The Chesterfield and District Joint Crematorium Committee are scheduled to meet on 13 October 2025. The agenda includes the Bereavement Service Manager's report, a discussion of charity donations from the recycling of metals, and a budget monitoring report. A discussion on future cremation equipment options is scheduled to be held in private.

Recycling of Metals Charity Donation

The committee is scheduled to discuss the distribution of surplus funds derived from the recovery of metals following cremation to local charities for 2026. A report in the agenda pack recommends that the committee approve the nomination of five charities to receive an equal share of the surplus, expected to be around £3,500 each.

The charities nominated are:

• Ashgate Hospice, which supports the North Derbyshire area.
• Sunshine and Shade (A Friendship and Bereavement Group), which has local groups in Clay Cross, Grassmoor and Chesterfield town centre.
• Cruse Care Bereavement, which has a local base in Chesterfield.
• SoBS – Survivors of Bereaved by Suicide, which has a local base in North Derbyshire.

The report states that all the nominated charities demonstrate bereavement support and provide direct support to constituents of Bolsover, North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield areas.

The report also mentions alternative options for the committee to consider, such as supporting all the charities that have applied, but notes that this would move away from the previous principle of only supporting local bereavement-related charities.

The report notes that in September 2023, the members agreed to leave the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) Scheme in favour of another similar one, administered by RS Bruce Precious Metal Recycling in Sheffield, endorsed by the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities.

Whilst there is now greater flexibility on how the surplus donations are distributed, the Manager has retained the principle of nominating charities that can demonstrate bereavement support to constituents.

Bereavement Services Manager's Report

The Bereavement Services Manager has prepared a report to keep members informed of matters relating to the day-to-day operation of the crematorium. The report is scheduled to include cremation figures, staffing updates and project updates.

The cremation figures in the report compare the period April to August in the years 2021 to 2025. The figures are broken down to show which constituent area funerals have been received from for the 2025/26 financial year.

The report notes that there is currently one vacancy within the service, a Horticultural Apprenticeship role. The previous postholder was successful in their application for a role on the Chesterfield Borough Council (CBC) Cemetery/Gravedigging Team. The report states that the vacancy is expected to be advertised before Spring 2026, and a full-time gardening position remains frozen until the end of a successful apprenticeship for review.

The report also notes that additional lighting and decoration around the chapel entrance is complete, as are the roof repairs, which included new soffits, facias and guttering.

The report also mentions that a building survey has been completed and the results are being analysed by the Lead Authorities Facilities Maintenance Team. A summary will be provided later in the year to add as a guide for the next Management Plan for the Crematorium.

The crematorium is scheduled to hold an open day on Sunday 2 November, which will be an opportunity for the general public to look behind the scenes at the workings of the crematorium and ask questions, search records, and enquire about memorial options.

The report also notes that Cremators No 2 and No 3 have been relined since the last committee meeting after inspection, report and recommendations from the manufacturer.

The report also provides an update on the Medical Examiner System, which has now been in place for one year. The report notes that a recent report from the National Medical Examiner shared reflections one year on, with the following key takeaways: successful implementation of reforms, enhanced safeguards and support for bereaved families, an overall delay or increase in Death Registration of 1-2 days and quality/safety improvements.

Regarding the Medical Referee post, the Ministry of Justice have confirmed that they are not in a position to put forward any changes to the role of the Medical Referee at this time. The Medical Referee fee has therefore been reintroduced to the Cremation Fee as the role has not been removed as anticipated by the Manager originally.

Budget Monitoring Report

The committee is scheduled to review the budget monitoring position as at the end of August 2025. According to the report, the original 2025/26 budget was approved on 20 November 2024, and carry forward requests not included in the original budgets of £24,644 were approved on 2 June.

As at August 2025, there is a favourable profiled variance of £15,957.

The report notes that employee costs are under profile by £22,661, mainly due to normal staffing budgets being underspent by £18,897. Premises costs are over profile by £45,919, mainly due to cremator repairs and general routine repairs. Supplies and Services costs are over profile by £32,540, mainly due to general supplies and services, medical referee costs and memorial costs. Income is over profile by £70,979, mainly due to cremation fees and memorial income.

The report notes that there are two capital improvement schemes carried forward from last year for completion, to replace the gutters, soffits and facias (£28,000), and repairs to the garage (£3,000). The gutters, soffits and facias are now completed as part of other roof repairs to the main crematorium building and payment finalised in September. The capital element of this work cost £15,000; however, the revenue element of the work cost £28,000 compared to the original assumption of £16,500. Overall, the project came in slightly under budget.

David Corker, Bereavement Services Manager Clerk & Treasurer, prepared the report.

Future Cremation Equipment Options

The committee is scheduled to discuss an update on the feasibility of future cremation equipment options. The public will be excluded from this part of the meeting because it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972¹.