Pay It
Book It
Find It
Report It
Apply For It
Say It
Post Scrutiny - Executive Response
In respect of: Review of the Policies and Provision of the Council's Cemeteries and Crematorium Service
Date: April 2007
Cabinet Deputy: Councillor Catherine Piddington
|
Recommendations |
Executive Response |
Officer Responsible |
Action By (Date) |
Update (as at November 2006) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. That an overarching policy be drafted for approval by the Cabinet Deputy, to bring together all aspects of the operation and provision of Tameside Cemeteries and Crematorium. |
Agreed. Policy document to be published and agreed with Cabinet Deputy |
Robin Monk & Mike Gurney |
1st October 2005 |
Draft Policy completed and awaiting presentation and approval from Cabinet Deputy |
|
2. That a Service Level Agreement be drafted and approved, detailing the grounds maintenance, security and toilet cleaning specifications to be undertaken by the District Assemblies at the Council’s Cemeteries. |
Accepted |
Detailed discussions with District assemblies have and are taking place to agree details of specification and service level agreement. |
Robin Monk |
March 2008 |
|
3(a). As it is not feasible to provide separate areas for personalised graves and plain grassed grave areas, the Panel recommends that Bereavement Services takes the appropriate action to remove any unauthorised personal items placed on graves and that a condition be introduced stating that any personal items placed on or around graves shall be removed. It is recommended that in doing this, Bereavement Services first writes to the grave owners or next of kin bringing to their notice the Council conditions and requesting that specified items are removed from the grave in order to comply with the conditions and at the same time setting a reasonable timescale for the removal to be undertaken or representations to be made. If the items are not removed from the grave, Bereavement Services should then take action to remove and preserve any items which do not comply with the Council’s conditions and again write to the grave owners stating that the items have been removed and are available for collection. |
Accepted |
We fully understand the sensitivity of this issue. The service would want to undertake this work with minimal upset to Grave Owners and families. It is planned to undertake a programme similar to the Memorial Safety Programme. This will entail pre-publicity, signage, letters to families where possible etc. |
Robin Monk |
June 2008 |
|
3(b) That persons acquiring the exclusive use of grave plots be made fully aware of the conditions relating to the maintenance of graves in Tameside cemeteries and that where possible these conditions also be communicated to the next of kin. |
Already being carried out. |
Michael Gurney |
Completed |
|
|
4. That regulations be enforced to remove any embellishments to graves which create a potential health and safety danger, with an appropriate notification being sent to the grave owners indicating the reasons for the removal of the hazardous item. |
Accepted |
See above 3 (a) |
Robin Monk |
Completed |
| 5. That Bereavement Services liaises with the District Assembly to provide appropriate signage to recognise the people interred in the unmarked graves at Droylsden Cemetery. |
Accepted |
Memorial erected at Droylsden Cemetery on N Plot by Bereavement Services. |
Michael Gurney |
|
|
6. That the facilities at all Tameside’s Cemeteries be reviewed on a regular basis and that adequate funding be allocated for any essential maintenance. |
Accepted |
Improvements continually being made according to resources made available. |
Michael Gurney |
Ongoing |
|
7. That additional funding be secured in order to complete the repairs to the borough’s footpaths, and for ongoing maintenance works that may arise. |
Accepted |
Capital bids are made year on year |
Robin Monk |
Ongoing |
|
8. That subject to the availability of burial land, consideration be given to the provision of horizontal cushion headstones rather than vertical headstones on the new extensions at Mottram and Droylsden Cemeteries. |
Accepted |
As part of any new development this system will be considered together with consultation with monumental masons. |
Michael Gurney |
Ongoing |
|
9. That for reasons of safety, the erection of vertical headstones be permitted only if they are permanently anchored. |
Accepted |
Bereavement Services have already implemented this and it is within the Memorial Safety Policy. |
Michael Gurney |
|
|
10. That the Assistant Executive Director (Engineering and Environmental Services) be requested to improve the signage and consider improving the existing road design on the corner of Sandy Lane in Dukinfield in order to facilitate easier egress from Dukinfield Cemetery by funeral vehicles as soon as possible. |
Accepted |
Engineers considering the road design and layout. |
Paul Jennings |
Ongoing |
Twitter
Facebook
