Oldham Council’s  Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board met on the 31^st August to scrutinise Oldham’s plans [i]for the Crematorium and Cemeteries. The Board received a report from Councillor Chris Goodwin, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and also heard from Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of the Council.

The Board’s role is to challenge the Council’s plans and proposed policies to make sure that they are fit for purpose and will deliver the services needed by residents. The report on the Crematorium and Cemeteries service was timely, following debate of a Conservative motion at full Council meeting in July.

Councillor Shah said ‘The report at the Scrutiny Board offered reassurance that the Council is planning for the future and that there will be enough spaces for every community to bury their dead and conduct funerals and cremations in a respectful and appropriate way. This was an opportunity for Labour and opposition councillors to ask questions and satisfy themselves that the Council is doing everything necessary to ensure that residents of every faith and none get the support they need at one of the most difficult times in any family’s life. I was astonished that Tory Councillor Ghafoor did not attend to follow up the issue he raised at full Council. The report clearly shows that his motion alarmed people unnecessarily and there will be enough burial places for Muslim residents in the future.’

Councillor Goodwin added ‘Oldham Council has recently used section 106 income to pay for substantial improvements at the Hollinwood Crematorium and we are planning to replace the cremators in a timely manner to ensure continuity of service and legal compliance. The report also highlighted the work carried out to tackle surface water flooding in some cemeteries. Oldham Council will carry out a full consultation on new regulations about the size, dimension, materials and fixing of memorials in cemeteries and the Board members had the opportunity to look at the proposals.’

[i] https://committees.oldham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=597&MId=9006&Ver=4