Issue - meetings

Meeting: 14/01/2021 - Corporate Policy and Resources Committee (Item 67)

67 Crematorium Garden of Remembrance and Landscaping pdf icon PDF 587 KB

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Minutes:

Members considered a report proposing a capital investment for landscaping works at Lea Fields Crematorium.

 

Since its opening, the Crematorium had become popular with local funeral directors.  The management in place at the site had improved the business offering of the Crematorium, but one issue that had come to the fore was the need for a suitable area for loved ones to strew ashes; this was a statutory requirement.  To facilitate this, officers commissioned a landscaping plan, which was attached to this report.

 

Following this introduction, Members asked questions of officers present and made comment on the Crematorium and the proposals.  The following information was provided:

 

·         During the pandemic staff at the Crematorium have been excellent and fully deserve the award that has come their way;

 

·         When the site was developed officers thought that plans in place for strewing were adequate; however the Crematorium had an experienced manager in place who highlighted the need to be flexible and that people want different options for strewing ashes;

 

·         Although there was always a planned phase 2 for this project, the proposed works would bring part of this phase forward;

 

·         When looking at other large projects that the Authority was undertaking, such as the Depot and Market Rasen Leisure Centre, it would be important to use learning on this project to futureproof those sites;

 

·         There would be the opportunity to have a Book of Remembrance and a tree for relatives and friends to leave messages for the deceased;

 

·         Because of the landscaping work and green areas there would be a climate impact from the site; however this did bring with it the opportunity to plant trees and create biodiversity.

 

Note:   One Member wished to discuss the costs of the proposal, which were contained within exempt appendix 2.  Therefore it was moved and seconded that the committee move to exclude the public and press whilst this appendix was discussed, and following a vote it was:

 

RESOLVED that under Section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

 

The meeting therefore moved into closed session to discuss this appendix.

 

Once the meeting reconvened into public session, there was a proposal to amend recommendation 2 by substituting the tolerance of ‘+ or – 20%’ with ‘+ or – 10%’, and this was duly seconded.  This amendment was unanimously agreed, and therefore become the substantive recommendation 2.

 

Both recommendation 1 and the new recommendation 2 were moved and seconded, and following a vote it was RESOLVED to:

 

(1)  Approve a capital investment budget and subsequent expenditure in order to implement the work detailed in the Landscaping Strategy set out in section 2 of the report;

 

(2)  Delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Chairman of the Corporate Policy and Resources committee, in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67