Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 1st July 2020 at 7pm via video-conferencing
Present: Cllrs: Chris Allen (Chair), Andy Brewer, Sue Harvey, Janet Keen, Colette Winfield, Steve Lester (no voting rights), Alistair Gordon connected only with microphone (no voting rights) with Lorna Williams (Deputy Clerk) in attendance.
There were no members of the public or press present.
Public Participation
There were no speakers.
1/20/BC Apologies
Committee all present
2/20/BC Declarations of Interest in items on this agenda & dispensations granted
There were none
3/20/BC Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Burial Committee meeting held on Wednesday 13th November 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
4/20/BC Action List
The Action List was noted as completed
Motions for note/resolution
5/20/BC Burial Service and maintenance of cemeteries.
The meeting received an operational update on the burial service and grounds maintenance carried out over the period affected by COVID-19. The report included contingency plans to deal with all paperwork on a remote basis and CV-19 Risk Assessments for the grounds maintenance staff. The cemeteries remained open as per government wishes.
The Committee asked for it to be recorded that they thanked all the ground-staff for being so flexible in their work during these unprecedented times.
Burial Records – this work started last August and to date 11,670 had been input, with only about 350 more to do. Brenda has stoically input these records as she agreed to do, which is a wonderful legacy for the Town Council and is now closer to having the burial records fully digitalised to be accessed by the public.
6/20/BC Easement over Town Council land
The meeting considered the request for an easement over Town Council land at Brent Road cemetery and it was RESOLVED to reject the applicants request for the easement. The meeting asked the Clerk to communicate this to the applicant.
7/20/BC Trees
There was some discussion regarding trees in the cemeteries. Cllr Keen agreed to look at creating a list of shallow rooted native British trees for their colour through the seasons and those supporting insects and avian species and also to draw up a plan of where trees could be planted. The committee agreed to work towards developing a Tree Policy, that would support the Corporate Plan. The Clerk was asked to contact Richard Young to find out what was involved in entering Britain in Bloom with the aim of entering cemeteries.
8/20/BC Management Reports and Ear Marked Reserves
The meeting noted the Management Reports for 31st March and 30th April 2020 and the Ear Marked Reserves as at 31st March 2020.
9/20/BC Date of Next meeting
It was noted that the next meeting of this committee will be held on 23rd September meeting at the Lych Gate, Highbridge Cemetery 6pm and then continuing for a 7pm meeting. Venue to be confirmed.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.03pm