Agenda item

To consider a paper reporting on the recent pilot project for extended hours for burial services.  Progress on a number of performance measures is also included within the report.

Following scrutiny of the Annual Report from Dignity at the meeting of Improving Places on 6^th June 2019, Members discussed a progress update on the performance measures that had been rated as red or amber.  As requested, officers also provided detailed feedback on the pilot Out of Hours Burial Service which was trialled between April and September 2019 by the Council and Dignity to enable short notice burials after 3pm in Rotherham.  The pilot aimed to make a reasonable adjustment to the bereavement service to address concerns raised by the Muslim community and to improve the offer to other service users who wished to have a burial up until 6.30pm at East Herringthorpe cemetery.

In terms of the performance measures, progress had continued with only two measures/targets still rated as red and of the five measures rated as amber, three had progressed.  Plans to address the issues in the remaining two measures were in place but no definite timescales.  Regarding provision of environmentally friendly burial options, a consultation exercise would be required to assess likely take up.  This would be scheduled into the action plan for 2020, although the current focus was on expansion of cemeteries, where additional burial space was most required.  In relation to secure storage for registers and records, Dignity had allocated funding for a safe and identified a supplier, with delivery dates pending. 

Repair work had commenced to the wall at Maltby Cemetery and to Haugh Road Cemetery Gates on 6^th December 2019 and was due to be completed in 45 days, with contingency built in for bad weather.

The extended hours pilot was largely successful, particularly in relation to better delivery of the Council’s commitment to the Public Sector Equality Duty. 21 burials had taken place, mainly within the earlier additional timeslots. Registrars had completed the requisite short notice forms and all funerals had gone as planned and as hoped.  77% of respondents considered the pilot made a reasonable adjustment to meet community, religious and cultural needs and 71% viewed it as having a positive impact on community relations.  Further research was deemed necessary on a number of issues - likely speed and volume of growth in demand in future; fees charged for burials between 5pm and 6:30pm; and how to manage the impact of the registration process on staff delivering the service. 

The findings would be given further consideration by the internal working group at its next meeting in January 2020, followed by a meeting with Dignity in February before any final decision was made on future out of hours provision.  An initial equality screening for the pilot had been included with the report and a full equality analysis would be completed before April 2020.

Clarification was sought by Members regarding out of hours fees as there seemed to be contradictory information and anecdotal reports varied regarding the fee.  The out of hours fee (£428) had always been in place for bank holidays and weekends as Dignity were charged a fee by the contractor for grounds maintenance and had to pay security and their own staff.  The fee had not changed but with the pilot it had become more apparent as it applied from 5-6:30pm.  It was observed that Sheffield did not charge.  Fees would be looked at as part of the benchmarking work taking place and with regard to the renewal of the grounds maintenance contract. They needed to be proportionate and not discriminatory.

A question was raised as to whether there was a way of trying to facilitate information sharing more directly between the hospital, Coroner, Registrars and Dignity rather than through the bereaved family.  It was confirmed new processes were being introduced from April 2020 between the hospital and Registrars, who were working with the Medical Examiner on out of hours provision and thus the link with the hospital would come naturally.  Officers were working on a process guide as certain things on a death certificate did have a longer process and this would help people in this very difficult period.  Members requested feedback from the meeting with the Medical Examiner.

Other issues explored were:

·       Availability of data on take up of the pilot from people outside Rotherham centre

- Funeral services may have been held locally followed by cremation at East Herringthorpe cemetery.  Such  data had not been requested but might potentially be obtained from Funeral Directors.

·       Budget for light fittings

- This was the Council’s responsibility and money was in the budget for the following year.

·       Progress in addressing the issue with waterlogging on one site

- Hardcore had been put down and attempts to redirect the water but this had not fully resolved the problem. A topographical survey was planned to try and find a solution.

·       Lengths of graves and pathways between graves

- Graves were always seven feet long but sometimes issues arose due to placement of kerb sets by the stonemasons. There was awareness of this as an issue and dialogue would take place with all stakeholders.

·       Possibility of allowing the use of wooden kerb sets in the future as at present they did not comply with the cemetery regulations.

Officers agreed that a site visit to East Herringthorpe to see the planned expansion site for burials could be accommodated.

The Cabinet Member and officers were thanked for their attendance and the information provided.

Resolved:

1)    That the information provided be noted.

2)    That the decision regarding the future of the pilot and implications of the decision be reported back to Improving Places Select Commission.

3)    Arrangements to be made for a Member visit to East Herringthorpe Cemetery.