Decision details

Cabinet received a report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance which included details of the new Joint Committee and Services agreement. 

The Mayor thanked the officers for all their work that had gone into producing the new agreements.  He invited Councillor Dychton to speak, who was a member of the Joint Committee. 

Councillor Dychton said that she wished to highlight the huge input that officers had into the new agreements and the many challenges they had faced.  The new facilities that had been achieved with the other councils were amazing.  It was set in peaceful and dignified surroundings.  The Joint Committee was proud of the investment in the green agenda.  She believed it was the first crematorium to be able to be aligned with the green agenda moving forward.  It was also accessible to many people, including those who may have restricted ability.

Councillor Dychton left the meeting.

The Mayor noted that five councils were involved with the crematoria.  He asked if there had been any contentious issues.

The Group Head of Democracy and Governance advised that there had been a number of issues and many discussions had taken place between the Chief Executives before coming to agreement.  There had been discussions about the hosting fee and when that should become payable, primarily due to the potential for each authority having to provide funding to support the Joint Committee in the early years of the opening of the new crematorium if it was payable.  In addition, business rates were payable.  It was agreed that the hosting fee would be deferred for a couple of years in order to help balance the crematorium’s accounts.  She mentioned that the numbers using the new crematorium were higher than originally anticipated in the business modelling.  Finally, the Group Head of Democracy and Governance informed members that each participating council was in the process of signing off the agreements.

The Mayor noted the Group Head of Democracy and Governance’s comments and was pleased that it had reached this point.

In response to a question from Councillor Rodrigues, the Group Head of Democracy and Governance explained about the hosting fee.  It was a fee to the two councils who had a crematorium in their area. 

RESOLVED –

That the West Herts Crematorium Joint Committee Agreement and Services Agreement, as set out in appendices 2 and 3, be approved.