2023 Cemetery Cttee Meeting Minutes

Bardney Group Parish Council

Minutes from the Cemetery Sub-Committee Meeting

Bardney Pavilion Thursday 24th August 2023 at 2pm

Attendees

Absences

None

Members of the Public

No members of the public were present

Meeting commenced at 2pm

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

There was a 15 minute public forum prior to the start of the meeting where members of the public may address the Council on current issues or items that may become future agenda items. No members of the public were present and no questions were asked.

102-23/24 Apologies for Absence

All members were present.

103-23/24 Declarations of Interests

Cllr Lintin stated that he was interested in the Cemetery Improvement Group and may volunteer.

104-23/24 To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on 20 th June 2023 and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes. Cllr Ian Fleetwood PROPOSED and Cllr Ken Hutchinson SECONDED them and it was RESOLVED as a true record.

105-23/24 Chairman’s Report

There was no Chairman’s report.

To consider and agree courses of action for the following:

106-23/24 To resolve to re-start of the Bardney Cemetery Improvement Group Volunteers

A Councillor stated that previously they had done an excellent job improving the Cemetery. Cllr Fleetwood PROPOSED and Cllr Hutchinson SECONDED that the Group should re-start their work which was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED .

107-23/24 To resolve to agree the work proposals of Bardney Cemetery Improvement Group

The Chairman stated that various Councillors had walked around the Cemetery on 10 th August 2023 with volunteers from the Cemetery Improvement Group who had illustrated many issues and had since forwarded a list to the Council. The items in the list are:

Work to be done by Bardney Cemetery Improvement Team Members and Parish Council Volunteers with Handyman assistance

HAND MAN - Tree/Bush needs removing from left of small gate as it has encroached on the memorial of Thomas Wright *************************************************************************

FOX Henry VASE near GATE removed for safety being repaired (Cemetery fund £55)

BLADES Eliza (part removed for repair for safety reasons)

ANGUS Charles – damaged by machinery over the years, needs attention

ASHLEY Louise & Elizabeth (to right of Edward Todd)

BAINES Betsy - family

BARTLETT Martha - straighten

BEUNINGH Hermann - Straighten (falling) & Clean

BLADES Eliza – Cross fallen

BURLEY Ada Spalding

BRINDLEY Edward (Memorial Mason to look at)

CAIN Elizabeth Repair corner weed & Clean

CHAPMAN Sarah & George - straightening

CLEMENTS Ted & Rose Hannah

DAVIS Gladys – (book) clean & weed

DAWSON Charles & Elizabeth – Full clean & chippings?

DAWSON Charlie – kerb stone

DAWSON Mary Ann – Vase toppled

DAWSON Sarah Ann & Richard – small tree removal

DENTON Henry - leaning

DEAN Harry – level & clean

DICKENSON John Robert and Martha - cross + vase removed for safety reasons/repairs

DICKENSON Jack – sunken cross

DIXON William – crumbling gravestone

GIBBS Charles, Alfred – broken under tree

GRAHAM – Clean & weed

GRUNDY Tommy – level & repair stone & vase

HARSLEY – concrete lifting

HILL Irene Mary - Stone to be put back on plinth

Grave between Hubbard & Smith Vase broken

HOUSEHAM Fred

KENT Buxton Harvey Kent – Repair corners and clean out base

LINTIN Walter – refit on base

MacIVER Joseph level up and repaint black letters

MARSHALL – Totally covered in ivy, clean & restore when uncovered

MASON Marjorie Emma, stone buried?

MEANWELL Samson & May

MIRZA Charles – Headstone toppled & Vases Missing

MURRY – Straighten up

OVERTON Jesse & Eleanor Mary

PADLEY Fred

PICKFORD Ethel

POLLINGTON Lowther – requires soil infill

ROBERTS Stephen – 2 vases toppled

SIMONS George & Harriett - leaning

SMITH Arthur– headstone toppled

SMITH Martha - leaning

SPALDING James & Charles

TAYLOR Walter

TETHER – Weed & Clean

TETHER J.E. – Vase broken

TODD Annie, Elizabeth – broken iron pot

TODD Eliza – headstone misplaced

TODD - Tidy up

TODD Jesse & Annie Elizabeth

TWILLEY Annie & John

WHITTAKER Charlotte

WILSON Wallace – straighten up

WOODHEAD - repair corner & level

WOODS Elizabeth & Charles – replace base & renew missing letters

CEMETERY OVERALL WEED - HANDYMAN?

