Issue - items at meetings - Redditch Crematorium - Cremator Replacement and Building Upgrades

To advise Members of the requirement for a major infrastructure upgrade to the existing crematorium plant and buildings.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that,

subject to the necessary budgetary approvals of the full Council, as detailed at recommendations 6) and 7) below,

1) a programme of replacement of and installation of one new cremator, complete with mercury abatement equipment, at a current cost in the region of £575,000, be carried out;

2) a programme of civil works be undertaken to improve the public and staff areas of the crematorium buildings, at a cost of £380,000;

3) a defined study be carried out in relation to energy recovery and re-use for both internal and external purposes;

4) specialist and technical support be employed to assist the Bereavement Services Manager with the management and implementation of this project, at a cost of £32,500;

5) expenditure of up to the total sum approved by the Council, for the purposes defined in the report, be approved in accordance with Standing Order 41; and

RECOMMENDED that

6) the Council, if it is established that it is economically viable to recover waste energy and to re-use it for internal and external purposes, implement the recommended programmes for such re-use. Initial research indicates that internal re-use will be economically viable so a sum of £70,000 has been included in the Capital Programme for this aspect of the project.

7) up to £757,500 be allocated from the Capital Programme for the purposes indicated in the report; and

8) the Capital Programme be amended accordingly.

Members considered a report advising them of requirements for a major infrastructure upgrade to the existing crematorium plant and buildings. The Committee welcomed the report and commended Officers on the service that was provided at the facility.

Officers were able to provide reassurance that disruption would be kept to a minimum during the course of the works. There was a need to be sensitive in the handing of this work and it was expected that local residents would be kept informed through press statements. It was hoped that the carrying out of the work would not result in any loss of revenue to the Council.

The recycling of the waste heat was considered to be a positive innovation and Members were pleased to hear that heat recovery from crematoria was not considered objectionable by the overwhelming majority of the public in surveys. It was also noted that the service was not intending to purchase a larger replacement cremator, thereby reducing the amount of waste heat produced in cremating all users.