Published on Wednesday 07 February 2024
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is inviting early informal interest from businesses and organisations in the bereavement industry and faith sector, to help develop and expand its bereavement service for the benefit of residents.
BCP Council’s Cabinet agreed to undertake a review of how it operates its bereavement services and explore potential opportunities for external investment to help bring forward improvements and new initiatives, including the future of cremator provision across BCP. This exercise is the first step in exploring how the council can develop in the future.
BCP Bereavement Care currently operates Bournemouth and Poole Crematorium and manages and maintains nine cemeteries across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
Councillor Millie Earl, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Connected Communities, said: “We have remained open and transparent about the council’s ongoing challenging financial situation, which requires us to do things differently. This approach is a positive example of us engaging with sector experts to help bring forward investment to benefit our residents.
“Nationally the bereavement sector is developing and changing. We know an increasing number of people are opting for direct cremations, natural burials and simpler funeral services, whilst the industry continues to respond to the global climate emergency by introducing innovative solutions to become greener and more energy efficient.
“We want to deliver a bereavement service which reflects this changing landscape. Our current financial situation restricts us; but we are committed to removing barriers and bureaucracy to enable others to bring forward proposals for the benefit of residents across the BCP area.”
This consultation will remain live for a period of four weeks and interested suppliers, organisations, faith groups, funeral directors and bereavement-sector leads are encouraged to complete their expression of interest.
All information gathered during this early phase of the project will be used to inform a comprehensive new business case to develop the council’s Bereavement Care service, which will be presented for consideration at a public Cabinet meeting later this year.
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Editor’s notes:
Further information on the council’s Bereavement Care Services: https://www.bcpbereavementcare.co.uk
Further information about this market-shaping exercise can be found via the following websites:
Respondents interested in providing feedback must complete and return the questionnaire provided by 14:00 on Monday 11th March 2024 at the latest. Upon receiving and analysing supplier responses, BCP Council may schedule follow-up discussions to delve deeper into specific areas of interest or clarification.