CC January 2024 Minutes
DEEPING ST JAMES PARISH COUNCIL
The Institute, 38 Church Street, Deeping St James, PE6 8HD
E-mail: clerk@deepingstjames-pc.gov.uk
Tel: 01778 343266
Webpage: //deeping-st-james.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
Facebook: Deeping St James Parish Council
Parish Clerk: Julie Fortnum
The minutes of the Cemetery Committee meeting which was held on Tuesday 9 January 2024 at 7.00pm in the meeting at the Institute.
Present: Councillors Shinkins-Hoppe, Stevens and Townsin
The Parish Clerk took the minutes
24.21 To receive apologies of absence.
Apologies had been received and were accepted from Councillors Bowell, Halls and Hosking
In the absence of Councillor Hosking, the Chairperson of this committee, Councillor Stevens chaired the meeting.
24.22 To receive any declarations of interest.
None declared.
24.23 To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 5 September 2023.
Agreed and signed by Councillor Stevens.
24.24 Clerks report.
There have been 7 burials and 1 interment of ashes since the last meeting on 5 September 2023.
The Clerk has met with a local tree services contractor to obtain quotes for work on the conifer hedge at the rear of the Hereward Way properties, the conifers in the dog exercise area and the large conifers at the rear of the Burghley Close properties as well as Yew trees in the Old Cemetery. The Clerk confirmed that the trees in the dog exercise area and the hedge at the rear of the Hereward Way properties were cut on Monday 8 January 2024.
The Clerk and Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe have met at the Cemetery to commence comparing the office plans of the Cemetery to the what is on site. Further work needs to be undertaken to complete this task.
The Clerk has made contact with Stamford Town Council who have provided the contact details of the contractor who installs rows of concrete plinths in advance of burials. The Clerk has not approached them as yet but has spoken to the Cemetery maintenance staff and the Gravedigger both of whom had reservations about these being installed.
The Clerk has contacted South Kesteven District Council asking if they would consider transferring the ownership of the land at Millennium Wood on Spalding Road to Deeping St James Parish Council as this was an area the committee felt could be developed to accommodate a garden of remembrance for the scattering of ashes. This is currently leased from them until 2049. To date no response has been received.
24.25 To receive an update and consider establishing (and managing) a Garden of Remembrance on the area of land to the East of the Priory Church near the cremated area.
The Clerk shared a photo of the area near the Priory Church that the Rev. Mark Williams had offered for use for the scattering of ashes and a remembrance garden.
The committee discussed the possible cost and practicalities of developing this area for this use and it was decided not to pursue the offer.
24.26 To receive an update and continue with the review of the Cemetery and memorials regulations and fees
It was agreed that the next scheduled meeting should concentrate on this agenda item.
It was RESOLVED to move into closed session in accordance with The Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed in relation to the following matter.
24.27 To consider the recent correspondence from the exclusive right of burial holder whose reserved burial plot has been lost due to misalignment of the neighbouring grave.
The Clerk advised the committee of that advice had been obtained from the Institute of Cemetery and Crematoria Management and the Association of Local Councils both of whom had stated that this wasn’t uncommon and that exhumation should be a last resort. The Clerk had met with the gravedigger who had established that the exclusive right of burial holder whose reserved burial plot has been lost can be buried in the same grave as that of her late Mother. The committee agreed that a letter should be issued to the EROB holder offering this.
24.28 To note the date of the next meeting –To be agreed at the Annual Parish Council meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday 21 May 2024