Present:
Mr P Boyes (Chairman), Mrs A Butcher (Vice Chairman), Mr L Cornell, Mr M Rollé and Mrs A Trend.
In Attendance:
Mrs M Weston (Clerk to the Council)
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Mr J Charlesworth and Mrs H Klaassen.
2. Declarations of Interest
None.
3. Election of Chairman
RESOLVED: That Mr Boyes be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.
4. Election of Vice Chairman
RESOLVED: That Mrs Butcher be elected Vice Chairman for the ensuing year.
5. Minutes of Previous Committee Meeting
The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 14 September 2009 were signed by the Chairman as a true and accurate record.
6. Matters Arising
In reply to a question from Mrs Trend, it was noted that Mr Boyes had given at least 1000 hours of unpaid work to the Cemetery during the ensuing year.
Had the Parish Council paid for this work it would have cost at least £15,000 and it was the unanimous view of the Committee that thanks should be expressed and minuted for all the work Mr Boyes gave during the course of the year and it should be noted that this work would, in the long term, need to be paid for someone to do the work in order to keep the cemetery up to standard.
Mr Boyes reported that, at the present time, it was not thought necessary to purchase a generator or change the layout of the seating arrangements in the Chapel.
7. Wall of Remembrance Plaques
A large number of plaques had been stolen from the wall of remembrance in the Cemetery. The plaques were either brass or bronze. The Police had been notified and a crime number obtained. Publicity had also been used to inform plaque owners.
Discussion took place and the following resolution was passed to be taken to the October Parish Council meeting.
RESOLVED:
(a) That members of the public who wished to place plaques on the wall of remembrance be informed that henceforth only plaques made from granite would be allowed.
(b) The possibility of placing a larger order for plaques be pursued with the most suitable stonemason in order to give a favourable rate to members of the public whose plaques had been forcibly removed from the wall.
8. Cemetery Charges
The Chairman proposed that a rise of 5% be applied to Cemetery charges. Mr Cornell drew the Committee’s attention to Cemetery charges in Southampton and Brockenhurst, both of which were much higher than in Lyndhurst and said he felt a rise of 50% would be more appropriate. General discussion took place, bearing in mind the countrywide financial situation
RESOLVED: That Cemetery charges be increased as follows:
Purchase of burial plot To increase from £275.00 to £300.00
Interment cost To increase from £275.00 to £300.00
All other charges To increase by 10%
9. Chapel
(a) Replacement of Altar
RESOLVED:
(a) That Mr Boyes obtain three estimates for making a new altar and report back to the Committee.
(b) That the present altar be used to make a font, utilising the chapel bell.
(b) Replacement of Curtains
RESOLVED: That Mr Boyes obtain three estimates for new curtains, plus the necessary poles and report back to the Committee.
(c) Storage Cupboard
RESOLVED: That Mr Boyes source a suitable cupboard and report back to the Committee.
10. Repair Work
Repair work would be carried out when necessary. Recent work undertaken by Mr Boyes had included pointing of brickwork on the chapel, tap reconditioning, faulty gate, 50 chapel roofing tiles and boundary wall.
RESOLVED: That Mr Boyes provide a list for the next Parish Council meeting.
11. Cemetery and Other Work
Mr Boyes had refurbished the car park. Landscaping is taking place on a regular basis, such as pruning/removal of rhododendron bushes that have grown over pre-purchased burial plots.
12. Grave Reconditioning/Safety Measures
Mr Boyes pointed out that all work undertaken complied with health and safety measures. The condition of graves was now checked regularly.
13. Probation Service Assistance
Two people had, on separate occasions, undertaken unpaid work in the community in the cemetery under the direction of Mr Boyes. Work was undertaken on a one to one basis, had proved fairly successful and it was hoped to repeat this in the future.
14. Website Coverage for Cemetery
Discussion took place and the Clerk stated that the website would shortly be reconstructed.
RESOLVED:
(a) That Mr Rollé take internal photographs of the chapel, possibly by candlelight. Other photographs of the chapel and cemetery would also be used to illustrate the website.
(b) That consideration be given to producing a brochure that could be sent to funeral directors and monumental masons.
(c) That the Clerk transfer the history of the cemetery and chapel onto a Word document which could then go onto the website.
15. War Memorial – Continued Landscape Maintenance
Mr Boyes reported that the war memorial received ongoing maintenance. Some stone needs to be manoeuvred into place. It was noted that the new seat is very well used.
16. Precept Request
RESOLVED: That the following Precept request be made for the financial year 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012:
Description |
Proposed budget 2011/12 |
Cemetery maintenance/war memorial |
£5,250.00 |
Fire Precautions Certificate |
£100.00 |
Grass cutting |
£3,850.00 |
Business rates |
£700.00 |
Sundry Items |
£500.00 |
Chapel Maintenance |
£500.00 |
Gas cylinders |
£100.00 |
Tree/rhododendron work |
£500.00 |
Road/car park maintenance |
£450.00 |
Incinerator |
£50.00 |
Chapel Reorganisation and Renovation |
£2,000.00 |
Total |
£14,875.00 |
Estimated income |
£8,000.00 |
Budget requirement |
£6,875.00 |
17. Any Other Business
In the absence of any other business the Chairman thanked those present for attending and closed the meeting. |
