Following a request in advance of the meeting the Chair of the board invited Terry Downes, (Unison Branch Chair) to address the Board on a number of issue of concerns raised with him by his union members. Those included: limiting one booking only on Saturdays, the Merton’s TOMs (target operating model) report and implications for the staff of the cemetery board.

The Board’s Treasurer presented the report which detailed the projected outturn for 2014/15 based on the budget monitoring to 31 December 2014 and the revenue estimates for 2015/16. The report also contained the risk register, proposed fees and charges along with a breakdown of employees’ costs. It was noted that there was an expected overspend in the budget of over £26,000 for 2014/15 and there would also be an expected ongoing shortfall of £11,600 per year from 2015/16.

The Board discussed the report and the appendices in detail, and raised a number of actions included:

·             The board felt that they were missing a trick of additional income in turning away business for Saturday’s burials and agreed to rescind the rule of only one burial on Saturdays.

·             The Board requested to have a breakdown of the use of the cemetery by faith be provided for the next meeting, both current usage and future allocation of land.

·             On the risk register the board ask that the change requested made at the last meeting of the word ‘swine’ being removed from risk no MSJCB2.

·             The board requested the Treasurer look into and bring back a note as to why in Appendix A on page 10 ‘Running Expenses’ there is a category of ‘Members Allowances’ with a £6000 allocation for this purpose. 

·             Members in relation to Appendix D on page 15 ‘Management and Administration Expenses’ questioned how the time estimates had been calculated. The Treasurer confirmed that a couple of years ago a survey of Merton’s officers’ time were taken (to calculate the time) and therefore cost had been spend on the Cemetery Boards work. Members then debated the value of requesting a further survey, but felt that such a survey would cause officers extra work and thus decided against a further survey.

RESOLVED

1).    That the actions and issues identified within the Minute be actioned included rescinding the rule of only one burial on Saturday.

2).    That the current budgetary position for 2014/15 based on the third quarters monitoring be noted.

3).    That the Revenue Estimates for 2015/16 as submitted be accepted in the short term but that officers are tasked with re-presenting estimates to the June 2015 meeting that break even.

4).    That the precepts for the financial year ended 31 March 2016 be set at zero.

5).    That the scale of fees and charges detailed within Appendix E are approved effective from 1 April 2015.

6).    That the Board establishes it’s next meeting in June 2013 to ensure that information is despatched to Merton’s External Auditors by 30^th June 2015.

7).    That the Board review and approve the Risk Register attached as Appendix I of the report.