MenuMinutes of a Meeting of Amble Town Council Cemeteries Management Committee held on Thursday 17th November 2011 at 6.30pm in the Council Office.
1. PRESENT: Cllrs Bilboe (Chairman), Hinson, Palin and Mrs Lewis together with the Clerk- Miss E Brown.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr Weir – Holiday; this was proposed for acceptance by Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Bilboe and agreed.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS: None.
4. CLERKS REPORT: CLERKS REPORT:
4.1: Tree works commenced Monday 31st October; trees in West Cemetery including compound complete; ecologist present for the removal of the tree that the bats had been roosting in. The bats had left the tree. The remaining tree work in the West Allotments was to commence 16th November.
4.2: West Cemetery gates returned restored; harris fencing removed.
4.3: Problems with John Deere lawn tractor still evident; repairer told operatives to monitor over next few weeks.
4.4: Grounds man informed of Committee agreement for Planting course and conditions agreed. Grounds man declined course but willing to consider other more local than Kirkley Hall.
4.5: Grounds man entered onto a Safe Use of Strimmers course, training agreement to be signed.
4.6: Enquiry to ICCM re: VAT on funeral charges.
4.7: Enquiry to NCC re: provision of grit bin and rock salt package for West Cemetery
4.8: Quote for polypropylene sheets revised.
4.9: Interment report form complete and ready for trial
4.10: A samples of the daily, weekly and monthly job cards ready for a trial to commence.
4.11: Dispute regarding refuse charges still underway.
Cllr Palin suggested the John Deere be looked at again and if the Council were not satisfied with the service the company may be obligated to repair.
Cllr Mrs Lewis suggested the refuse costs from alternative sources be looked at extremely carefully next year.
5. VISITOR’S BOOK AND TIMESHEETS:
5.1: The Superintendent’s Futures Report was presented for inspection by the Members.
5.2: The time sheets were available for inspection
5.3: The Visitor’s Book was available for inspection at the office from Thursday afternoon.
Cllr Mrs Lewis questioned why the Operative spend the equivalent of 2 days moving wood; was this not part of the contract with the tree surgeons? The Clerk would look into this further
6 Member’s Comments on the Future Report, Visitor’s Book, Timesheets and the condition of the Cemetery
7. COMMUNICATIONS:
7.1: Northumberland College at Kirkley Hall late deals on courses. The Clerk informed that following consultation with the Chairman, she had booked the Grounds man onto a Safe Use of Strimmers course which would be held later that month.
8. AGENDA ITEMS:
8.1: Memorial stone in West Cemetery – update – The Clerk advised that the project be postponed until Cllr Weir had returned as she was not fully aware of what instructions had been given as she was not present at the latest site visit. The Operatives had also expressed concern about the weight of the sandstone slabs that were to be attached to the breezeblock wall. Cllr Hinson proposed the Clerk ask Cllr Weir for confirmation of the exact instructions given and if he is happy to proceed with no concerns then so be it. This was seconded by Cllr Bilboe and agreed. As youths had been congregating around the memorial wall while the Cemetery was unattended in the evenings, Cllr Mrs Lewis suggested the Clerk investigate the costs of solar lights which might be considered in the future
8.2: Consideration of draft Cemeteries Budget for approval –
Cemeteries Management
2011/12 2012/13
Rates 1100 1100
Heat & Light 400 550
Fuel & Oil 1300 1400
Machine Repairs/Service 1150 1400
Premises 500 500
Refuse 950 1100
Maintenance & Materials 2100 2400
Grave Digging Cover 300 400
Protective Clothing & Equipment 400 450
Small tools/small machinery replacement 400 600
Planting 400 600
Insurance 1200 1600
Memorial Safety 200 200
Operatives Training 800 1000
West Cemetery Development 3000 3500
East Cemetery Maintenance 1000 500
Large Machinery Replacement 4000 4000
TOTAL CEMETERIES EXPENSES 19200 21300
CEMETERIES INCOME(estimated) 15000 16000
PRECEPT ON TOWN 4200 5300
The budget was approved in principle with hard copies to go to the Members on the proposal of Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Hinson and agreed. On receipt of hard copy, any queries to be addressed immediately to the Clerk so they could be resolved before full Town budget was considered. Cllr Bilboe raised concerns about the rise in heat and light.
8.3: Consideration of Cemeteries charges – The Clerk suggested the setting of burial charges should be done prior to setting the budget in the future so income could more accurately be assessed. This was proposed by Cllr Mrs Lewis to begin in October 2012 for year 2013-14, seconded by Cllr Bilboe and agreed.
9. INFORMATION ITEMS: None.
10. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING: The next Meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday 15th December 2011 at 5.30 p.m. in the Council Office, The Quayside to be followed by a meeting of the Finance Committee.
Following acceptance of the adoption of Section 100a (4) of the Local Government Act the remainder of the Meeting was held in Private
Proposed by Cllr Bilboe, seconded by Cllr Mrs Lewis and agreed.
PUBLIC VERSION OF PRIVATE
PO1: The consideration of quotes for the memorial plaque for John M Hedley.
Cllr Hinson proposed an A3 sized stainless steel plaque. This was seconded by Cllr Palin and agreed.
Cllr Mrs Lewis voted against this motion, personally preferring a larger size to A3 as more fitting to the overall size.
PO2: The consideration of quotes for individual memorial plaques to be placed on the Memorial stone.
Following discussion of alternatives, Cllr Mrs Lewis proposed slate A5 plaques for general use on the memorial wall; details regarding future charges, licences and fixing methods should be discussed early in 2012. This was seconded by Cllr Bilboe and agreed.
The meeting closed at 7.45pm