Issue - meetings

The Bereavement Services Manager presented a report to the committee updating the members on the impact of COVID-19 on the Chesterfield and District Crematorium. The committee was given a summary of the number of excess cremations compared to the five year average, that had been carried out over the last year. April, May and June of 2020 were particularly busy months and then numbers returned to a level typically seen over the winter before another surge occurred in February.

Service times had been reduced during February to accommodate the increase in numbers but only to 25 minutes due to an enhanced cleaning regime. This had been in place for 6 weeks but had returned to normal on the day of the meeting due to a decline in numbers. All staff had been offered the vaccine and the majority had received it. Staff were attending the community testing facility on a regular basis.

The free webcasting offer and the additional cleaning continued to be essential to providing a safe environment for staff and mourners. The limit on the number of mourners permitted in chapel remained at 30 and this would be continued until 19^th June 2021 at the earliest followed by a staged return to full capacity. The number of people permitted to attend a strewing of ashes had been adjusted to six people to fall in line with the outdoor ‘rule of six’.

RESOLVED –

1.     That the webcasting of services is continued to be offered free of charge and that delegated authority be given to the
Manager to review and end at the appropriate time.

2.     The additional cleaning regime is extended until further notice and the additional service to be regularly reviewed by the Manager and ended at the appropriate time

REASON –

To continue to provide Cremation Services in a Covid 19 Secure manner.