MenuMinutes of Cemeteries Management Committee Meeting held on Thursday 18th April 2013 following a site visit to the West Cemetery at 5.30pm.
1. PRESENT: Cllrs Palin(Chair), Mrs Dargue and Mrs Lewis together with the Clerk and the Superintendent.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Apologies were received from Cllr Weir; these were accepted.
- 2. CLERKS REPORT:.
4.1: Reminder to contractor re: West Cemetery plans
4.2: Cemetery fees for 2013/14 circulated to Funeral Directors
4.3: Machine services complete
4.4: East cemetery first spring cut commenced 8th April
4.5: Roller shutter repair requested and completed by contractor. The Clerk informed that the bi-annual service was due in August. It was suggested that in the future the Operatives look to see if the repair is something they are capable of carrying out.
The Committee noted the contents of the report.
- 3. VISITOR’S BOOK AND TIMESHEETS:
RECOMMENDATION – That the Committee inspect the following documents.
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.
6 Member’s Comments on the Future Report, Visitor’s Book, Timesheets and the condition of the Cemetery following site visit.
It was noted from the visitors book that a contractor conducting property surveys/valuations for Northumberland County Council had visited the Machine Store. As the machine store had been transferred into the ownership of the Town Council from Alnwick District Council in 1999 the Clerk would contact the Asset Management Department and ask for the machine store to be removed for their asset list. Cllr Palin, the Clerk and the Superintendent were present at the site visit. The fence behind the wildflower area required work as it was structurally unsound following the westerly winds. The Clerk with the Superintendent and the future Chair of the Committee, following the Annual Meeting of the Council, would investigate the cost of moving the fence back to border the allotment with a report and costings to be presented to the June meeting of the Committee. This could be a potential autumn project. It was noted that in general the Cemetery was in a good condition.
7. COMMUNICATIONS: None.
8. AGENDA ITEMS:
8.2: To consider the planting plan as provided by the Superintendent – a copy of the Spring/Summer planting plan with amendments is attached. The Clerk would enquire what perennials and plants which had been discussed were available from the usual supplier and would determine if other firms would need to be sourced. The Clerk, with the Superintendent’s input, was delegated to complete the necessary purchases.
The Superintendent was thanked for his time and left the meeting.
8.1: To consider the future charges of double depth interments – Cllr Mrs Lewis suggested that due to the change of procedure for the digging of double depth interments, a costing exercise be carried out by the Clerk and reported in Private at a future meeting. It was RESOLVED that this be done.
9. INFORMATION ITEMS: None.
10. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING: The next Meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday 23rd May 2013 at 6.30pm. in the Council Office, The Quayside subject to agreement at the Annual Meeting of the Council. The Meeting closed at 7.50pm