A RECENT decision by senior Pembrokeshire councillors on a review in the way crematorium services in the county will be delivered is to be revisited following a ‘call-in’ by members of the Conservative group.

At a special meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet to be held on June 22, members will consider a May Cabinet decision on crematorium services in the county.

A report for members says at the March meeting of the council’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee it was resolved to recommend that Cabinet undertake a review of fees and charges at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, with particular regard to the cost of direct cremation, and that Cabinet commission a comprehensive review of the crematorium’s future operational model, with the findings to be reported to the committee for consideration and scrutiny prior to any final Cabinet decision.

At the May meeting of Cabinet, members agreed to review fees and charges at Parc Gwyn along with a review of service delivery, efficiency and value for money, excluding alternative operating models, the report says.

An extraordinary meeting of Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee was held in response to a call-in from 11 councillors, all member of the council’s Conservative group, saying the Cabinet report materially altered the original scrutiny recommendation, the decision was not supported by sufficient evidence or benchmarking, financial considerations relating to “surplus” and “profit” were improperly weighted, alternative operational models were prematurely excluded, and that further scrutiny is required.

That committee agreed the matter be referred back to Cabinet for reconsideration.

The report for Cabinet members says: “Members who requested the call-in were dissatisfied with the way the issue was presented to Cabinet in regards to the second recommendation, which although was presented in full in the Cabinet paper, the officer recommendation removed the element relating to the review of the operating model.

“Members queried if Cabinet were given a fair opportunity to consider the merits of a full operational review. It was suggested that the officer report led Cabinet towards their conclusion by recommending against the operating model review.

“Whilst referral was made to the call-in not being in relation to privatisation, members in the previous services overview and scrutiny committee meeting had discussed this as a potential future option which resulted in the recommendation to review the operating model.”

The report says there “are well-established and unavoidable cost factors associated with any change in delivery model,” adding: “Should Cabinet now agree to include this aspect of the recommendation, Members should be aware that this will require the commissioning of an external consultant to carry out the review, expected to cost an estimated £30,000, financed from existing crematorium reserves.”

Members are recommended to review the previous decision.

A CALL for works at a historic Pembrokeshire town centre church to make it more accessible has been submitted to county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, The Parochial Church Council of St Mary’s Church, Pembroke, through agent Arnold Bartosch Ltd, is applying for the removal of existing steps with replacement steps and a ramp at the grade-I-listed church.

A supporting statement says the church, heavily restored in the 19^th century, “is thought to have been built for Gilbert de Clare, first Earl 1138-48 or his son Richard Strongbow, 1148-76, but is likely to be contemporary with the major building at the castle by William Marshal, first in Pembroke between 1204, and 1219”.

Of the proposed scheme it says: “The current access consists of a sloping pathway and three steps up. The steps deny access to the church for wheelchair users and those with impaired mobility. The proposed arrangement will provide a level platform allowing access for all into the church and churchyard.”

It adds: “The existing access from the churchyard into the West Porch also consists of steps. The proposals will include for the installations of a new landing at the west doorway which will provide access for all into the church.”

The west entranceway was itself listed back in 2005, as grade-II.

The supporting statement adds: “The access should be altered as it currently restricts access for all. The alterations will improve public access of the church whilst retaining the grade-II-listed piers and gates. The alterations will be carried out to a high standard befitting a grade I Listed Church setting and grade-II-listed gates and railings.

“The relocation will involve minimum disruption and no loss of historic fabric. We believe this proposal is acceptable and a reasonable part of the site’s evolution concurrent with modern requirements and can be justified as minimal harm.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.

A successful fundraising campaign was held at St Mary’s for the restoration of three church bells and associated works, with a blessing of the bells service and dedication taking place back in May attended by the Rt Revd Dorrien Davies, Lord Bishop of St Davids, new mayor of Pembroke Cllr Jonathan Grimes and Mayoress Cllr Deborah Willcocks.

The three new bells dedicated were the Lingard Family Bell, the Rogers Family Bell, and the Morgan Bell.

A SCHEME to convert a Pembrokeshire town home to “well-designed shared accommodation” for five tenants has been given the go-ahead by county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Marcelina Morgan, through agent CCS Solutions Ltd, sought permission for a change of use of a dwelling at Cleddau View, Merlins Terrace, Haverfordwest to a house in multiple occupation.

A supporting statement said the existing four-bed home would, if approved, become a five-bed multiple occupation unit with two bedrooms on the ground floor and three on the first.

It added: “The proposal seeks to improve the quality and functionality of the existing property, delivering well-designed shared accommodation whilst retaining the existing building envelope.”

Of the development, it added: “The proposed development reuses an existing dwelling in a sustainable location, provides high-quality shared accommodation, involves minimal external alteration, maintains acceptable amenity standards, has no adverse highway impact, [and] delivers biodiversity enhancements.”

It said the scheme would not see any extensions, external enlargements, or increase in footprint, retaining the existing built form and site layout.

It also said the proposal “does not adversely affect any existing green infrastructure” and “provides measurable biodiversity enhancements through bird and bat boxes”.

Later amended supporting documents stressed: “The proposal does not involve subdivision into separate flats,” adding: “The level of occupation and associated activity is not considered materially different from that of a larger dwellinghouse.”

It went on to say: “The proposal does not result in: physical expansion of the property, overdevelopment of the site, creation of self-contained flats, [or a] material intensification of built form.”

The application was conditionally approved by planners.