APPENDIX 2

CEMETERY COMMITTEE

Minutes of the meeting of the Cemetery Committee held at 9.30am at the cemeteries on Saturday, 2 February 2002. Councillor Fisk, Chair, presided over Councillors Auger, Lewis and the clerk. No members of the public were present.

012 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – none received as all members were present.

013 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The clerk confirmed that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 October 2001 had been presented to the full Council meeting held on 25 October 2001 and subsequently adopted and signed at the meeting held on 29 November 2001. The minutes were therefore taken as a true and correct record.

014 MATTERS ARISING NOT DEALT WITH ELSEWHERE ON THE AGENDA

.1

Tree Planting (007.1)

Cllr Fisk was thanked for obtaining and planting the additional trees acquired from L.C.C.

.2

Hedge cutting (007.3)

It was noted that the cemetery hedge had now been cut but that S.K.D.C.’s contractors had not cut the adjoining portion in the playing field. The clerk is to refer this to S.K.D.C.

.3

Iron railings (009)

The clerk reported that there was a possibility that the Probation Service might be able to assist in this refurbishment project via the Young Offenders Scheme. If this were to be the case, the Council would only need to provide materials. It was agreed that the clerk should pursue this option.

.4

Cemetery shed (010)

It was noted that the shed had been repaired and a storage rack provided for the corrugated zinc sheets used in the new cemetery. It was agreed that a similar rack should be constructed for the sheets in the old cemetery and that the debris to the side of the shed should be cleared off site.

.5

Maintenance contract (011)

The clerk confirmed that tender papers had been issued to ten local contractors and that notices had been placed on the Council’s notice boards and in the Deepings Advertiser. The closing date for return is 28 February 2002 and the full Council will award the contract at the meeting to be held that day.

015 CORRESPONDENCE – none received.

016 RE-LOCATION OF SEAT IN SECTION C.

Members noted that the seat had been removed, as requested, from its previous location near the entrance gate to the top of the path. Concern that youths may linger in this unlit area, access to which necessitates walking the whole length of the cemetery, was expressed. It was agreed to recommend to the Council that the seat be relocated in Millennium Wood after a period of notice of one month.

017 COMPLAINT CONCERNING LARGE CONIFER TREE IN SECTION C.

Members considered a complaint from the family of grave C138 that debris from the nearby conifer was causing problems keeping the white headstone clean and the grave area tidy. It was noted that the tree was one of four that had been in place for a considerable number of years and which served to screen the cemetery from the upper rooms of the houses adjacent. It was agreed that there was nothing physically wrong with this tree and noted that all are automatically preserved as the cemeteries fall within the Conservation Area. Members could not agree with the claim that the tree was causing the stone to discolour as a green stain also affected similar stones nowhere near the trees. The debris on the grave surface consisted of dead conifer needles that would decompose naturally. Whilst not unsympathetic to the complainant, the Committee recommends that the tree be left as it is.

018 CEMETERIES INSPECTION

The Committee was generally satisfied with the overall condition of the cemeteries and noted that there had been a significant improvement in the standard of maintenance over the last two years. It was noted that the fence between the new cemetery and the churchyard needed re-staking in places and the clerk was asked to attend to this. Elder and nettles growing through the fence from the churchyard is to be referred to S.K.D.C. for attention.

019 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The Chairman advised that there was no outstanding business that necessitated a further meeting being arranged at this time.

The meeting closed at 10.30am.

.1	Tree Planting (007.1)	Cllr Fisk was thanked for obtaining and planting the additional trees acquired from L.C.C.
.2	Hedge cutting (007.3)	It was noted that the cemetery hedge had now been cut but that S.K.D.C.’s contractors had not cut the adjoining portion in the playing field. The clerk is to refer this to S.K.D.C.
.3	Iron railings (009)	The clerk reported that there was a possibility that the Probation Service might be able to assist in this refurbishment project via the Young Offenders Scheme. If this were to be the case, the Council would only need to provide materials. It was agreed that the clerk should pursue this option.
.4	Cemetery shed (010)	It was noted that the shed had been repaired and a storage rack provided for the corrugated zinc sheets used in the new cemetery. It was agreed that a similar rack should be constructed for the sheets in the old cemetery and that the debris to the side of the shed should be cleared off site.
.5	Maintenance contract (011)	The clerk confirmed that tender papers had been issued to ten local contractors and that notices had been placed on the Council’s notice boards and in the Deepings Advertiser. The closing date for return is 28 February 2002 and the full Council will award the contract at the meeting to be held that day.