The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Health and Community which presented a cost-benefit analysis of the main options available to the Council to address the issue of there being no new grave space available in the Council’s three existing cemeteries post 2014.

Reason for Decision

There was approximately 6 – 7 years worth of new grave space available in each of the Council’s two main cemeteries. A decision therefore needed to be made on whether, and how the Council planned to provide for a new grave availability for 2015 and beyond.

Alterative Options Considered and Rejected

All of the alterative options considered were outlined in Section 3.0 of the report.

Implementation Date

The decision to extend Widnes Cemetery should be implemented as soon as is practically possible.

The implementation of the decision to extend Runcorn Cemetery could be deferred until 2013, during which time the need for this extension may be reviewed as the Council develops its policy on the re-use of old graves.

RESOLVED: That subject to available capital

1)     Option 3 be approved;

2)     Option 4 be approved on the basis that the land was not inappropriately expensive and was not within the timescales;

3)     As a contingency, concurrently pursue Option 5 if the principles of Option 4 were not met; and

4)     Authorise all ancillary actions to be undertaken by the Strategic Director, Health and Community, in consultation with the Executive Board Member for Environment, Leisure and Sport.