CHILTERNS CREMATORIUM JOINT COMMITTEE

 

 

 

FIFTY FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT 1st APRIL 2008 – 31st MARCH 2009

 

 

 

CONSTITUENT AUTHORITIES AND REPRESENTATIVES

 

Aylesbury Vale District Council

 

 

 

Councillor David Thompson

 

Councillor Kevin McPartland

 

 

 

Chiltern District Council

 

 

 

Councillor John Warder (Chairman)

 

Councillor Graham Sussum

 

 

 

Wycombe District Council

 

 

 

Councillor Audrey Jones (April 2008)

 

Councillor R. W. Jennings (April 2008)

 

Councillor A.R. Green (May 2008 - March 2009)

 

Councillor H.L. McCarthy (May 2008 - March 2009)

 

 

 

Superintendent and Registrar

 

 

 

Charles Howlett DMS, F.ICCM(Dip)

 

Chilterns Crematorium

 

Whielden Lane

 

Amersham

 

Buckinghamshire

 

 

 

Clerk                                   Treasurer

 

 

 

Alan Goodrum                         Alison Howes

 

 

 

Chief Executive                         Chief Financial Officer

 

Chiltern District Council                    Chiltern District Council

 

Council Offices                         Council Offices

 

King George V Road                         King George V Road

 

Amersham                              Amersham

 

Buckinghamshire                         Buckinghamshire

 

CHILTERNS CREMATORIUM JOINT COMMITTEE

 

FIFTY FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

 

1)

CREMATIONS
The following tables show the number of cremations from 1
st April to 31st March for the past five years and their originating Districts:

 

District

2004/05

2005/06

2006/07

2007/08

2008/09

Aylesbury Vale

626

647

619

575

668

Chiltern

576

650

622

558

596

Wycombe

848

847

835

872

899

Other

960

845

874

925

1,004

Total

3,010

2,989

2,950

2,930

3,167

 

 

 

           Comparative figures for the previous years are:

 

1996/97

1997/98

1998/99

1999/00

2000/01

2001/02

2002/03

2003/04

3,054

2,862

3,161

3,169

2,967

3,021

3,104

3,065

 


The total number of cremations since opening until the end of March 2009 = 108,955.

 

 

 

In 2008 Chilterns Crematorium ranked at 14 in a league table in order of the number of cremations carried out at each of the 253 crematoria in the UK.

 

 

 

The proportion of cremations to burials reached 70% in 1992 and in the 17 years since then it has only increased by a further 2%.  By 1995 the actual number of deaths in the UK had risen to 650,000, but since then there has been a general downward trend, with the least number of deaths so far in 2006 when only 576,000 were recorded.  This downward trend is reflected in the reduction in the number of cremations being carried out at the Crematorium.  In 2008 there were approximately 579,000 recorded deaths in the UK.

 

 

 

2)     DISPOSITION OF CREMATION ASHES

 

 

 

Nationally there has been a steady reduction in the number of cremation ashes being placed in the grounds of the crematorium where the cremation has taken place, with a higher incidence of ashes being removed from the crematorium for disposal elsewhere.

 

 

 

In 1970 approximately 86% of ashes remained at crematoria (including about 15% being buried as opposed to scattered), but since then there has been a gradual decline and in 2004 the national figure was 40% (including 10% being buried).  At the Chilterns (where ashes have only ever been scattered), in the 1970’s around 80% of ashes were remaining in the garden of remembrance.  By 2004 this was reduced to 35%.  In 2006 approximately 32% of ashes were scattered in the garden of remembrance, 34% in 2007 and 32% in 2008.

 

 

 

The number of cremation ashes being taken away for disposal elsewhere is being offset to a degree by a small but increasing number being received from other crematoria for scattering at the Chilterns; an average of 58 persons ashes have been received annually over the last five years, and 61 persons ashes were received in 2008/09 generating income of £1,585 from the scattering fee.

 

 

 

Although the reduction in ashes being scattered is reflected in memorial sales, nevertheless the Garden of Remembrance remains an important feature helping provide an appropriate setting for the place of cremation and also acting as a focal point in the mourning process.

 

 

 

3)     COMMEMORATION
 

 

An additional 81 commemorative plaques were added to the kerbing around the rose beds and the total number of plaques, after deducting those that were not renewed at the expiration of the lease period, is 2,801. Together with the income from renewals, the total income from rose bed commemorative plaques amounted to £42,832.

An additional 65 stone memorial plaques were sold, and the total number of plaques, after deducting those that were not renewed at the expiration of the lease period, is 701 since the scheme was introduced in 1994.   Together with the income from renewals the income for the year amounted to £39,197.

An additional 18 leather memorial plaques were sold in the chapel of remembrance, and the total number of plaques, after deducting those that were not renewed at the expiration of the lease period, is 270 since the scheme was introduced in January 2001, with income for the year of £3,509.

A total sum of £993 was donated for the purchase of trees, shrubs and flowering plants and bulbs.

 

 

 

A further 384 inscriptions were entered in the Book of Remembrance and the income, including the sale of miniature replica books and memorial cards, amounted to £33,160.
 

 

4)     FEES
 

 

The scales of fees were reviewed by the Joint Committee in January 2009.  Increases of around 3% in line with the projected rate of inflation were approved in relation to the majority of the fees, effective from 1st April 2009.  The cremation fee was increased by 7.7%, from £390 to £420, an above inflation increase taking into account the rising cost of energy (gas and electricity) and to help build up reserves for the future capital programme to provide cremator abatement plant by 2013 in compliance with new legislation.

