Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of City Development advising of the current position with regard to the supply of burial space in Leeds and providing options for meeting the expected demand for burial space for the next 50 years and beyond.

The Director of City Development submitted a report on the current position with regard to the supply of burial space in Leeds and options for meeting the expected demand for burial space for the next 50 years and beyond.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the recommended policy to establish a preference for smaller locally based cemetery sites combined with the extension, where possible, for existing sites be adopted.

(b)  That officers explore further the potential to extend Farnley and Lofthouse cemeteries including consultation with planning officers about the inclusion of proposals in the Local Development Framework.

(c)  That officers look in more detail at the potential to develop small locally based cemeteries at Elmete, Priesthorpe Lane, Alwoodley Gates, Tile Lane East Moor and Haigh Farm Rothwell and report back to this Board on the outcome of this work.

(d)  That approval be given to the development of a 5 acre Cemetery at Whinmoor on the site identified on Plan B attached to the report, and that the implementation of this development be delivered as part of a larger masterplan for the site involving the decant of the Council’s nursery from Redhall.

(e)  That proposals to deliver a 14 acre cemetery extension at Lawnswood be not progressed.

(f)  That officers liaise with Leeds University to acquire the site of the American Football Field either through private treaty or Compulsory Purchase to deliver a 3.8 acre extension to Lawnswood Cemetery, that officers explore further the potential to deliver a 5 acre cemetery on the site of the former Elmete Caravan Park and that officers seek to acquire the 2.5 acre site at Horsforth Cemetery either through private treaty or Compulsory Purchase Order.

(g)  That the Capital Programme be amended to reflect schemes at Lawnswood £1,750,000 ,  Elmete Cemetery £743,000, Horsforth Cemetery Extension £350,000, Kippax Cemetery Extension £51,000 and Harehills Cemetery £125,000, releasing £281,000 back to the general Capital Programme.

(h)  That officers liaise further with representatives of the Muslim community on the accommodation of Muslim burial needs in the Council’s network of smaller cemeteries.

(i)  That officers carry out consultations with the relevant Ward Members and Area Committees regarding these proposals.