Minutes Burial Ground Committee 2025/26

 

held on Monday 13th March 2026 at 1pm in the Reading Room, Church Street, Barrowby

 

Councillors in attendance: Cllrs Michael Brown, Paul Brown, Jo Footitt, Tim Lees (Chair), Anna McConnell-Good

 

Officer in attendance: Claire Vink (Parish Clerk)

 

No members of the public were present. The meeting started at 1.10pm.

 

The Chair welcomed members to the meeting. 

 

No apologies received

 

a) No declarations of members’ interests were made

b) No dispensations needed to be considered

 

It was RESOLVED to approve and sign the minutes of the Burial Ground Committee meeting held on 15th December 2025. There were 2 abstentions. 

 

a. A verbal update on the activity at the Burial Ground was NOTED. It was NOTED that the bequest to the Burial has gone through probate however payment will not be made until October at the earliest.

b. No further maintenance has been carried out at the Buriel Ground since the September meeting. Spreading and seeding work is planned for the Spring by Cllrs Lees and P Brown. A new spade and barrow have been purchased and a rake has been donated. The gate into the Newton Field has fallen down due to a rotten post. Action: Clerk to speak with N Baker to explore options to fix it. The fence still requires maintenance. Action: T Lees to speak with D Parker re: options to fix sections of the fence rather than replace the whole lot. Trees: a large branch fell, no damaged caused. This tree was identified in the recent tree survey. Tree maintenance is being covered in the Buildings and Assets committee. The Sycamore and 2 Ash trees at the entrance have been identified as needing maintenance. The Ash trees will require a longer term maintenance plan due to die back. Action: Burial Committee to complete an inspection of grounds at 10.30am on 19th March

c. It was NOTED that a gravestone has been laid flat as it has become unstable. The named person on the Grant has been contacted. Clerk is exploring options to obtain a grant to support fixing of the headstone. 

d. It was NOTED that the clerk is booked onto Introduction to cemetery management for parish & town clerks on 13th May and ERoB course 3rd and 4th June.

 

It was NOTED that committee have 1 month to review and provide comment on the ToR and Burial Ground Policies to allow redraft before formal adoption at the May Parish Council Meeting. It was NOTED that wooden crosses should be limited to 18 months after which a headstone should be put in place. To allow for ease of maintenance and minimise possible damage to a headstone, a plinth is required at the grave site. Flowers / plants / ornaments must be placed on the plinth to allow for ease of grass cutting. It was RESOLVED to approve a 3% increase in fees, rounded appropriately. 

 

None identified

 

19th June 2026 at 1pm in the Reading Room. 

 

The meeting closed at 2.10pm