The Strategic Director, Place will submit a (Document “X”) which update the Executive on delivery of the adopted Bereavement Strategy relating to the procurement of a principal contractor for the new Heaton Crematorium.

Recommended –

That the Executive approves the following recommendations -

(1)       Approval for the Strategic Director, Place in consultation with the Director of Finance & IT to award the contract to the successful tenderer for the construction of Heaton Crematorium as detailed in this report within the overall programme budget of £23 million.

(2)       A further report to be presented to the Executive on the costs for Bierley Crematorium in due course.

(3)       That in accordance with paragraph 8.7.4 of Part 3E of the constitution, that the recommendations above are not subject to call-in as the matter is urgent for the reasons set out in paragraphs 5.1 to 5.3 of Document “X.

Regeneration & Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee

(Phil Barker - 01274 432616)

Resolved –

(1)       That approval be given for the Strategic Director Place in consultation with the Director of Finance & IT, to award the contract to the successful tenderer for the construction of Heaton Crematorium as detailed in Document “X” within the overall programme budget of £23 million.

(2)       That a further report be presented to the Executive on the costs for Bierley Crematorium in due course.

(3)       That in accordance with paragraph 8.7.4 of Part 3E of the Constitution, the recommendations above are not subject to call-in as the matter is urgent for the reasons set out in paragraphs 5.1 to 5.3 of Document “X.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place/Director of Finance

Regeneration & Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee

(Phil Barker - 01274 432616)

The Strategic Director, Place submitted a report (Document “X”) which updated the Executive on delivery of the adopted Bereavement Strategy relating to the procurement of a principal contractor for the new Heaton Crematorium.

The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder stated that the Council had invested in a long term Bereavement Strategy to replace outdated Crematoria, with the new Oakworth Crematorium facility opening in due course.  She thanked staff within the Bereavement Services for their dedication and hard work. Additional funding was now required for the Heaton proposal as construction and building costs had increased significantly  in the face of rising global costs.

The Assistant Director Sport and Leisure stressed that construction costs were now 25% more than what had been envisaged when the original allocation had been made.

In response to a question from the main Opposition Group Leader regarding value for money and any potential impact on the new Oakworth facility as a result of rising costs, the Assistant Director stated that  the project would be delivered on time and on budget. A full assessment was being carried out in relation to the proposed Bierley Crematorium and this would be reported in due course in the context of increased land and construction costs.

The Leader stressed the volatility of the markets and that future projects and their cost implications would have to be reassessed at design/build stage.

Resolved –

(1)       That approval be given for the Strategic Director Place in consultation with the Director of Finance & IT, to award the contract to the successful tenderer for the construction of Heaton Crematorium as detailed in Document “X” within the overall programme budget of £23 million.

(2)       That a further report be presented to the Executive on the costs for Bierley Crematorium in due course.

(3)       That in accordance with paragraph 8.7.4 of Part 3E of the Constitution, the recommendations above are not subject to call-in as the matter is urgent for the reasons set out in paragraphs 5.1 to 5.3 of Document “X.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place/Director of Finance

Regeneration & Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee

(Phil Barker - 01274 432616)