Issue - meetings

This report provides the Executive with an overview of Brent’s Cemeteries Strategy. The strategy concerns the four cemeteries owned and managed by Brent Council and will enable the council to provide an inclusive and cost effective service to meet current and future demand for burial. The strategy was produced following a comprehensive consultation process and sets out a clear vision, set of objectives and action plan for cemetery provision in Brent.

(i)         that the findings of the strategy and agree its vision to “meet the needs of bereaved people and the wider community within the borough” by

·         conducting the burial and commemoration of the dead of the diverse community in a secure, sustainable and well-maintained environment.

·         offering burial options at a choice of four cemeteries.

·         enabling local communities to access cemeteries as valuable historic green spaces which promote wellbeing, biodiversity, learning and recreation.

be noted;

(ii)        that the three inter linked objectives which have been formed to deliver the vision of the strategy, as set out in paragraphs 3.19, 3.20 and 3.21 of the report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services be noted;

(iii)       that the action plan to deliver the strategy (attached as Appendix 2 of the Director’s report) be noted;

(iv)       that approval be given to the principle of using Invest to Save funding to increase the availability of burial space.

Councillor Powney (Lead Member, Environment and Neighbourhoods) introduced the report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services which provided the Executive with an overview of Brent’s Cemeteries Strategy. The strategy concerned the four cemeteries owned and managed by Brent Council and would enable the council to provide an inclusive and cost effective service to meet current and future demand for burial. Councillor Powney referred members to the Strategy which he considered to be comprehensive focusing on burial and also treating cemeteries as valuable green spaces. He highlighted the priorities in the action plan appended to the report and objectives which provided for each cemetery to have its own management plan to help investment in the service.

Councillor Hirani (Lead Member, Adults and Health) referred to the absence of a crematorium in the borough acknowledged in the report due to the lack of a suitable location noting that this would be reviewed should a suitable location become available in future with the necessary funding.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the findings of the strategy be noted and agreement given to its vision to “meet the needs of bereaved people and the wider community within the borough” by

·         conducting the burial and commemoration of the dead of the diverse community in a secure, sustainable and well-maintained environment.

·         offering burial options at a choice of four cemeteries.

·         enabling local communities to access cemeteries as valuable historic green spaces which promote wellbeing, biodiversity, learning and recreation;

(ii)        that the three inter linked objectives which have been formed to deliver the vision of the strategy, as set out in paragraphs 3.19, 3.20 and 3.21 of the report from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services be noted;

(iii)       that the action plan to deliver the strategy (attached as Appendix 2 of the Director’s report) be noted;

(iv)       that approval be given to the principle of using Invest to Save funding to increase the availability of burial space.