Monday, 17 May 2021

He hui e whakahaeretia nei e Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Heretaunga

Administered by Hastings District Council

HB Crematorium Committee Meeting

Kaupapataka
Agenda

 

 

Te Rā Hui:
Meeting date:

Monday, 17 May 2021

Te Wā:
Time:

9.30am

Te Wāhi:
Venue:

Crematorium Chapel

Orchard Road

Hastings

Te Hoapā:
Contact:

Democracy and Governance Services

P: 06 871 5000  |  E: democracy@hdc.govt.nz

Te Āpiha Matua:
Responsible Officer:

Group Manager: Asset Management - Craig Thew

 


Hawke’s Bay Crematorium Committee – Terms of Reference

 

The Hawke’s Bay Crematorium Committee established by Order in Council 9 June 1989 as part of The Local Government (Hawke’s Bay Region) Reorganisation Order 1989.

 

1.       The Hastings District Council shall establish and maintain a committee to be called the Hawke’s Bay Crematorium Committee.

 

2.       The membership of the Committee shall consist of:

(a)    Two members to be appointed by the Napier City Council; and

(b)   Two members to be appointed by the Hastings District Council; and

(c)    One member to be appointed by the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council.

 

3.       The Hastings District Council shall delegate to the Hawke’s Bay Crematorium Committee such functions, duties and powers in respect of the supervision and operation of the Hawke’s Bay Crematorium as the Council considers appropriate.

 

 

Membership (5 Councillors)

·         Chair appointed by the Committee

·         Appointed in accordance with the Reorganisation Order:

·           2 HDC Councillors.

·           2 NCC Councillors.

·           1 CHB Councillor.

 

Quorum – 3 members

 

 

DELEGATED POWERS

 

Authority to develop policies and provide operational and financial oversight of the Hawke’s Bay Crematorium.

 


 

Monday, 17 May 2021

Te Hui o Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Heretaunga

Hastings District Council

HB Crematorium Committee Meeting

Kaupapataka
Agenda

Mematanga:
Membership:

Koromatua

Chair: Councillor Dixon (HDC)

Ngā KaiKaunihera

Members:

Councillor Price (NCC) (Deputy Chair)

Councillor Nixon (HDC)

Councillor Mawson (NCC)

Councillor Minehan (CHBDC)

Tokamatua:
Quorum:

3 members

Apiha Matua
Officer Responsible:

Group Manager: Asset Management – Craig Thew

Te Rōpū Manapori me te Kāwanatanga
Democracy & Governance Services:

Christine Hilton (Ext 5633)

 

 

 


Te Rārangi Take
Order of Business

1.0

Apologies & Leave of Absence – Ngā Whakapāhatanga me te Wehenga ā-Hui

At the close of the agenda no apologies had been received.

At the close of the agenda no requests for leave of absence had been received.

 

2.0

Conflict of Interest – He Ngākau Kōnatunatu

Members need to be vigilant to stand aside from decision-making when a conflict arises between their role as a Member of the Council and any private or other external interest they might have.  This note is provided as a reminder to Members to scan the agenda and assess their own private interests and identify where they may have a pecuniary or other conflict of interest, or where there may be perceptions of conflict of interest.  

If a Member feels they do have a conflict of interest, they should publicly declare that at the start of the relevant item of business and withdraw from participating in the meeting.  If a Member thinks they may have a conflict of interest, they can seek advice from the General Counsel or the Manager: Democracy and Governance (preferably before the meeting). 

It is noted that while Members can seek advice and discuss these matters, the final decision as to whether a conflict exists rests with the member.

 

3.0

Confirmation of Minutes – Te Whakamana i Ngā Miniti

Minutes of the HB Crematorium Committee Meeting held Tuesday 10 March 2020.

(Previously circulated)   

 

4.0

Crematorium update and proposed fees and charges included in draft LTP 2021/31 

7

5.0

Minor Items – Ngā Take Iti

 

6.0

Urgent Items – Ngā Take Whakahihiri   

 

 

     


 

Monday, 17 May 2021

Te Hui o Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Heretaunga

Hastings District Council: HB Crematorium Committee Meeting

Te Rārangi Take
Report to HB Crematorium Committee

Nā:

From:

Craig Thew, Group Manager: Asset Management

Te Take:

Subject:

Crematorium update and proposed fees and charges included in draft LTP 2021/31

        

 

1.0    Executive Summary – Te Kaupapa Me Te Whakarāpopototanga

1.1          The purpose of this report is to update the Hawke’s Bay Crematorium Committee regarding operations at the HB Crematorium and Chapel for the period 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020, and to inform and seek endorsement from the Committee on the proposed Crematorium charges included in the Draft 2021-2031 Long Term Plan.

1.2       The 2020 calendar year in summary

·        Use of chapel reduced due to Covid but overall activity at similar levels.

·        Managing the service in a Covid 19 world.

·        Minor inflationary adjustment to 2020 fees and charges due to Covid.

·        Ongoing renewal and preventative maintenance work to maintain the cremator in service.

·        Staffing changes during 2020.

1.3       Proposed Fees and charges in the Draft Long Term Plan (LTP) are higher than the existing fees, the increase is required to:

·        Cover the preventative maintenance and component renewal works identified for the cremator over its economic life, and

·        Cover other more general cost increases incurred in the operation of the service (such as compliance testing and medical referee costs).

 

2.0    Recommendations – Ngā Tūtohunga

A)        That the HB Crematorium Committee receive the report titled Crematorium update and proposed fees and charges included in draft LTP 2021/31 dated 17 May 2021.

B)         That the Committee endorse the proposed Fees and Charges included in the Draft 2021/31 Long Term Plan.

