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Tuesday 15th September 2009, 11.00 am at the Ilex Lane Cemetery
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Committee Members Present: Mrs A Brading (AB), Mr Geoff Luckett (GL), Ms Denise Powell (DP), Mr John Westlake (JW), and Mr Mike Williamson (MW). |
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Clerk Present: Mrs Lynne Rampton (LR) Members of public present: one
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Apologies for absence: Mr A Forbes (AF), Mrs Jenny Nicholas (JN) Orderly, Mr John Gower (JG)
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Declarations of Interest – none declared
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Public Participation. Mrs Westlake suggested that committee members consider flower planters for the top of the walls surrounding the shelter in the cemetery extension area, she would be prepared to tend these on a voluntary basis. MW thanked Mrs Westlake for her kind offer & advised that this will be added to the agenda for consideration at the next committee meeting following completion of all works. Mrs Westlake also volunteered her services to assist in providing refreshments at the official opening ceremony for the cemetery extension.
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Official Opening Ceremony for the Cemetery & Allotment Extension Area To set date Monday 12th October 2009. Proposed by MW, seconded by GLu, all in favour To Agree time 3pm Venue A short service at the Ilex Lane Cemetery followed by an invitation back to the Winscombe Community Centre. Invitees St Monica Trust Director and Trustee, Andrew Wilson, 2 representatives of the contractor carrying out works, foreman overseeing works, drainage sub-contractor, Parish Councillors, Ward Councillors, John Penrose MP, Police Beat Team, press, NSC Parish Liaison Officer, Office Staff, Cemetery Orderly, representatives from each religious denomination at Churches Together, 2 x undertakers that are the main users of this cemetery & one stonemason that currently installs 99% of memorials at the cemetery. A notice should be placed at the cemetery inviting allotment holders to the ceremony at Ilex Lane but an invitation for refreshment not offered due to the large number of allotment holders. Refreshment Light refreshments of tea and cake Format of ceremony Discussion took place about the installation of a permanent marker to commemorate the considerable sum of monies invested in the cemetery and allotment extension by the St Monica Trust as part of a section 106 agreement for the Sandford Station Care Village development. Committee members were divided in opinion about the provision of a plaque to be installed in the new shelter that could be unveiled at the opening ceremony or a plaque/sculpture to be added to the cemetery at a later date with due time and consideration given to this. In conclusion to this discussion it was agreed that MW will consult with St Monica Trust on this matter and report to the Parish Council at their September meeting.
The format of the Ceremony was agreed as follows: 1. Welcome & introduction from the Parish Council Chairman 2. Historic background of the cemetery from JW as an original committee member and Parish Councillor when the cemetery opened in 1972. 3. St Monica Trust Contribution and section 106 agreement by MW as Committee Chairman who will then invite a St Monica Trust representative to respond. 4. Response from St Monica Trust and cutting of ribbon/unveiling of plaque. 5. Reading by DP to link in allotment area of the extension. 6. A simple/short prayer to be delivered by representatives of Churches Together. Consideration was given to Cheddar Male Voice Choir singing at the ceremony but due to problems performing in an open-air venue, no piano and unknown weather conditions, their kind offer should be declined and the Choir thanked by DP. A public address system for the occasion should not be hired. Grounds Preparation i) Hedges. Hedges in the cemetery area are currently being cut by the payback team but problems exist with the hedge being too wide for the top of this to be trimmed by hand and disposal of cuttings now an issue. A quotation of £150 was agreed to instruct works to flail the remainder of the hedge including the top and Ilex Lane side of this. Proposed by MW, seconded by GLu, all in favour. Disposal of cuttings by the Community Service Team should be considered as a future committee agenda item ii) Grass cutting An additional grass cut of the cemetery should be arranged late in the week prior to the opening ceremony if considered necessary. An anonymous letter has been sent to the Parish Council complaining that grass to the right side of the central path is ‘cut and dropped’ whilst grass to the left hand side is collected. Whilst anonymous letters are generally ignored and it advised that in some local cemeteries and closed Church Yards grass is ‘cut & dropped’ as standard practice, it was agreed that a consistent approach by this Parish Council is required. The grass cutting contractor for the cemetery should be requested to ‘cut and collect’ grass from existing and current burial areas. The remaining areas of the cemetery should continue to be ‘cut and dropped’ to save unnecessary expenditure. iii) Tree Works. Instructed tree works should be carried out prior to the opening ceremony if possible. Should this not fit with the agreed contractors schedule, a request is made to delay works until after the opening ceremony. Following removal of a sycamore tree and stump in the cremation area JN is requested to lay new turf. Contractors of WPD, whilst not currently having a consent form signed to carry out tree works at the cemetery should be advised works will not be permitted around this period. iv) Parking. As limited parking is available in the Cemetery, all those invited to the opening ceremony should be encouraged to park on surrounding roads or use the Strawberry Line to walk to the cemetery. Car park access will be limited to those that are disabled or form part of the opening ceremony. GLu will organise parking control.
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Matter for Information – either points of information or subjects for discussion at the next meeting. · None
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Date of Next Meeting. Fri 4th December 2009
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Meeting Closed: 12 noon.
Signed _______________________________ (Cemetery & Allotment Chairman)
Date ____________