Consideration was given to the verbal update
of the Strategic Property Manager regarding the future of Spalding
Cemetery.
The Strategic Property Manager presented the
update to Panel; and the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing,
Conservation and Heritage was in attendance to answer member
questions.
The Strategic Property Manager introduced the
update by relaying the following improvements that had taken place
at Spalding Cemetery:
- paths, roads and monuments had been
renovated;
- signage had been updated;
- trees and vegetation had been
maintained;
- circa 20 car park spaces had been
made available at the far end of the cemetery which had widened
accessibility;
- a new one-way system to assist
navigation and parking had been implemented; and
- some roads now had restricted access
for SHDC vehicles only, in order to increase the longevity of the
road system.
Regarding the future of Spalding Cemetery, the
Strategic Property Manager stated that:
- extra capacity for future
burials/internments would need to be sought;
- the number of burials that had taken
place from 2017 to 2021 were as follows:
- 36 in 2017;
- 35 in 2018;
- 42 in 2019;
- 46 in 2020; and
- 42 in 2021.
- ashes internments ranged from 22 to
52 from 2017 to 2021;
- the clearance of vegetation had
released 22 additional spaces which had resulted in a total
availability of 200, plus reservations;
- at the current burial rate, it was
anticipated that capacity would be reached in 5 years;
- burial prices had been reviewed and
would increase; SHDC alignment with the higher fees charged at
Boston and East Lindsey would be attained over a three-year
period;
- burial prices for non-SHDC residents
would increase significantly in order to prioritise SHDC
residents;
- SHDC worked closely with Parish
Councils regarding cemetery options across the district; current
Parish Council burial plot capacities were as follows:
- Gedney:
300;
- Sutton Bridge: 750;
- Long Sutton: 20:
- Gedney
Hill: 176;
- Crowland: 60;
- Whaplode: 80;
- Holbeach: 2000; and
- Gosberton: 60.
- the creation of a working group with
membership of both officers and councillors, for the purpose of
researching potential areas for expansion, would be beneficial. If
approved, a working group could commence by Summer 2023.
Members considered the verbal update from the
Strategic Property Manager and made the following comments:
- Members welcomed the capacity
responses from Parish Councils which were mostly positive however
not all Parish Councils had responded with the requested
information. Members asked whether the capacity of 80 at
Whaplode included the extended burial
area.
- The Strategic Property Manager
believed that the stated figure for Whaplode represented the whole availability at the
site, but this would be checked. Any differential would be
circulated to the Panel.
- Members referred to the future
extension requirements of Spalding Cemetery and stated that the
lead-in period to locate and prepare a new site for burials was at
least 4 years. As the estimated capacity at Spalding Cemetery was 5
years, it was imperative that the working group commenced early in
the new administration.
- Members noted the 5-year estimated
capacity of Spalding Cemetery and questioned whether the increased
number of households in the district, due to strong housebuilding
activity, had been considered within the estimates.
- The Strategic Property Manager
stated that:
- the increased number of households
could impact cemetery demand estimates;
- it was acknowledged that extension
of the Spalding Cemetery could take a few years to complete;
- nonetheless, the plan was to address
the issue in advance and for a strategy to be in place.
- Members queried when the proposed
increased fees would be introduced and stated that the increase for
non-residents should be fully and immediately effective, rather
than being stepped over a three-year period.
- the Strategic Property Manager
responded that the increase was proposed within the 2023/24 budget
setting process;
- whilst the aim was to achieve
S&ELCP fee parity as soon as possible, a stepped approach over
three years had been taken due to the large disparity which
existed; and
- burials for non-residents had
reduced.
- Members asked whether a piece of
land adjacent to Chiltern Drive had been considered for extension
of the cemetery.
- The Strategic Property Manager
responded that:
- specific areas for expansion had not
yet been investigated;
- a working group would be able to
investigate all possibilities; and
- a Capital Budget allowance had been
requested to fund surveys.
- Members requested that councillor
membership of the proposed working group be taken from the Policy
Development Panel and that both the Portfolio Holder for Assets and
Planning, and the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing,
Conservation and Heritage be made aware that the matter required
urgent attention. Members strongly
recommended that the working group be set up as soon as the new
administration was in place.
- The request was noted at the meeting
by the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Conservation and
Heritage and would be relayed to the Portfolio Holder for Assets
and Planning.
AGREED:
That the verbal update be noted.