Stotfold Town Council

Order of meetings 18th July 2012: 7.00pm Cemetery Management 7.30pm Buildings Management STOTFOLD TOWN COUNCIL Dear Councillor,

You are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of the Cemetery Management Committee, on Wednesday 19th September 2012, at 7.00pm, in the Council Chamber, Simpson Centre, Stotfold

A G E N D A

1. Apologies

2. Disclosures of Members Interest on matters contained in this agenda Members are reminded that if at any time during the meeting they feel they have an interest in an item being discussed, they should declare it at that point.

3. Public participation – questions, comments and responses Up to 5 members of the public are given 3 minutes each to speak on any item relating to this Committee.

4. Clerk’s Report, correspondence received and matters arising for information See agenda report.

5. Garden of Rest (GOR) - boundary hedge Mr Golder advises that although the Committee has requested that he cuts back the hedge on the Mill boundary (GOR), he is concerned that cutting back the hedge will leave an unsightly brown and bare hedge line. Members are to decide in the light of this new information, whether they still wish him to cut the hedge back.

6. Executive action – skip hire Members are asked to approve executive action taken by the Clerk in setting up regular skip hire in place of the Eurocarts. See agenda report.

7. Chapel of Rest lease Following invitations to funeral directors to tender for the Cemetery Chapel Lease, it can be confirmed that Austin’s Family Funeral Directors were the successful bidders. See agenda report.

8. Actions following walkabout To consider actions to be taken from the inspection of the Cemetery following the walkabout carried out by Councillor Dhaliwal.

9. Items for information purposes only

Kate Elliott-Turner Town Clerk

14th September 2012

To: Members of the Cemetery Management Committee: Councillors Mrs Hyde, Collier, Cooper, Mrs Cooper, Dhaliwal, Miss Saunders, Smith and Stoter. All other Councillors for information only. CEMETERY COMMITTEE AGENDA REPORTS

AGENDA ITEM 4 Meeting date: 19th September 2012

Clerk’s Report, correspondence received and matters arising for information

Following letters and verbal warnings from the Clerk to funeral directors and a particular grave digger regarding the very poor standard of the grave digger’s work, the Clerk can confirm that Mr Tim Miles Grave Digging Contractor is no longer permitted to work in Stotfold Cemetery. Funeral directors have been advised accordingly and they are now using alternative contractors. On inspection, the new contractors’ standard of work is very good.

Minute 3274 – the fir trees have been planted in front of the burning area and are being watered regularly. Purchase price as per quote of £150. Minute 3276 – Steve Dear Trees have carried out the tree work on the Copper Beech to the left of the Chapel of Rest, as per their quote of £225 plus vat. Minute 3277 – top soil has been purchased and Mr Summerfield is working through sunken plots which require topping up. 6 tonnes was purchased at £120 plus vat, with 2 tonnes being used by the Recreation Grounds, Public Lands & Lighting Committee elsewhere (with a £40 contribution from their budget).

Decision required: none Expenditure required: none

Executive action – skip hire

We were able to hire Eurocarts through Crawleys at a cost of £38 per month, however after a trial period it has been established that the Eurocarts are not of sufficient size for our requirements.

In order to maintain the tidy nature of the Cemetery and to allow the Handyman to continue using the skip for his litter picks of recreation areas, the Clerk hired an open top skip from Wilstead Skips at a cost of £190 per lift. Skips are lifted every 4 to 6 weeks.

The Handyman advises that this is now sufficient for his needs, and that the cameras seem to be dissuading people from dumping their rubbish in the skip. Decision required: approve executive action taken by the Clerk in setting up a new skip hire Expenditure required: increase in hire charges as referred to above CEMETERY COMMITTEE AGENDA REPORTS

Chapel of Rest lease

Following invitations to funeral directors to submit tenders for the lease, two sealed bids were received and opened in the presence of a Councillor. The bid from Austin’s Family Funeral Directors was accepted, at £2,000 per annum for a period of five years.

Austin’s are looking to refurbish and redecorate the interior of the building, and provide additional internal furnishing as required and in keeping with the style and period of the chapel. The chapel would be used for families to visit their loved ones in the days prior to the funeral service. It would also be available for small family funeral services prior to prior to interment in the Cemetery or committal at Harwood Park or other local crematoria. Decision required: none Expenditure required: none