Families have been reassured about funerals and cremations at a facility in North Yorkshire after the company behind a crematorium was wound down by the council.
The companies behind Maple Park, based at Skipton Bridge, near Thirsk, were wound down at a North Yorkshire Council executive meeting on Tuesday, September 17, after it was considered more financially viable to transfer the assets and control to the council.
The crematorium was established previously under Maple Park (Hambleton) LLP and Hambleton District Holdings Limited by Hambleton District Council during the time of district councils.
However, under the new county council system, North Yorkshire Council has decided to take back control of Maple Park and decided to wind down Maple Park (Hambleton) LLP and Hambleton District Holdings Limited.
Currently, North Yorkshire Council already runs four crematoria in the region, with staff employed directly by the council.
The council will now take control of Maple Park after members of North Yorkshire Council's executive voted unanimously to approve the transfer to the council of the services currently operated through Maple Park (Hambleton) LLP and Hambleton District Holdings Limited.
Councillors also voted to approve the winding up of Maple Park (Hambleton) LLP and Hambleton District Holdings Limited and authorise the company’s directors to apply to Companies House for the voluntary strike-off.
Finally, councillors agreed to delegate any decisions relating to the financial implications of winding up the LLP and Company to the Corporate Director Resources; and authorise the Assistant Chief Executive to take all other necessary steps to facilitate the strike off the LLP and company.
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As part of the change, the council said this decision could save itself £100,000 per year, due to the company not being able to recoup any VAT from HRM previously - but the council now been able to do so moving forward, given that it will be part of the VAT Partial Exemption limit of North Yorkshire Council and therefore does not give rise to additional costs.
In the meeting on September 17, councillors and council staff wanted to reassure families and members of the public that the change is purely 'administrative' and there would be no changes to the way Maple Park operates.
Barry Khan, the assistant chief executive of legal and democratic services, said during the meeting: "I want to reassure members of the public that there will be no impact on the services.
"It's purely a winding up of the company behind Maple Park and it's a bureaucratic change, and purely operational.
"It will bring the crematorium in line with the rest of the council services."
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