Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

Update On Projects To Maintain Burial Ground Capacity And Crematorium Services For The Highlands

3rd September 2023

A report was presented to members of the Communities and Place Committee yesterday (Thursday, 31 August) outlining a number of Bereavement Services projects currently being progressed to maintain burial ground capacity and crematorium services within the Highlands.

The update focused on matters around the progress of burial ground extensions and also on work which has been commissioned to review the options for a cremator replacement at Inverness Crematorium.

Detailed analysis and projections are used by the Bereavement Services Project Board - which also provides governance and oversight – to inform priority areas within the region, either for sourcing areas of land for the development of new burial grounds, or extending existing grounds to provide additional lairs to meet the future projected need of localities.

The provision of suitable burial grounds is generally delivered through the Council's capital programme, however, members were encouraged to hear that works are progressing well with £300,000 worth of funding secured through the Health and Prosperity Strategy having delivered the completion of an extension to the burial ground at Daviot, Inverness and contracts successfully awarded for upcoming works in Skye.

Furthermore, £100,000 of the Health and Prosperity Strategy funding has been identified specifically to support ongoing improvements at the Crematorium in Inverness.

Councillor Graham MacKenzie, Chair of the Communities and Place Committee, acknowledged some of the challenges relayed to members in yesterday's update and said: "The Council operates a vast estate of 245 burial grounds and we remain aware of the challenges presented in some areas of Highland in terms of securing suitable land for new developments. The team are reviewing burial ground extensions where current capacity is less than 10 years based on past trends and will look to provide additional lairs at existing grounds where it is possible to do so."

He continued: “In doing so, we hope to be able to continue to meet the expectations and preferences of communities and the newly-completed extensions at Chapellhill, Easter Ross and Proncynain, Dornoch are testament to this commitment.”

There are recognised challenges in some areas with burial ground provision with it becoming increasingly difficult to identify available land for development of extensions or for new burial grounds.

Cllr MacKenzie concluded by recognising the progress being made in investigating improvements for the Crematorium in Inverness: “Work is already underway on a project to review the options for the replacement of the current cremators to comply with national legislative changes being brought forward by the UK Government from 2027. Additionally, a number of changes are currently under consideration to improve the overall experience of families and visitors to the crematorium along with an enhanced range of memorial and remembrance options.”

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

25/12/2024
Success Of First Highland-wide Virtual Jobs Fair
The first Highland-wide virtual jobs fair held last month has proved to be a hit with participants and businesses.   The week-long virtual event, which was delivered by the Local Employability Partnership for the West - The Highland Council, Skills Development Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Department for Work and Pensions, Developing the Young Workforce and UHI North West and Hebrides was timed to coincide with Scottish Careers Week 2024.  
25/12/2024
Highland Council Service Arrangements Over Festive Period 2024/2025
The Service Centre will close at 5pm on Tuesday 24 December, re-opening on Friday 27 December (opening times 8am to 5pm).  It will be closed on 1 and 2 January and open 8am to 5pm from Friday 3 January 2025.  
13/12/2024
Highland Council Financial Update
Members have considered an update on the Council's medium term financial plan and the impact of the UK and Scottish Governments’ budgets on the coming year’s funding settlement.   The position is currently looking more positive than initially planned for, however more detail needs to be worked through.  
10/12/2024
Highland Visitor Levy Scheme Consultation Period ExtendedThumbnail for article : Highland Visitor Levy Scheme Consultation Period Extended
In November, The Highland Council launched a public statutory consultation to seek views on the proposed introduction of a Visitor Levy scheme across the Highlands.   The Council has announced an extension to this consultation period, which will now give businesses, visitors and communities until 31 March 2025, an additional seven weeks, to take part and have their say.  
5/12/2024
Tell us more - Highland Council launches budget engagement
In the light of the financial forecast for 2025-26, Highland Council is inviting you to tell us more in the budget preparation for the coming financial year.   The budget engagement builds on extensive budget participation which took place in the winter of 2023-24.  
2/12/2024
Highland Winter Road Conditions Report - Monday 2 December 2024
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time.   It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.  
29/11/2024
Council Seeks Tenants Views On Rent For 2025/26
Every year Highland Council invites all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the following year.   The Council encourages everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say.  
28/11/2024
Highland Council Approach To Local Child Poverty
Communities and Place Committee met yesterday (Wednesday 27 November 2024) and Members agreed the Highland Local Child Poverty Action Report which includes actions for delivery in 2024/25.   Reducing child poverty is a priority for the Council and its partners.  
28/11/2024
Highland Winter Road Conditions Report - Thursday 28 November 2024
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time.   It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.  
28/11/2024
Highland Council Committee Confirms Public Conveniences Action Plan
Members of the Highland Council's Community and Place Committee have given their support to an action plan focusing on the operating of public conveniences over the next 10 years.   Whilst not a statutory function, the Council is the main provider of public conveniences located throughout Highland, operating 74 sites.