The Committee considered a report which sought approval of the Cemeteries Design guide to progress cemetery development in accordance with the principles of the adopted Strategy and the Cemeteries Investment Programme for 2025/26 and 2026/27.
The Committee asked what facilities were provided at the major cemeteries within the borough and that some operate chapels that can be used for services however there were dormant chapels on other sites and queried what consideration was being given to bring those back into use.
The Committee noted that the two crematoriums operated in Crewe and Macclesfield have chapels that operate and early consideration was being given to the dormant sites.
It was suggested there be a review of sites currently owned by Cheshire East and queried the maintenance and encouraged discussions with Town and Parish Councils to consider taking on ownership of venues and sites.
The Committee noted that the maintenance of the sites are currently self funding through the services that they provide.
The Committee asked what areas were being considered to secure S106 funding for land expansion of cemeteries and what was being considered to secure money from developers.
Officers agreed that the current SPD be reviewed in terms of the ability to secure funding through section 106 contributions from applications should that be deemed to be appropriate in terms of public mitigation and whether developer contributions is justifiable in evidence which would have to be appropriate to each application.
RESOLVED (unanimously):
That the Environment and Communities Committee:
1. Approve the adoption of the Cemeteries Design Guide, as contained at Appendix A to this report.
2. Note the approach taken to prioritising future investment into the Council controlled cemetery sites and the need for this programme to be regularly reviewed to ensure that it remains relevant to the immediate and longer-term needs of the estate.
3. Approve the delivery of the Cemeteries Investment Programme for 2025/26 and 2026/27 and delegate authority to the Director Planning and Environment, to take all necessary steps to implement the programme, subject to funding and grant availability.