MenuMinutes of a Meeting of Amble Town Council Cemeteries Management Committee held on Thursday 23rd June 2011 at 5.30pm. in the Council Office.
1. PRESENT: Cllrs Bilboe (Chairman), Arckless, Weir and Mrs Lewis together with the Clerk- Miss E Brown.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr Hinson – Holiday. This was proposed for acceptance by Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Bilboe and agreed.
- 3. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS: None.
Public Participation – Mr Redhead confirmed he was happy for the Council to replace the seat(s) if they wished but would like to see the 2 plaques retained on seating and looked after in the future. This was agreed by all.
- 4. CLERKS REPORT: CLERKS REPORT:
4.1: Rights of burials delivered.
4.2: Husqvarna delivered.
4.3: Summer planting delivered/planted
4.4: Mini digger hired for grave digging.
4.5: 2 x Gazebos hired from Hauxley Village Hall for funeral service. ATC gazebo disposed off.
4.6: Tree Survey underway in West Cemetery.
4.7: Further letter sent re: double seat.
4.8: Honeycomb grids collected for compound, land excavated and crushed brick sub base laid.
5. VISITOR’S BOOK AND TIMESHEETS:
5.1: The Superintendent’s Futures Report will be presented for inspection of the Members.
5.2: The time sheets will be available for inspection
5.3: The Visitor’s Book is available for inspection at the office from Thursday afternoon.
6 Member’s Comments on the Future Report, Visitor’s Book, Timesheets and the condition of the Cemetery
7. COMMUNICATIONS:
7.1: Concern over leaning tree in compound – Allotment Holders Society. This was received after a survey of all the trees had been instigated. Following this survey of 138 trees including the trees in the compound and 2 in the allotments, the high priority recommendations were (site plan attached):
Compound – 2,3,4; to pollard
Allotments – 1a and 2 a; to pollard
Section M – 6; Removal
West Boundary – 11 and 12; removal (12 used to be a roosting place for bats so a bat survey must be carried out before removal)
Tree section – 2; removal (clarification of person planting this tree would be checked first in order to inform them of the decision and the reasons for it).
The Clerk would request a bat survey, quotes for the recommended work and thank the contractor for the comprehensive survey.
Removal would be undertaken as a priority, then pollarding dependent upon cost followed by a maintenance schedule for the other recommended works.
The Allotments Holders Society would be informed and kept up to date with any works.
8. AGENDA ITEMS:
8.1: Consideration of a replacement gazebo; The Town Council gazebo was damaged beyond repair and disposed of. Following the hiring of 2 x gazebos from Hauxley Village Hall for a humanist funeral service, one gazebo had sustained damage which was beyond repair. It had been agreed with the funeral directors that the cost of hiring would be reimbursed to the Town Council. It was therefore proposed by Cllr Bilboe to purchase a gazebo of the same spec for Hauxley Village Hall to replace the damaged one. This was seconded by Cllr Mrs Lewis and agreed.
Cllr Mrs Lewis suggested the Clerk investigate the costs of purchasing a stronger more commercial gazebo for the Town Council’s use. This was agreed.
8.2: Double seat on tree line; as discussed earlier in the meeting with Mr Redhead.
8.3: Update on memorial; Cllr Weir was awaiting quotes from NCC projects officer and also from independent builders. Cllr Weir and the Clerk were delegated to progress the matter provided it was within the dedicated budget. It was proposed by Cllr Bilboe, seconded by Cllr Weir and agreed that the memorial be constructed of dressed stone frontage with a sloping curved back, approx. 5 metres long by 1.8 metres high. Cllrs Arckless and Lewis were delegated to do the wording for the commemorative plaque.
8.4: East Cemetery grass cutting – Due to the breakdown of the Husqvarna tractor, the East Cemetery had looked a bit unkempt but the Grounds man had recently given it a strim and cut using the large John Deere tractor and was surprised by the ability of this tractor to perform well there.
9. INFORMATION ITEMS:
9.1: The Journal
9.2: ICCM Newsletter
The information items were received on the proposal of Cllr Bilboe, seconded by Cllr Weir and agreed.
10. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING: The next Meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday 21st July 2011 at 6.30 p.m. in the Council Office, The Quayside, Amble
Following acceptance of the adoption of Section 100a (4) of the Local Government Act the remainder of the Meeting will be held in Private. This was proposed by Cllr Bilboe, seconded by Cllr Arckless and agreed.
PUBLIC VERSION OF PRIVATE
P01. Consideration of a mini digger; Looking to future needs and range of services to be undertaken, Cllr Mrs Lewis proposed the Committee look at various options by obtaining quotes for micro/mini diggers but also 2 extra sets of grave shoring, plastic boards for grave digging and grass sheets, a backhoe and weights for the John Deere Tractor. The Clerk would get quotes for these and should also look at quotes for any possible grave digging training courses held at New College in Durham. This was seconded by Cllr Bilboe and agreed.
P02. Consideration of replacement notice board – Amble West Cemetery; Cllr Weir proposed looking at the purchase of a good quality double door notice board for inserting documents and welcoming to the cemetery. This was seconded by Cllr Bilboe and agreed.
P03. East Cemetery; concern had been raised over the allocated grave spaces and boundaries in the East Cemetery. Due to the sensitivity of the matter Cllr Mrs Lewis proposed the Clerk look into this and make an appointment for the Clerk and Chairman to meet with a solicitor if necessary. This was seconded by Cllr Arckless and agreed.
The meeting closed at 7.00pm