MenuMinutes of Amble Town Council Cemeteries Management Committee Meeting held on Thursday 19th July 2012 at 6.30pm in the Town Council Office preceded by a site visit of the East Cemetery at 6.00pm.
1. PRESENT: Councillors Palin (Vice Chair acting as Chair), Mrs Dargue, Mrs Lewis together with the Clerk, Miss Brown.
Cllr Arckless was also in attendance but was not a member of the Committee.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr Hinson – holiday, Cllr Weir – holiday, and Cllr Bilboe – other commitment; this was proposed for acceptance by Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Weir and agreed.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS: None
4. CLERKS REPORT:
4.1: Response to BBC questionnaire sent
4.2: ‘No dogs except guide dog’ signs ordered – could not source alternative signs covering other disabilities
4.3: Request for information sent through working ferreters website; unsuccessful for contact details in the Northumberland area. The Clerk would continue to investigate.
4.4: ‘Wildflower Environment Area’ signs ordered for East Cemetery
4.5: Email to NCC re: Dog Exclusion Orders – dog warden confirmed that all Cemeteries are covered by the order.
4.6: Email to Commonwealth War Graves Commission requesting update on Private S Crackett memorial
4.7: Email request to Modern Records for their policies on holding documents
4.8: Husqvarna cutting belt snapped; machine transported to garage from 1st Annual service and replacement of cutting belt. Returned after 1 week.
4.9: Bumblebee nest discovered at foot of a grave; Clerk established that Bumblebees are a protected species and contacted British Beekeepers Association for advice. Owner informed.
4.10: Memorial to be removed in section L prior to the re-opening of a grave as caused restricted space for digging.
4.11: The Superintendent wished to donate his greenhouse to the Cemetery to be placed in the Compound. The Committee agreed to this, thanking the Superintendent and requesting it be stored in the compound and either used for parts or erected at a later date.
4.12: The Clerk had met with a local surveyor who was in the process of drawing up plans for sections ‘N’ and ‘P’ in the West Cemetery.
The Clerks report was proposed for acceptance by Cllr Palin, seconded by Cllr Mrs Lewis and agreed.
5. VISITOR’S BOOK AND TIMESHEETS:
5.1: The Superintendent’s Futures Report will be presented for inspection by 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.
5.4: Site visit
6 Member’s Comments on the Future Report, Visitor’s Book, Timesheets and the condition of the Cemetery
The Clerk apologised that the timesheets and diary were unavailable.
A contractor had started a rough cut in the East Cemetery which was an improvement to the past few weeks. Several patches of poppy growth were in the areas to be cut, the Clerk would ask the contractor to avoid cutting sme of the poppies so that they could be seeded and spread into the wild flower area at the appropriate time.
General weeding, blowing of grass from tarmac path, edging around the paths and maintenance was required.
A large memorial that was unstable should be priced for laying flat with a memorial mason or a builder as lifting gear would be required, the Clerk would consult with the Chairman over the price of this.
7. COMMUNICATIONS: None.
Cllr Mrs Lewis informed of information from CWGC stating that Commission staff cleaned their memorials every two years and checked the fabric of the memorial every three years. She stated she could not recollect this being mentioned in the visitor’s diary at all. The Clerk would look into this.
8. AGENDA ITEMS:
8.1: Consideration of amendments to West Cemetery Rules and Regulations (delegated to Clerk with Chairman of Cemeteries Committee at the last meeting) – The amendments were accepted by the Committee. Cllr Mrs Lewis suggested a further amendment to include that all materials in the Natural Burials section must be degradable. The Clerk informed of the cost of printing 100 booklets, Cllr Mrs Lewis proposed not to professionally print the booklets due to the small amount needed each year; this was seconded by Cllr Palin and agreed. She volunteered to print copies using the copier in the office if the Clerk required this.
8.2: Consideration of revised Interment form (deferred from June meeting) – The form was proposed for acceptance by Cllr Mrs Lewis pending checking the legality of point 28. This was seconded by Cllr Mrs Dargue and agreed.
8.3: Consideration of remaining matter raised in Fire Risk Assessment deferred from June meeting – The Clerk requested this be deferred until a full investigation of the most cost effective methods of heating provision for the mess room could be carried out.
8.4: Cemeteries Records Storage and Useage – Cllr Mrs Lewis requested this be deferred to the September Committee meeting pending the receipt of further information by the Clerk
8.5: East Cemetery- Update Pte. Sydney Crackett CWGC headstone – Cllr Mrs Lewis requested this be deferred to the September meeting of the Committee pending the receipt of further information by the Clerk
9. INFORMATION ITEMS:
9.1: None.
10. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING: The next Meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday 20th September 2012 at 6.30 p.m. in the Council Office, The Quayside
The meeting closed at 7.08pm