Public+Services+-+Threat+to+sell+Haringey's+cemeteries+-+8.11.2010

[|www.haringeyresidents.org]
 * Haringey Federation of Residents Associations **

8.11.2010

//To all concerned people of Haringey...//


 * Should we allow the Council to dispose of our Crematorium and Cemeteries? **
 * Why have the public not been consulted about this controversial and far-reaching proposal? **
 * Why are the key secret reports guiding the plans 'exempt from disclosure'? **

On 6th July the Federation discovered that the Council was planning to privatise the management of the borough's cemeteries and the crematorium. No-one seemed to know anything about this sudden plan. There also seemed to be a dispute between the Council's Chief Executive who wished to dispose of all 3 sites, and the Department that manage the sites (Recreation Services), who wished to keep the 2 cemeteries but dispose of the crematorium (owned by the Council but sited in Enfield).

Following our objection that there had been no consultation about this, and consequent publicity in the press, the Council agreed to defer the matter. However, the Council has failed to carry out ANY public consultation on this controversial and important proposal for such sensitive public services. It has now reappeared on the Cabinet's agenda for a final decision. In addition the key reports (including the Options Appraisal and other reports by consultants) upon which this proposal has been supposedly based are being kept secret as they are 'exempt from disclosure'.

If you are concerned - contact local Councillors now - contact Council leader: claire.kober@haringey.gov.uk + Cabinet member for Recreation Services: dilek.dogus@haringey.gov.uk - email the Parks Service at parks@haringey.gov.uk - attend the Cabinet meeting on Tues 16th November

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__From the official papers of the Council's Cabinet meeting, planned for Tues 16th November__

**Disposal of Tottenham and Wood Green Cemeteries and Enfield Crematorium (all currently owned and run by Haringey Council)**

[More detailed info available via web pages below]

Para 4.5 states that assets are sold off to pay for more assets to be disposed of. The service has generated a revenue surplus (profit for Council) until fairly recently when prices were increased as an 'efficiency saving' (and prices became higher than surrounding crematoriums so numbers dropped).

4.5 That approval is given to the disposal on the open market of 1 and 2 Grenville Cottages located at the north-east end of the Enfield Crematorium site, and **the associated receipt ring-fenced to support the one-off business disposal costs**.

Options appraisal and other reports by consultants are said to be exempt from disclosure, so residents can't check whether arguments stack up.

Preferred option is for sites to be leased to external operator - for 90 or more years (see appendix B p9)

[]18. **BEREAVEMENT SERVICES - FUTURE PROVISION** (Report of the Director of Adult, Culture and Community Services To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services):To provide an assessment of the current performance and investment needs of the service; identify options to secure future viable and sustainable service delivery and to approve the recommended option for the Council to **cease its Bereavement Services operation** **and dispose of its three operational sites**.

Items 22 and 23 allow for the consideration of **exempt information** in relation to items 18 and 19 which appears earlier on the agenda.

22. **BEREAVEMENT SERVICES - FUTURE PROVISION**

Report at []and appendices [][]From the Agenda:

**Consultation Process**

Internal services have been consulted in addition to Unison, London Borough of Enfield, funeral directors and the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management.