& CLEAN REQUIRED

A Councillor stated that all of the work should be carried out to rectify the defects, and that each memorial should be checked by both the Parish Council and the Cemetery Improvement Group to see if there are any living relatives known before work is carried out on each individual grave. If there were living relatives they would be asked to carry out the maintenance using a qualified person, and if not the Cemetery Improvement Group should be allowed to clean and apply their funds to carry out work using a qualified person for maintenance. This RESOLUTION was PROPOSED by Cllr Fleetwood and SECONDED by Cllr Hutchinson.

108-23/24 To resolve to acknowledge the draft report of existing damage from visual inspection by Councillors

A Councillor introduced the Inspection Report carried out by Cllr Papworth, Cllr Lintin and Cllr Hutchinson on 26 th June 2023.

Area A Grave for Charles Mirza - headstone toppled and vases missing off corner.

Area B Grave for Fred Goodyear - headstone toppled.
Grave for Stephen Roberts - 2 vases toppled.
Grave for William Dixon - gravestone crumbling.

 

Area C Grave for Arthur Smith - headstone toppled.
Grave for Tommy Grundy - headstone toppled and vase broken
Grave for John Robert and Martha Dickenson - headstone toppled.
Grave for Eliza Blades - large cross toppled.
Grave for J.E.Tether - vase broken.
Grave for M.Smith - vase toppled.
Grave for Mary Ann Dawson - vase toppled.

Area D Grave for Lowther Pollington - requires soil infill.
Grave for Eliza Todd - headstone misplaced.
Grace for Sarah Ann/ Richard Dawson - requires small tree removing.
Grave for Henry Fox - vase broken in two.
Grave for Annie Elizabeth Todd - broken iron pot.

Area E Grave for Charles Alfred Gibbs - headstone toppled and broken.

Area F Nothing to report;

Area G Grave between John Hubbard & Arthur Henry Smith - vase broken.
Grave for Irene Mary Hill - headstone toppled.

Area H Nothing to report.

A number of graves have weeds growing out of the gravel/ stone infill.

A Councillor stated that all of the work should be added to the list in the previous minute so that work is carried out to rectify the defects, and that each memorial should be checked by both the Parish Council and the Cemetery Improvement Group to see if there are any living relatives known before work is carried out on each individual grave. If there were living relatives they would be asked to carry out the maintenance using a qualified person, and if not the Cemetery Improvement Group should be allowed to clean and apply their funds to carry out work using a qualified person for maintenance. This RESOLUTION was PROPOSED by Cllr Hutchinson and SECONDED by Cllr Fleetwood and was unanimous.

109-23/24 To resolve to ratify work carried out by Handyman in the Cemetery

A Councillor stated that the Handyman had cut the hedge between the Cemetery and the Bowls Club where it had been covering graves highlighted in the Cemetery Improvement Group’s report, and that the Handyman was currently removing overhanging small broughs of the trees alongside Horncastle Road which had been fouling grave memorials. This was PROPOSED by Cllr Fleetwood and SECONDED by Cllr Hutchinson to RATIFY these works.

110-23/24 To resolve to obtain quotations for trimming Trees in the Cemetery

A Councillor highlighted that there were 4 Yew trees in the centre of the Cemetery that were growing out of shape, and that they needed trimming suggesting this should be quoted for by contractors. After a debate it was PROPOSED by Cllr Hutchinson and SECONDED by Cllr Fleetwood and RATIFIED that the Handyman should undertake this work within his normal work programme and that, if necessary, the Council should consider purchasing any appropriate tools which was agreed unanimously.

111-23/24 To resolve to consider hedge issues

A Councillor stated that the hedge between the Nissen Hut and the new part of the Cemetery needed attention. This hedge falls inside the Playing Field. A debate ensued with the outcome that the Chairman discusses the issue with the Village Hall/Playing Field Committee to offer the use of the Handyman and any other Council volunteers to carry out the maintenance. This was PROPOSED by Cllr Hutchinson and SECONDED by Cllr Lintin with the Committee RESOLVING to agree unanimously.

112-23/24 To note the date of the next Meeting (if applicable)

The date of the next meeting is to be advised.

Meeting closed at 3:11pm