Issue - meetings

Report for decision.

ORDERED that Executive

1. Approve a virement of £0.277m from the Derisking Sites scheme to fund the additional costs for the main works as part of the Thorntree extension. If approved, the virement would be actions as part of the Revenue & Capital Budget Forecast Year End Outturn Quarter 3 2025-26 Executive report.
2. Endorse the proposals for short, medium and long-term burial provision.

AGREED that the Executive note the current status of burial plots remaining in Thorntree and Acklam Cemetery.

The Executive Member for Development submitted a report which provided an update on the current and future burial plot supply, along with actions proposed to address the limited supply and ensure ongoing provision. The report also requested a virement of £0.277m from the De-Risking Sites Scheme to the existing cemetery capital budget.

Middlesbrough’s historic cemeteries had largely reached capacity, with Thorntree and Acklam cemeteries expected to do so within six to nine months. Providing new land for burials required strict compliance with planning and environmental legislation. Specialists had been engaged to complete a comprehensive options appraisal for Thorntree and Acklam Cemeteries, including full project delivery and cost advice, site investigations, and preparation for statutory consents such as planning permission and Environment Agency approval. Gleeds and Cemetery Development and Environmental Solutions (CDS) had been procured to undertake the analysis and provide design solutions. Work at Thorntree had concluded, enabling the Council, subject to Executive approval, to proceed with procurement and legal processes for the extension to ensure short-term provision. A capital allocation of £2.388m had previously been approved, but a shortfall was identified following detailed analysis; therefore, the report sought a virement of £0.277m from the De-Risking Sites Scheme to deliver 1,258 burial plots and outlined further steps to secure medium- and long-term burial provision.

The Executive Member for Environment and Sustainability commented that the works detailed in the report were important to be carried out.

OPTIONS

The Council could elect to not provide future burial space, but this had been rejected on the basis that significant proportions of the community continue to opt for burials.

ORDERED that Executive

1. Approve a virement of £0.277m from the Derisking Sites scheme to fund the additional costs for the main works as part of the Thorntree extension. If approved, the virement would be actions as part of the Revenue & Capital Budget Forecast Year End Outturn Quarter 3 2025-26 Executive report.
2. Endorse the proposals for short, medium and long-term burial provision.

AGREED that the Executive note the current status of burial plots remaining in Thorntree and Acklam Cemetery.

REASONS

Burial provision in the town was extremely limited, with estimated supply remaining of around six to nine months only. Whilst it was accepted that the Council did not have a statutory duty to provide burial space, it was anticipated that the Council sought to continue to provide provision for those who wished to utilise the service.

Failure to provide burial provision would mean residents would have no alternative but to find provision in neighbouring authorities.