Agenda item

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submits a report to update the commission on the Burial Strategy at Leicester City Council.

The Director of Neighbourhood & Environmental Services summarised the Burial Strategy Update slide presentation appended to the agenda.  This included the action taken to mitigate the pressure on burial space following increased demand from the coronavirus pandemic and the reducing availability of burial space in the council’s cemeteries.

Councillor Cutkelvin, Deputy City Mayor for Housing and Neighbourhoods introduced the report.

The Director of Neighbourhood & Environmental Services gave a summary of the report.   He added that whilst there was no immediate solution to pressures on burial space, a solution needed to be sought by 2026, given that burial space was forecast to reach capacity for 2030-31 for all communities.  He further added that Leicester was not alone in that there were other cities in a similar situation.  However, the issues were more apparent in Leicester due to the size of the city and its tight boundaries where other cities had more green space.

He clarified that there was no legislation for the reuse of burial space at this time.

He concluded that there had been good engagement from faith groups and there was a policy across all spaces to maintain provision.  Work across the groups was continuing in order to look at provision beyond 2030.

The Chair thanked the officers involved for their report.

In response to questions, the Commission were informed that:

• There were currently over 120,000 graves in cemeteries, of these, only 4,000 were new.  In terms of pre-sales, 700 were sold for future use in the five years before the policy was ended due to short-term need. 
• By 2026 work would need to have started on identifying sites, surveying them, putting out a tender and undertaking procurement as there was a three-to-four year build process.  The Capital Projects Team were looking into this.  Soil conditions were also important as an environmental permit would be needed.  This would require 12 months of groundwater monitoring to take place alongside the other preparations.
• There was initially 20 acres available, but there was an intention to deliver for a minimum of 50 years.
• Whilst more people were opting for cremation due to the cost-of-living crisis, faith had a big influence on whether people were buried or cremated.  In general, more people were choosing cremation, over 80% nationally, however it was different in Leicester due to the city’s demographics.
• Concern was raised over lobbying to bring the rest of the country into line with London in terms of legislation to allow, in certain circumstances (i.e. after a certain length of time and where there are no objections), the exhumation of graves, which were then dug deeper, to allow other people to be buried as well as the original occupant (who would be buried deeper).  It was suggested that this did not align with traditional Catholic beliefs and as such the Catholic faith needed to be considered and taken into account. 
• It was not thought that there would be an increase in burial costs due to supply and demand.  The costs were benchmarked against other Local Authorities and Leicester was at the lower end of the price range when compared against comparable authorities.

AGREED:

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    That the Commission be kept informed of the national consultation and any legislative changes.

3.    That all faiths be involved with local consultation regarding any changes in legislation on the re-use of graves arising from the national Law Commission review of burial legislation.

4.    That a 12-monthly update be brought to the Commission.