Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED that M Radulovic MBE be appointed Chair of the Joint Committee.

RESOLVED that J Dawson be appointed Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 March 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2024 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To recommend to the respective Councils a number of updates to the deed of agreement in respect of the Bramcote Bereavement Services Joint Committee.

The Joint Committee considered the updates to the Agreement in respect of the Bramcote Bereavement Services Joint Committee.

Changes to the Agreement require the consideration by each of the constituent Council’s appropriate Committees and full Council meetings prior to implementation.

RECOMMENDED to the respective Councils that the revised Agreement be approved and that the consequential changes to the Constitution be made.

To present the Annual Report and Management Statement of Accounts for 2023/24 for consideration by the Joint Committee, in accordance with the vision of working to provide the most professional, compassionate and sensitive services to meet the needs and expectations of people using Bramcote Crematorium.

The Joint Committee considered the Annual Report and Management Statement of Accounts for 2022/23 in accordance with the vision of working to provide the most professional, compassionate and sensitive services to meet the needs and expectations of people using Bramcote Crematorium.

The accounts for the Bramcote Bereavement Services show a revenue account deficit of £29,949 for the financial year ended 31 March 2024. The surplus on operations for the year was £570,222, which is £23,622 higher than the original budget approved in January 2023. The accumulated revenue surplus as at 31 March 2024 was £334,598.

RESOLVED that:

1. The Annual Report and Management Statement of Accounts for the financial year 2023/24 be approved as the basis for generating accounting entries to the two constituent authorities.

2. The accumulated revenue surplus and other investments be retained by the Joint Committee for future use, with the position being reviewed when the 2024/25 revised estimates are considered.

3. Development budget carry forward requests totalling £213,400, as outlined in the report, be approved and included in the 2024/25 revised budget.

To provide the Joint Committee with an update on performance and marketing.

The Marketing and Performance Strategy report was noted.

It was noted that the funerals available in the core and targeted areas between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 has decreased by 4.50% compared to the same period in 2022/23. This percentage equates to 198 cremations not being available.

It was noted that analysis would be carried out on a monthly basis to establish the market share for the services held at the Crematorium. For every cremation held at the crematorium this would involve recording the district where each of the deceased lived set against the overall death rate for the corresponding district. The market share can then be calculated.

To consider items for inclusion in the Work Programme for future meetings.

The Joint Committee discussed the Work Programme, it was requested that a report regarding the sale of land, environmental efficiencies and Pamela Cottage be added to the Work Programme.

RESOLVED that the Work Programme, as amended to include an items on the sale of land, environmental efficiencies and Pamela Cottage, be approved.

The Committee is asked to RESOLVE that, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED that, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED that the proposal of a pre-paid cremation deed as detailed in this report be approved.