 

 

3.0    Operational summary

3.1          The table below shows the number of services for the period from 1 January 2020 to 31 January 2021. The volume of cremations is at similar levels to previous years.

 

Cremations

806

Chapel Bookings – Full Service

58

Chapel Bookings – Committal Service

174

 

3.2          Covid 19 effects: The chapel closed on 25 March 2020 due to Covid level 4 restrictions.   The cremation services continued largely as normal as an essential service with the appropriate controls in place. Overall the service performed well during this period and the adjustments in Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) when interacting with funeral directors was readily implemented. Chapel services resumed on 10 April 2020 with the implementation of level 2 restrictions and the required adaption of the chapel seating to meet gathering and social distancing requirements. Additional chapel cleaning regime was also implemented.

3.3          Cremator Maintenance:

·    Between 10th – 14th August the cremator was out of action for repairs to be done to the refractory.  During this time 12 deceased were subsequently transported to Palmerston North to be cremated at the council-run cremator at Kelvin Grove cemetery.  All cases were transported by cemetery staff.

·    Pyrotek the company contracted to undertake the work had initially planned to replace the entire roof as well as reconstruct the wall that separates the main chamber from the secondary chamber. Due to difficulties with obtaining supply specifications regards the thickness of the roof castings, Pyrotek had to make an informed judgement as to the materials required to complete the repairs. When the demolition of the roof began it was evident that there was a need for more materials than had been allowed for in the initial estimate of costs; due to this the rear portion of the roof was left to be done at a later date. Consequently the wall and approximately half of the roof has been replaced.  Pyrotek will monitor the ongoing condition of the rear portion of the roof. The rear of the roof will inevitably require replacement in the near future which may coincide with some remedial work that could be due on the cremator floor.

·    Maintenance and inspections of the cremator were satisfactorily completed as required throughout the year.

3.4          Cremator Consent – AUTH-121897-01: Air Quality Testing

·    Testing has been completed in 2021 and the monitoring report has been submitted to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for the annual consent requirements. Results for a couple of the items are on the edge of compliance and work will likely be required during 2021 to review the management of the performance outcomes.

 

3.5       Health and Safety

·        No incidents (near miss or injury) were recorded for the crematorium activity during the last 12months. The crematorium team, along with the wider cemetery team, have ongoing toolbox meetings and reviews of hazards and operating procedures across their areas of activity.

·        Health monitoring of staff working in the facility is also performed.

3.6       Staffing:

·        Unfortunately late in 2020 the crematorium manager left the role to explore other opportunities. In his time as manager he had initiated a number of improvements and run the service with professionalism. Currently role is being covered by existing staff with the initial recruitment efforts not successful in finding a suitable replacement.

·        Hastings District Council has staff from other areas of the business who are trained and able to assist with the operation of the Crematorium; this additional resilience is critical in managing disruptions.

4.0    Parking options

4.1       Hastings District Council has been considering concept options to improve parking for the cemetery and crematorium. These concepts could also enable additional management and control of access if required.

4.2       The draft Long Term Plan includes a funding allowance that is spread over the LTP, with year 1 and 2 covering design and potential for some initial improvements. Officers will present to the committee the initial concepts that are being considered.

5.0    Proposed fees in 2021/31 Draft LTP

5.1       The funding policy covering the regional crematorium is that full cost recovery (100%) is made from the direct beneficiaries of the service through fees and charges.

5.2       A key driver in the change of charges is to ensure adequate funding is available to complete the required preventative maintenance and renewals for the life of the cremator, as well as cover a shortfall in revenue in recent years.  This has been balanced by the Crematorium reserve – whilst in the short term this can cover deficits, it does not provide a sustainable funding model to assist with future replacements.

5.3       Summary of forecast Cremator component preventative maintenance and renewal expenditure is provided below:

 

5.4       Council Officers have calculated an increase in fees to cover the forecast expenses. The proposed changes to the Schedule of Fees & Charges are noted below.  These have been included in the Hastings District Council Draft 2021/31 Long Term Plan document.  Submissions on the LTP will be considered by Council in early June.  The Plan including decisions made as a result of submissions, is scheduled for final adoption on 24 June 2021.

 

Cremation

Current Fee (incl GST)

Proposed 21/22 Fee

Note: Fee includes medical referee and transport urn.

 

Adults

 $        674.00

 $        810.00

Child (3 to 11 years)

 $                   -  

 $                   -

Infant (1 month up to 3 years old)

 $                   -  

 $                   -

Pre-term, Stillborn and infant (up to 1 month old)

 $                   -  

 $                   -

Chapel

Note: The chapel can accommodate 130 people comfortably. Facilities for music and visual playback are available. These fees are in addition to burial or cremation fees.

 

Full service (1 hour)

 $        200.00

 $        250.00

Committal (30 minutes)

 $        100.00

 $        125.00

Extension of service time per 30 minutes, or part thereof

 $        100.00

 $        150.00

Cremation Overtime

Note: These fees are in addition to the above fees.

 

Cremation taking place 4pm to 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 12 noon Saturday

 $        113.00

 $        140.00

Cremation taking place from Saturday 12 noon to 5pm Saturday

 $        225.00

 $        265.00

Cremation taking place on Sundays or public holidays 10am to 2pm

 $        393.00

 $        465.00

Sundry

Removal of liner from presentation coffin pre cremation

 $          18.00

 $          25.00

Cremation Certificate

 $          29.00

 $          35.00

 

5.5       It is expected that annual increases will be applied. If operational and asset planning work highlights additional costs then the baseline charges will require review.

5.6       The Chief Executive retains delegation to amend Cremation Charges in individual circumstances if s/he determines it appropriate.

 

 

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.