The Bandon Hill Cemetery Joint Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday 9 November 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the treasurer's report, which details the financial outturn for the current year and proposes the budget for the next financial year. Attendees will also consider the cemetery's risk register.

Report of the Treasurer

The committee is scheduled to consider the Report of the Treasurer, which provides an update on the financial position for the year 2026/27 and outlines the proposed budget for 2027/28. The report indicates a forecast outturn surplus of £11,371 for the current financial year, which is an overspend compared to the budgeted surplus of £27,000. This variance is primarily attributed to higher-than-anticipated expenditure on the grounds maintenance contract.

For the 2027/28 financial year, the proposed budget includes a 3.5% inflation increase for the grounds maintenance contract. The report also recommends that fees and charges be inflated by 3%, a minimum increase dictated by the council's contract with its grounds maintenance provider. This increase is intended to cover operational costs, remain competitive, and account for the long-term liability of maintaining the cemetery grounds. The proposed budget for 2027/28 is projected to result in a surplus of £12,200, which would contribute to the cemetery's usable reserves.

The report also includes an updated risk register for the cemetery, detailing key risks and the mitigation strategies in place. The committee will be asked to note the financial outturn, consider the budget for the upcoming year, and review the risk register.

The report is authored by Bradley Peyton, Head of Financial Planning and Business Partnering, and has been reviewed by Victoria Goddard, Director of Finance, and Tracy Swan, Head of Law, Property, Planning and Employment at the South London Legal Partnership.

Risk Register

The committee is scheduled to review the cemetery's risk register. This document outlines potential risks, their likelihood and impact, and the mitigation measures being taken. Key risks identified include the cemetery running out of burial spaces, financial pressures, and potential issues with operational service delivery or contractor failure. The register also addresses risks related to governance and accountability, as well as the cost of burials and grounds maintenance increasing above inflation when contracts are re-let. Mitigation strategies include ongoing grave reclamation, utilising reserves to manage financial deficits, monitoring contractor performance, and benchmarking charges against neighbouring boroughs.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The committee is scheduled to consider the minutes of the previous meeting held on 6 July 2026. These minutes, available as Minutes 06072026 Bandon Hill Cemetery Joint Committee, detail discussions on the treasurer's and surveyor's reports, the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair, and a proposal for a telecommunications mast.

The previous meeting's minutes indicate that Councillor Jayne McCoy was elected Chair and Councillor Sam Martin was elected Vice-Chair for the 2026/27 municipal year. The treasurer's report at that meeting noted a trading outturn surplus for 2025/26 and discussed the risk register. The surveyor's report confirmed the completion of work on The Lodge and the replacement of boundary fences. A significant discussion also took place regarding a proposal for a telecommunications mast, with members expressing dissatisfaction and agreeing on actions to mitigate its impact.

The current meeting's agenda also includes items for welcome and introductions, apologies for absence, declarations of interest, any urgent business, and a Q&A session. There is also a provision for the exclusion of the public and press if the committee wishes to discuss exempt information.