The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report seeking authority to enter a contract for the demolition and removal of two defunct cremators and the supply, installation, and maintenance of two new cremators for Reading Crematorium.

The report noted that between 2012 and March 2020 the Cremator supply and maintenance service had been provided by ATI. The contract had been for 10 years but the cremator equipment had begun to fail repeatedly in late 2019, and in early 2020 ATI had gone into liquidation.  One of the cremators had failed completely at this time so independent maintenance contractors had been brought in.  Many other local authorities and private sector crematoria had similarly experienced significant failure of their ATI equipment at the same time and concurrently the COVID-19 pandemic had had an impact on mortality rates.  In May 2020 the Council had approved the purchase of a temporary cremator to ensure continuity of service and resilience and in October 2020 the second ATI cremator had failed completely.  Since then a full cremation service had been provided using only the temporary cremator. 

The report explained that in February 2021 discussions with providers had taken place to inform the future procurement strategy and specification of the new cremators.  It had become apparent that the replacement of the ATI cremators would require significant work beyond simply decommissioning and replacing the original cremators, mainly because there was uncertainty about the quality and strength of the flooring beneath the cremators following the failure of the ATI equipment and the fact that new cremator designs were much larger than those supplied previously.  A feasibility study had been completed and a specification produced for tender.  The procurement exercise was for the decommissioning, supply, fit and maintenance of two new cremators and ancillary equipment, with all enabling works to the building to be undertaken under a different contract.

The report also noted that the implementation of two new cremators would result in an overall improvement to the carbon and environmental impacts of the service, as they were significantly more energy efficient and would fully abate emissions of mercury and NOx to the air.   In addition to the proposal recommended, a range of other options had been considered, including electric cremators.  Whilst these were not currently a viable option for the existing crematorium, they would be kept under review as the technology developed and considered as part of the Council’s longer-term plans to meet future demand for burial and cremation.

Resolved –

(1)      That the update on the Cremator Replacement Project and options considered be noted;

(2)      That spend approval be given for the Cremator Replacement Project;

(3)      That the Deputy Chief Executive be authorised to enter a contract following completion of the procurement process, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Corporate and Consumer Services, the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services, the Assistant Director for Procurement and the Director of Finance.