

 

10.    that the provision of Living Memorials be further considered when new burial areas are developed at the Crematorium.

 

 

5.

Staff Training pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Minutes:

Members were advised that a member of staff within the Crematorium has enrolled in the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) training course and will be funded from the Crematorium training budget.

 

RESOLVED:

that the report be noted.

 

6.

Crematorium Open Day pdf icon PDF 65 KB

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Superintendent and Registrar on the Crematorium Open Day which would enable the general public to view the grounds, buildings and crematory when no funerals were taking place.  After discussion an amended date of Sunday, 1st November 2015 was agreed for the Open Day.

 

Invitations would be circulated to the Press prior to the Open Day to see facilities and how the crematorium operates and to gain further press coverage.

 

Members were happy to assist with the Open Day and for the Superintendent and Registrar to draft a timetable of the day for Members to confirm availability.

 

RESOLVED:

that the report be noted with the amended date of Sunday, 1st November 2015 for the Crematorium Open Day.

 

 

7.

Recycling of Metals following Cremation pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Minutes:

Superintendent and Registrar gave Members a background of the proposal to commence participation in a scheme for the Recycling of Metals following cremation as detailed in the circulated report.

 

RESOLVED:

that approval be granted for Margam Crematorium to join the Institute of Cemetery and Cremation Management (ICCM) to recycling metals following cremation.