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RESOLVED That the following Decisions made at the 27 May 2026 meeting be upheld: (a) That the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review fees and charges at Parc Gwyn Crematorium be accepted (b) That the recommendation to undertake a proportionate review of service delivery, efficiency and value for money (excluding alternative operating models), be accepted with findings to be reported back.
The Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Place declared a personal interest by virtue of his wife being currently employed at the crematorium. It was stated that this interest was previously declared at the Extraordinary Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 June 2026.
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RESOLVED That the following Decisions made at the 27 May 2026 meeting be upheld: (a) That the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review fees and charges at Parc Gwyn Crematorium be accepted (b) That the recommendation to undertake a proportionate review of service delivery, efficiency and value for money (excluding alternative operating models), be accepted with findings to be reported back.
Cabinet considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Place which outlined the recommendation of the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, in relation to the Crematorium Services decision which had been called-in on 8 June 2026. Councillor Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, introduced the report and provided the background and context of the matter, referring to the call-in and the associated reasons for it. He recognised that the call-in had highlighted a number of concerns but noted that much of the work identified was already being progressed, particularly through the forthcoming fees and charges review, and expressed the view that endorsing the recommendations would enable these matters to be addressed. It was reported that the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee had referred the matter back to Cabinet requesting that its original recommendations be considered in full, in particular the inclusion of a review of the operating model alongside the agreed review of fees and charges and service delivery. The full decision from the Committee was as follows: That the matter be referred back to Cabinet for reconsideration, requesting that the original Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommendation be considered in full, as follows: (a) For Cabinet to undertake a review of fees and charges at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, with particular regard to the cost of direct cremation, to ensure that pricing is competitive and broadly aligned with neighbouring crematoria. (b) For Cabinet to commission a comprehensive review of the Crematorium’s future operational model, including service delivery, efficiency, value for money, and long-term financial sustainability, with the findings to be reported to the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration and scrutiny prior to any final Cabinet decision. Councillor Sinnett advised that a review of fees and charges was already underway, with a view to ensuring competitiveness and long-term sustainability, and that work was progressing in respect of service delivery, efficiency and value for money. He acknowledged the concerns raised through the call-in but recognised that the substantive areas identified were already being addressed through the agreed programme of work. Councillor Rhys Sinnett Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by the Leader. The Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Place advised that, from an officer perspective, it was difficult to recommend the expenditure required to review alternative operating models without clear evidence that such work would deliver positive outcomes. He noted that the current position did not present a strong “prima facie” case for change and, as such, undertaking a full review could be seen as disproportionate at this stage. He went on to highlight that several elements typically associated with operating models including pricing structures, service hours and delivery arrangements, were already subject to ongoing review. The remaining consideration would therefore relate to more fundamental structural options, such as alternative delivery models, which would be complex, require detailed analysis and incur additional costs. It was further noted that the existing service compared favourably in terms of cost, with local authority-operated crematoria generally remaining more competitive than private sector provision. While acknowledging that alternative models could present potential efficiencies, there was no clear evidence at present to support this. The Leader welcomed the work undertaken by the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee and acknowledged the level of detail given to the service. She noted that, whilst the crematorium represented a relatively small part of the Authority, it remained a sensitive and important service for families at vulnerable times. She highlighted that the service was high performing, with generally positive feedback from users, and that residents were broadly satisfied with the quality of provision. It was recognised that concerns had been raised in relation to the cost of direct cremation; however, this would be addressed through the agreed review of fees and charges. The Leader reiterated that Cabinet had already agreed to undertake a review of fees and charges, alongside a proportionate review of service delivery, value for money and the long-term sustainability of the service and expressed her thanks to the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for its work in bringing the matter forward. Councillor Michelle Bateman noted that the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee had recognised the high quality of the service provided to residents and further commented that consideration of alternative operating models would typically be driven by the need to improve service quality, increase flexibility or reduce costs. However, she highlighted that the agreed reviews already addressed these areas, including costs, service delivery and operational arrangements. Councillor Bateman further noted that, as the service was already of a high standard, the current recommendations captured the key areas that such a review would ordinarily seek to address, and she was satisfied that the matters raised had been appropriately covered. Councillor Sinnett noted that the majority of the issues raised would be addressed through the forthcoming fees and charges review, which would represent a substantial piece of work. He acknowledged that the call-in had highlighted a few concerns, but suggested that it may have been premature, given that the review work was already underway. Councillor Sinnett therefore concluded that endorsing the existing recommendations would allow this work to progress and, in doing so, would address the matters raised by the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, with further consideration to be given once the review had been completed. Councillor Jon Harvey emphasised that the crematorium service provided at Parc Gwyn was of a very high standard, with staff delivering an excellent service to residents. He concluded that, despite concerns regarding costs, the service remained comparatively competitive, being one of the lowest cost local authority-operated crematoria in Wales, which he welcomed. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors Tessa Hodgson, Michelle Bateman, Alistair Cameron,Jon Harvey, Paul Miller, Rhys Sinnett, Sam Skyrme-Blackhall, Marc Tierney, Jacob Williams [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That the following Decisions made at the 27 May 2026 meeting be upheld: (a) That the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review fees and charges at Parc Gwyn Crematorium be accepted (b) That the recommendation to undertake a proportionate review of service delivery, efficiency and value for money (excluding alternative operating models), be accepted with findings to be reported back.
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