Issue - meetings

This report gives the findings of the Cemetery Memorials Task and Finish Group and the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to Cabinet on the matter, as well as the results of an Equality Impact Assessment. A decision on this item was deferred from the December meeting while this assessment was conducted.

The report asks Cabinet to consider the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding cemetery memorials and approve accordingly.

Members considered the recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee following its review of Cemetery Memorials. An equalities impact assessment had been included which allowed for further consideration of the item. The Friends of Broxtowe Cemeteries Group were thanked for their dignity and perseverance throughout the review and additional recommendations were proposed to be added in relation to reopened graves not being required to revert to the one-metre rule, consultation on memorial days and new memorials complying with the one-metre rule.

RESOLVED that the following be approved:

1.     To recognise the confusion caused to some local residents and thank them for their contributions, while also commending the work of Council Officers, acknowledging the difficult work they undertake in an often-conflicting environment and also thanking them for their contributions to the work of the task and finish group.

2.     To allow the construction and maintenance of cemetery memorials and memorial gardens on leased grave plots in Borough cemeteries, up to a maximum length of one metre from the headstone plinth and of the equivalent width as the headstone at its base. These must be bounded by a kerbset installed by a registered stonemason (or an agreed alternative, if signed off by the Officers deemed appropriate by Cabinet), and subject to agreement on the materials used, the absence of any prohibited items, and an agreed plan of action should any issues arise. The outside of the kerbset should be in alignment with the headstone at its base.

3.     To therefore permit the installation of kerbsets on grave plots in Borough cemeteries, subject either to official installation by Council staff, or a suitable standard of installation and maintenance that does not unduly interfere in grounds maintenance. It is advisable that any kerbing fitted to a grave should bound the outer limit within which memorial items are permitted, up to a limit of one metre, with the width being the same as that of the headstone at its base. Any kerbset that is not officially installed must be signed off by the relevant Council Officers.

4.     To instruct Legal Services to review (and draft where required) any revisions to the existing Cemetery Rules and Regulations and internment forms that may be required. This will ensure compliance by the grave owners of the terms and conditions and to ensure the Council complies with their statutory obligations.

5.     All new graves (plots leased or dug since new Rules and Regulations take effect) should be permitted to maintain a memorial of up to one metre as stipulated in recommendations above, while older graves will be permitted to maintain memorials of more than one metre and up to a maximum length of the length of the grave plot, where these are already in place. When such older graves are reopened, they must then revert to ‘the one metre rule’, only maintaining memorials of up to one metre after this reopening. Any such memorials over one metre in length must still be at or below the width of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104

This report gives the findings of the Cemetery Memorials Task and Finish Group and the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to Cabinet on the matter.

The report asks Cabinet to consider the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding cemetery memorials and approve accordingly.

Members considered the recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee following its review of Cemetery Memorials. It was stated that an equalities impact assessment would be necessary to consider the item further.

RESOLVED that the item be deferred to a future meeting, and the formation of an equalities impact assessment be delegated to the Interim Chief Executive in consultation with the Deputy Leader of the Council prior to the report’s resubmission to Cabinet.

(Having declared that he was predetermined Councillor M Radulovic MBE left the meeting before discussion or voting thereon. Councillor G Marshall took the Chair for the item. Having declared that a non-registerable interest Councillor J W McGrath left the meeting before discussion or voting thereon.)

To consider the final report of the Cemetery Memorials Task and Finish Group and its recommendations, and resolve to recommend to Cabinet accordingly.

Further responses from Officers will be distributed as a supplement to this agenda.

Members considered the final report of the task and finish group, with the Chair detailing its key recommendations. It was clarified that the Committee would make its recommendations to Cabinet to then take the decision, and that this would be a key decision.

Officers spoke about their concerns that the implementation account for risks in accessibility, public & employee safety, legal & regulatory compliance, and operational delivery. The establishment of a Member-Officer working group to work on the best implementation of Cabinet’s decision was suggested.

Members made comments about the sensitivity of issues relating to cemeteries, the consequences of altering Regulations, the importance of Officer advice, and changing social attitudes.

It was proposed and seconded that a vote be carried out on whether to resolve to add a recommendation to Cabinet on the formation of a Member-Officer working group to aid in implementation. This was carried.

A recorded vote on the matter of resolving the recommendations of the final report of the task and finish group was proposed by Councillor P Owen and seconded by Councillor A W G A Stockwell:

For

H J Faccio

E Winfield

H Land

S P Jeremiah

K A Harlow

S Webb

C Tideswell

S Dannheimer

Against

P J Owen

J M Owen

Abstain

A W G A Stockwell

RESOLVED that a recommendation to Cabinet be added on the formation of a Member-Officer working group to aid in the implementation of the other recommendations.

RESOLVED that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommends the final report of the cemetery memorials task and finish group and that report’s recommendations to Cabinet.