 

 

 

The national average cremation fee in 2008 was £433.56, and in a league table of the 250 crematoria in the UK, starting with the most expensive, Chilterns cremation fee ranked at 204.
 

 

5)

STAFF AND ORGANISATIONAL CHANGES AT CHILTERN DISTRICT COUNCIL

 

 

 

There were no staff changes during the year.

 

 

 

As part of the need to keep the organisation under review, and the impact of a senior staff vacancy at Chiltern, the Chiltern District Council (the lead authority) agreed to make a number of changes which were implemented on a phased basis.

 

 

 

One of these was the transfer of line management responsibilities of the Crematorium Superintendent from the Chief Executive to the Head of Engineering and Contract Management at Chiltern.

 

 

 

This reflected the increasing time pressure on the Chief Executive but also that the next project, the filtration system, will heavily involve engineers.  In terms of projects, the Chief Executive, acting as Clerk, would oversee the completion of the Milton chapel project and retain involvement in the proposed Aylesbury crematorium project.

 

 

 

The formal arrangements for the Joint Committee and role of Clerk remain unchanged, but the new arrangements will be more resilient and consistent with other joint committee arrangements.

 

 

 

A diagram showing the current staffing establishment at the Crematorium is included as Appendix 1.

 

 

 

6)     ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

 

 

 

     Cremations emissions abatement

 

 

 

In 2005 the Joint Committee responded to the requirements of new environmental protection legislation by resolving in principle to achieve filtration of all cremations as soon as practicably possible, and as a minimum to install plant capable of filtering cremations from two cremators (achieving abatement well in excess of the 50% of cremations required by the regulations) by 31st December 2012.  To assist in this process the Joint Committee further resolved in 2006 that consultants be appointed to develop the project.

 

 

 

Following the appointment of multi-disciplinary civil engineering consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd in December 2007, their first task was to conduct a feasibility study to help identify a number of options on how best to proceed, with the aim of achieving the highest level of abatement (in excess of 50%) without incurring excessive cost.

 

 

 

At its meeting in September 2008 the Joint Committee resolved to accept the officer’s recommendations arising from the outcome of the feasibility study, that three of the existing four Evans cremators (installed in 1996/97) should be retained and that filtration equipment be installed capable of abating any two of the three cremators at the same time.  One of the three cremators should also be capable of unabated operation to be able to cope with short periods of peak demand.  With this combination the Crematorium will be able to achieve its current workload with in excess of 90% of cremations abated.  There will also be spare cremating capacity to accommodate future increases up to at least 2020 by which time the existing Evans cremators will be reaching the end of their working life.

 

 

 

Following the Joint Committee’s decision a tendering process commenced with advertisements for expressions of interest from potential contractors and a pre qualification questionnaire, as well as the compilation of the tender specification itself.  By the end of the year the sending out of invitations to tender was imminent.

 

 

 

7)     MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS

 

 

 

     Redecoration of the crematory, ancillary work rooms and staff rooms

 

 

 

The internal appearance of the crematory and other ancillary work rooms is considered as important as the public areas of the Crematorium, not least because of the policy that anyone can be shown what happens ‘behind the scenes’ on request, and also occasionally families wish to be present when the coffin is placed in the cremator.  A clean and tidy ‘back office’ operation can also be considered as an indicator of a high standard for the entire operation.

 

 

 

During the year the crematory, ancillary work rooms and staff rooms were redecorated at a cost of £7,003.

 

 

 

Electrical hard wiring

 

 

 

The periodic inspection of the electrical hard wiring system was carried out during the year and the subsequent report identified a number of items requiring attention to bring the system up to standard.  This work was carried out and the cost was £2,825.

 

 

 

Lightning protection system

 

 

 

During the year the officers were alerted to the fact that lightning protection systems should now be inspected and tested annually.  The system on the original building had not been tested since its installation in 1966.  This was rectified but, as might be expected after such a long period, a significant amount of work was identified for attention.  This was not only to bring the system back to its original specification, but also to carry out additional work to meet the requirements of new regulations which have been introduced since 1966.  The cost of the works was £5,359.

 

 

 

Water sanitization

 

 

 

Periodic testing and cleansing of the water distribution system within a building is also now recommended to those responsible for buildings.  The testing did not show up any adverse biological or chemical contaminants but never-the-less a full cleansing process was carried out as a precaution and particularly as this has not previously been done before.  The cost of the work was £1,247.

 

 

 

8)     PROPOSED CREMATORIUM: AYLESBURY

 

 

 

Given the special knowledge and partnership working the Chilterns Crematorium Joint Committee (CCJC) has developed, in 2006 it was approached by Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) to assist as an advisor to the planning authority on choosing a site for a proposed crematorium in Aylesbury.

 

 

 

Regional Policy identifies Aylesbury as a major growth town within the approved Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional Growth Strategy.  This Strategy requires Aylesbury’s population to expand by approximately 93,000 from 2006 to 2026, with the rest of the District’s population growing by some 6,200.

 

 

 

The locations of the new additional growth around Aylesbury and in the rural areas will be decided by the Local Development Framework (LDF).  As part of the LDF consultation undertaken by AVDC with key stakeholders, the CCJC confirmed at an early stage the need for a new crematorium at Aylesbury to cater for the growth needs of the town and the wider district.

 

 

 

The case was based on the need to find a sustainable location in an area of growth.  There is theoretical capacity within the facility at Amersham to cater for the need for the foreseeable future but it is recognised that a facility within Aylesbury is needed and likely to be viable in the medium term.

 

 

 

Agreement has been reached that the area to the north of Aylesbury is suitable for a new crematorium and this is reflected in the core strategy published by AVDC subject to public examination.  It is expected this process will be completed by January 2010.

 

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