THE council will draft in a private company to solve a crisis that could see the district run out of space for graves by 2015.
Mole Valley District Council officers estimate space at Dorking cemetery, the only burial ground administered by the council, could run critically low between 2015 and 2022.
Councillors have decided to invite private burial ground operators to help them find a new site with the possibility of partnering with the authority, but concerns have been raised about private companies being involved in providing council graves.
The Dorking Muslim Community Association brought the issue to MVDC's attention by submitting a petition in 2011 requesting help to find new burial spaces for the Muslim community.
Vice-president Syed Uddin said: "We have seen every private company is just making money without thinking about the people.
"I think that if the council do something themselves they will do better for the people of this district."
The council is not obliged to provide grave spaces but has done historically to offer cheaper options for those unable to afford private fees.
At a council executive meeting on November 27, councillors considered two options – to enlist a private company in their search or establish need themselves and identify sites through the council's land allocations process, due for completion in 2015.
Speaking at the meeting, council leader Chris Townsend (Ind, Ashtead Park) said: "The only difference between the two is that one (the option not selected) is committing us to three-odd thousand pounds as a budget and might well take longer, whereas option two (the option selected) doesn't cost us at this particular point in time."
Councillor Margaret Cooksey (Lib Dem, Dorking South) said: "Option one gives the impression to the outside world that the council means business.
"Option two makes the suggestion that it's prepared to hand over responsibility for this provision and at a very early stage and that's not an impression I think should be given to the groups that have taken the time and effort to get to this point. They deserve better."
But member for environment James Friend (Con, Westcott) made it clear neither option commits the council to working with a private company.
"With a professional burial provision provider out there doing the market testing, they may be able to establish market need much faster than we can," he said.
