Community and Recreation (Parks and Cemeteries Services) Sub-Committee 5 February 2007
From Nigov
Community and Recreation Committee Monday, 5th February, 2007
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SPECIAL MEETING OF COMMUNITY AND RECREATION (PARKS AND CEMETERIES SERVICES) SUB-COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillor Rodgers (Chairman); the High Sheriff (Councillor Kirkpatrick); and Councillors Austin, W. Browne and Hartley.
In attendance
- Mr. M. Elder (Director of Community Recreation)
- Mr. A. Hassard (Head of Environmental Health)
- Mrs. F. Holdsworth (Principal Parks and Cemeteries Services Manager)
- Mr. J. MacFarlane (Bereavement Services Manager)
- Ms. J. Pimley (Business Improvement Consultant)
- Mr. N. Malcolm (Committee Administrator)
Post of Interim Director of Parks and Leisure Services
The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Mr. Andrew Hassard, Head of Environmental Health, who had been appointed recently to the position of Interim Director of Parks and Leisure Services. It was anticipated that Mr. Hassard would be taking up his appointment on 1st April.
Review of Crematorium Service
The Sub-Committee considered a report regarding a review of the Crematorium Service, which had been undertaken by the Business Improvement Section. A copy of the report is set out hereunder.
The Business Improvement Consultant drew the Sub-Committee's attention to various aspects of the report.
The Chairman (Councillor Rodgers) expressed concern at the length of time it had taken the Business Improvement Section to prepare the report and indicated that he understood this was related to the high number of staff from that Section which had been seconded to other Departments within the Council. He pointed out that he understood also that not all staff within the Crematorium Service were content to work under the new rota system proposed in the report. He pointed out also that there would be a considerable cost in relation to the proposed work to the canopies at the entrance and exit to the Crematorium. In addition, he suggested that:
(i) the number of Focus Group meetings referred to in the Business Improvement report be increased from one to two per year in order that the Department might be better informed as to the opinions of the users of the Crematorium;
(ii) the organisers of services which lasted longer than the thirty minutes allotted to them be charged an additional fee;
(iii) since the current Crematorium was reaching its capacity, the Council obtain costings for the provision of a second chapel in Roselawn and the construction of a new chapel and crematorium in a different locality; and
(iv) the Council employ specialist staff to undertake the proposed public consultation exercises rather than using outside consultants.
In response to these comments, the Director of Community and Recreation informed the Members that, at a meeting of the Chief Officers' Management Team earlier in the day, it had been accepted that the operational requirements of Departments must not suffer as a result of the amalgamation of the Business Improvement and Human Resources Sections and the secondment of Business Improvement Consultants to other Departments and that a paper in that regard would be considered at a future meeting of the Management Team. The Management Team had discussed also possible means of reducing the costs associated with the public consultation exercises which were undertaken by consultants on behalf of the Council and had requested that a report regarding the number of such exercises be prepared.
The Director accepted the Chairman's point regarding an additional charge being levied on services at the Crematorium which extended beyond the allocated thirty minutes and indicated that he would investigate the possibility of introducing such a fee. He informed the Sub-Committee that, although the cost of the work to the canopies at the Crematorium was likely to be considerable, he believed that the work was essential under Health and Safety Regulations.
In connection with the comments which had been made regarding the unwillingness of staff to work the proposed new shifts, the Bereavement Services Manager indicated that the Trades Unions had been consulted regarding the Review and were of the opinion that it would prove beneficial for the staff employed at the Crematorium.
After further discussion, the Sub-Committee agreed to adopt the recommendations contained within the foregoing report, with the exception of that under the heading "Future Implications" which referred to consultants undertaking a public consultation exercise, which was deferred pending the outcome of an audit of such work which was being undertaken at the request of the Chief Officers' Management Team. In addition, the Sub-Committee agreed that two Focus Group meetings with the users of the Crematorium be held each year, that costings for the provision of a new chapel at Roselawn and a new chapel and crematorium at a different location be obtained and that a visit to the Crematorium be held in late March.
Chairman
