Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Haringey privatises cemeteries
Haringey Council has announce that it "will become the first council in London to transfer management of cemeteries and crematoria to a private contractor". The move was approved at the Council’s Cabinet on 4 October in a 50-year deal starting in early 2012.
The contractor will be Dignity plc, one of the largest independent providers of bereavement and funeral services operating in the UK.
Haringey operates two cemeteries, at Wood Green and Tottenham, as well as a crematorium in Enfield. At present the service makes money, but millions of pounds of investment will be needed over the next five years to bring the service up to modern standards, reduce carbon emissions and comply with legislation.
Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for environment at Haringey Council, said:
“The new arrangements are good news for the borough. Our facilities will get the capital investment needed to bring them up-to-date, but without drawing resources away from other frontline council services. On top of this, the borough is guaranteed an annual income, linked to inflation, for up to 50 years. This is a win-win deal for Haringey. Residents will experience no change to the service and we have worked to ensure guarantees are in place to care for historic sites and protect biodiversity."
Steve Gant, Dignity’s General Manager for Crematoria has told the Council that Dignity plan to invest £2m in the crematorium at Enfield by refurbishing both chapels and all public areas including the Memorial Office as well as improving access and car parking.”
Tottenham Cemetery was opened in 1858 and covers 62 acres. It is a significant historical site expanded many times and the layout reflects changes in cemetery design between the 1850s and 1920s. The original graveyard of All Hallows Church is the oldest part of the present cemetery, containing graves and tombs dating back to the 1600s - some of the oldest in London.
Haringey’s decision to outsource bereavement services follows a three-way informal tender. Staff will transfer to the new provider and there will be no change to the service on offer. The council retains ownership of the sites.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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Mmm. We are told this is a win-win deal for Haringey. If the private contractor is expected to invest large sums into the cemeteries, relieving the council of this burden, it begs the question, what's in it for them, or to quote the highly apposite words of Councillor Alan Stanton, qui bene? (who benefits?)
If the private investor is behaving in an economically rational way, they will be expecting a return of some sort and will wish not only to recoup the millions invested, but make a good return on it. We are expected to beleive that there will be no change to the service on offer. Like other deals with the private sector, there's probably a few significant things we're not being told, on the basis of "commercial confidentiality".
It does appear similar to the now discredited PFI schemes (Private Finance Initiatives) whereby the public got new schools and hospitals on Hire Purchase, but ends up paying about four times would it would cost through conventional financing. These begun under the Conservatives and were continued enthusiastically by Labour in government.
I bumped into a Majority Group Haringey Councillor on Saturday (not Alan Stanton) to whom I expressed surprise that, in the case of Alexandra Palace, a Labour Council was prepared to do business with a former slum-landlord. He told me that "the council is prepared to do business with anyone who's got money."
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Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on
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On that nagging Cui bono? question:
If I were CEO of Dignity plc ('Caring Funeral Services : The Ultimate Funeral Professionals') I should have already opened negotiations with our Swiss Cousins (Dignitas : 'Caring Pre-Funeral Services : The Penultimate Funeral Professionals'). With Clinical Outlets operating 24/7 in close contiguity to Wood Green and Tottenham Cemeteries and Enfield Crematorium, our disassembly line would offer a continuous supply of easily degradable material with all the precision of Swiss clockwork. As Cllr Canver has partly foreseen, this will be a win-win-win-win-win deal for LBHaringey, Dignity plc, Dignitas Clinic, the Organ Transplant Industry/Bereavement Services, and all Council Tax Payers Residents in need of a gentle and caring push towards Assisted Passing Over and/or YouthinAsia.
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Ah yes, Edward G - one of my old favourites. But if it's Free Compost and Free Meals you're after, Soilent Green would give Cllr Canver a win-win-win-win-win-win-win recycling deal.
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Permalink Reply by pamish on
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I walked around Tottenham cemetary for the first time this year, on a bird walk. The newer part (?) had a surprising number of subsided graves and fallen tombstones - even for a negleted resource. Many tombstones have danger stickers attached. I guess the land is a bit softer than in similar places eg Abney Park. So will the new leaseholders do much to tidy it up and make it safe?
Which corner will be best for that neat little 20-storey block of Luxury Flats?
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What I fail to see – and what I suspect we will not be allowed to see – is, what's in it for them? It must be something pretty big to get them to commit to a whole lot of investment, plus a return.
This deal just doesn't stack up. The Lease will be top secret AKA "commercially confidential"
The council must truly think the public are fools if they expect us to believe the PR statement about win-win.
I'm not particularly a fan of cemeteries, but some value them. I see this as another withdrawal from services to the public and the effects of which may not become apparent for some time. When the council tried in 2007 to sell Alexandra Palace for £1.5m, it would have been only about now that the effect of their promise in the (secret) Lease of permission for a casino would be apparent.
I wonder exactly how strong is the claim that "The council retains ownership of the sites."
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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... what's in it for them?
Higher charges Clive. It's happening all over the country. Even in death.
Maybe they sell a guaranteed package; 'Stairway to Heaven'. The private sector fancies itself as creative in pursuit of profit. :)
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Matt I suspect that will in fact be the effect of this deal. I'm not sure how much can be read into the PR statement "Residents will experience no change to the service" in terms of charges. I'm surprised that the deal is for as long as "up to" 50 years. What happens if they raise charges to levels where demand falls away (i.e. more people go for cremation). Will they have an option to buy the valuable land?
These are the details that we may not be told; we're just told its a win win.
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