CHANGES could be made to the way York’s main cemetery is run under new proposals.
City of York Council taking over the running of Fulford Cemetery is among the options for its future management set to be discussed by councillors.
Council reports stated finances, maintenance and standards had already improved following its temporary takeover of the cemetery in August.
But it added its finances remained challenging following significant losses in recent years and as people look to cut the cost of funerals for their loved ones.
Proposals set to be discussed on Monday, June 22 come after the council agreed to take over the running of the site, in Fordlands Road, for 12 months last year.
Owners and managers Fulford Parish Council agreed to the arrangement after incurring losses on the site totalling £102,451 in 2023/4 and 2024/5, in part due to redundancy costs.
The parish council had said it came as people were moving away from bereavement services provided by the public sector to cheaper private cremations.
National figures showed the proportion of funerals with burials grew from 23 per cent to 26 per cent from 2019 to 2025.
Attended cremations fell from 74 to 53 per cent while the proportion of direct ones with no services or attendees rose from 3 to 21 per cent during the same period.
The parish council also has £34,834.50 left to pay on a £105,000 loan taken out to fund the cemetery’s expansion in 2006, with York agreeing to be a guarantor.
The state of Fulford Cemetery’s grounds in the run up to the 2025 agreement also generated negative comments on social media, according to the council reports.
Standards had not been kept up to those expected by the public due to budget constraints, the reports stated.
Volunteers organised by both councils stepped in to tidy up the cemetery’s grounds following the issues.
Improvements since the council’s takeover include making operations more efficient, adopting industry standards, opening the day after bank holidays and reviewing income opportunities.
The cemetery made a profit of £30,733.36 in 2025/6 following the changes and after a rise in the amount of burials there.
The council’s management of the site has been extended for another year.
Options for the cemetery’s long-term future set to be discussed at Monday’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee include making the takeover permanent or keeping existing arrangements in place.
York could also stop temporarily managing the site or end its 2006 agreement with Fulford Parish Council which includes the former covering 80 per cent of any yearly losses.
Council reports stated the takeover would end its exposure to financial losses without having any control of the site while allowing it to retain any profits.
But they added financial sustainability remained the key challenge.
They stated: “Historic performance has been volatile, including significant recent losses, and there are expected additional operating costs if the service transfers permanently.
“There are also unresolved issues around staffing, assets, land, cemetery records and the outstanding loan.
“Doing nothing also carries risk because Fulford Parish Council has made clear it does not see long-term management as viable.”
