Agenda item

The Environmental Services Manager presented a report on the Council’s Burial Strategy. It was explained that the Burial Strategy was a crucial document for the Council to ensure a long-term, respectful, and inclusive management of burial spaces whilst meeting legal, cultural, and environmental needs. Without prior planning, Redditch faced a risk of running out of burial space and the Burial Strategy was designed to be a positive step in the effective management of burial space and future development of cemeteries within the Borough.

It was noted that Redditch Borough Council operated and managed three cemeteries, Plymouth Road, Edgioake Lane and Abbey Cemetery and St Stephen’s, St Luke’s and Feckenham closed church yards. Plymouth Road cemetery was closed to new burials, Edgioake Lane Cemetery had approximately five years of burial provision available at current usage but was under review to free up further space for 5+ years of burial provision.

Abbey Cemetery was the main burial area in Redditch Borough and had approximately 8 months left of burials space in early 2024. Through the later parts of 2024 a vigorous exercise of reviewing burial space within the cemetery led to securing a further 10 years of space at the site.

Work had been undertaken in recent years to assess the suitability of several different sites across the Borough as per previous reports. In total twenty-six sites were originally reviewed, the various sites including land at the rear of Morrisons, Foxlydiate Woods, additional extension to the existing Edgioake lane site, Ipsley Church Lane, Greenland’s playing fields, Coldfield Drive, Oakenshaw Park, and Woodrow Park.

It was noted that following the change of administration in May 2024 the works at Ipsley Church Lane site were put on hold. In early 2025 a new site review was undertaken in respect of Land North of Morrisons and West of the B4497, B98 0JD (Proposed Site 2B). To date this site had passed the Environment Agency (EA) requirements to secure a standard permit.

Following the presentation of the report, a Member asked about the Edgioake Lane Cemetery and review being undertaken there. It was confirmed that officers were reviewing the prepaid plots at the site with a view of potentially recovering these plots. It was highlighted there was no plan to recover full graves on the site.

A Member queried if there was scope for natural burial ground provision. The Environmental Services Manager responded that this could not be accommodated at the Abbey Cemetery but would be considered as part of the provision at a new burial site. It was noted in terms of burial practices that there was a relatively static number of burials each year in Redditch Borough. Nationally, the proportion was around 15 per cent burials and 85 per cent cremations.

In relation to the twenty-six potential sites originally reviewed by the Council it was noted that ground water, geology and associated testing was carried out at all these sites. In respect of the Land North of Morrisons and West of the B4497, B98 0JD (Proposed Site 2B), as it was near the lake, borehole and deep ground water testing had been carried out over winter/spring time to determine the suitability of the site and this confirmed that the site had passed the Environment Agency (EA) requirements to secure a standard permit.

It was noted that a further report would be prepared in respect of burial provision in due course which would also be submitted for consideration by Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

On being put to the vote, the recommendation of the report was endorsed.

RECOMMENDED that

the Redditch Borough Council Burial Strategy be approved.