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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF DECISION OF THE Cabinet Member for Environment

 

Cabinet Member for Environment

 

 

 

 

Decision Made:

10 June 2011

 

BEREAVEMENT SERVICES - NEW MEMORIAL OPPORTUNITIES

 

Issue for Decision

 

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 Made

 

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 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 A to 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 B and 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.

 

Alternatives considered and why rejected

 

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.

Background Papers

 

Bereavement Services Fees & Charges 2011-12 report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should you be concerned about this decision and wish to call it in, please submit a call in form signed by any two Non-Executive Members to the Head of Change and Scrutiny by:  17 June 2011


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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF DECISION OF THE Cabinet Member for Environment

 

 

 

 

Decision Made:

10 June 2011

 

MAIDSTONE CEMETERY – SUPERVISOR’S HOUSE DISPOSAL

 

Issue for Decision

 

To consider the freehold disposal of The Supervisor’s House and garden (the property), at the Maidstone Cemetery.

 

Decision Made

1.           That the property, as shown on the plan set out at Appendix A of the report of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services, be declared non operational.

2.           That the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment be given delegated authority to place a public notice pursuant to Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 in respect of the disposal of open space and that any objections or representations which might be received in response to the advertisement be considered by me.

 

3.           That the final decision on disposal be made when the property has been advertised as a disposal of open space and any representations have been considered.

 

Reasons for Decision

 

The property is located adjacent to the cemetery car park and access is currently via the main entrance gates to the cemetery. The property has an extensive garden and the rear boundary wall backs onto Pheasant Lane with another boundary adjacent to the cemetery grounds.

The property was originally provided as an on site residence for the cemetery supervisor. The supervisor retired approximately ten years ago, but remained in the property fulfilling a gate locking duty. The property is now vacant and the gate locking duties have been absorbed into the general operation and management of the site and there is no specific need identified for an on-site employee.

The building is a Hawthorn Leslie steel framed detached house with an integral garage. These buildings were developed in the mid 1960’s and are basic in design and in quality of construction. The cemetery house is not in a good condition and it would require considerable funds to bring it up to an acceptable modern condition and this is considered uneconomical.

Consequently, as there is no operational requirement for the property, it is considered that disposal of the property's freehold by way of a private treaty arrangement would be the best option at the earliest opportunity to avoid any on going maintenance issues, subject to the following.

 

1.   The consideration of any response to a Section 123 (Local Government Act 1972) public notice advertising the intention to dispose of public open space.

2.   Appropriate consents for the disposal/demolition being obtained.

3.   The production of a development brief.

It is envisaged that any development brief would include the demolition of the house and consideration for a number of dwellings to be built on the available land and for access to be achieved via Pheasant Lane or by realigning the main entrance to the cemetery.

 

Alternatives considered and why rejected

 

The property occupies land that adjoins the cemetery and one alternative for its use would be to demolish the house and integrate the land holding into the cemetery to provide burial space in the future.  The potential future demand for grave space at the cemetery has been reviewed and based on the present usage trends and the number of available new grave plots indicates that there is a minimum of fifty years space available.  There is also the likelihood that within this time frame burial legislation will change due to the acute shortages experienced, especially in the London boroughs, to allow other ways to extend the use of the current land bank in cemeteries therefore removing the need for burial authorities to provide more ground for burial in the future. It is not considered necessary, or appropriate, at this time to secure the land for future burial use.

Currently there is a wooden site hut located in the cemetery close to the main entrance and car park.  This hut is used as the base for the Maidstone Borough Services ground staff working in the cemetery.  The hut provides very basic facilities and does not have any mains drainage.  Upgrading this facility, or providing an alternative, would be desirable although this is estimated to cost in excess of £50,000. However, it is not considered that the Supervisor’s house would be a suitable alternative due to the problems reported above and the potentially high cost to undertake the necessary upgrading.

Background Papers

 

Cemetery burial records – held in the Bereavement Services office at the Vinters Park Crematorium.

 

 

 

Should you be concerned about this decision and wish to call it in, please submit a call in form signed by any two Non-Executive Members to the Head of Change and Scrutiny by:  17 June 2011