Islington Council has approved the renewal of its joint cemetery and cremation service agreement with Camden Council, ensuring the continued operation of the Islington & Camden Cemetery Service (ICCS) for another decade.
The decision, made at the Executive meeting on Thursday, 12 February 2026, will maintain the core operational principles of the existing partnership, which has been in place for over 20 years. These principles include the operation of ICCS as a shared service across both boroughs, Islington acting as the Lead Authority, financial management through a ring-fenced trading account, retention of land and building ownership by each council, annual client contributions to each authority, defined site management responsibilities, and oversight through an established ICCS Board. The Heads of Terms document outlines these principles.
The ICCS manages a significant cemetery estate across North London, including Islington and St Pancras Cemetery, Trent Park Cemetery, and Hampstead Cemetery, alongside Islington Crematorium. This shared management model provides economies of scale by sharing staff expertise, specialist equipment, operational planning, and service enhancements. This approach is noted to provide a more financially resilient service and reduce each authority's exposure to major capital liabilities. For residents, this translates to a wider and more resilient offer of burial and cremation services, consistent service standards, coordinated infrastructure investment, and safer, well-maintained cemetery environments. It also helps maintain competitive fees for residents of both boroughs.
Key benefits of the renewed agreement include continued access to burial capacity. The ICCS is comparatively well-positioned regarding burial capacity, with existing capacity for new burials and wider opportunities for development within Islington and St Pancras and Trent Park. The renewal of the agreement for a further ten-year period is intended to support strategic planning and sustained investment, ensuring sustainable burial provision throughout this term.
Investment in ageing infrastructure is also a key focus. The renewed agreement will continue to distinguish clearly between minor and major building works. Minor works, defined as routine repairs and maintenance below an agreed financial threshold, will be delivered by Islington and funded through the trading account. Major works will remain the responsibility of the council that owns the relevant building, unless separately agreed through an approved capital programme. Emergency works required to protect public safety may be undertaken by Islington, with costs recovered in accordance with the agreement. The Heads of Terms also mention coordinated infrastructure investment across the shared estate.
The service also supports environmental objectives by protecting large areas of green space, promoting sustainable burial options (natural and woodland burials), investing in cleaner cremation technology with advanced flue gas abatement systems (including NOx filtration), and enabling coordinated long-term management of land and infrastructure across the estate. While specific measurement methods are not detailed, the report mentions compliance with tightening environmental standards and ongoing investment in emissions performance and energy efficiency.
The Heads of Terms for the renewed agreement have been approved, establishing the core operating, financial, and governance principles for the full partnership agreement. Under the renewed agreement, the service will continue to operate through a ring-fenced trading account. All income generated will be paid into this account to fund service delivery, infrastructure investment, and service enhancements. Each council will retain responsibility for its own costs, including capital charges, insurance, and central overheads related to land and buildings they own. At the commencement of the renewed agreement, Camden Council and Islington Council shall each be entitled to an annual draw-down of £185,000 from the Trading Account. These contributions will be subject to review at agreed points during the term. Fees and charges will be agreed jointly by both councils annually.
The renewal of the ICCS agreement will continue to provide a comprehensive range of burial and cremation services, including new and re-open burials, cremations, chapel services, various burial plot types, and access to memorial gardens, mausolea, vaults, and natural burial areas. The service has also seen the growth of its Memorial Sales function, which has become a key source of income and supports the ongoing development of service options. The renewed agreement will formally incorporate this Memorial Sales function within the shared service.
Further details on the agreement can be found in the Public reports pack for the Executive meeting on 12 February 2026 Public reports pack 12th-Feb-2026 17.00 Executive and the Heads of Terms document Appendix A Heads of Terms Cemetery Joint Cemetery Service Agreement.
