6th October 2026 Burial Ground Committee Minutes
Minutes of the Barrowby Parish Council Burial Ground Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 6th October 2026 at the Reading Room, Church Street, Barrowby at 1pm
In attendance:
Cllrs: M Brown, P Brown, Footitt, Lees, McConnoll-Good (Joined 1.45pm).
Officer in attendance:
Claire Vink (Parish Clerk)
PUBLIC FORUM: No members of the public were present. Meeting started 1.35pm
1. WELCOME REMARKS (26/009)
The Chair welcomed members to the meeting.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE & REASONS GIVEN (26/010)
No apologies received.
3. TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011 (26/011)
None received
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (26/012)
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Burial Ground Committee meeting held on 26th June 2026. There was 1 abstention
5. BURIAL GROUND MATTERS ARISING (26/013)
a) A verbal update on the activity at the Burial Ground was received.
b) N Barker was unable to attend the meeting to provide an update regarding the investigations carried out at the Burial Ground. A report will follow.
c) The increase in grave digger fees was noted. There would not be an increase in Burial Ground Fees in this financial year however it will be used to inform the next budget. ACTION: Clerk to request grave digger risk assessment
d) Due to the weather, minimal grounds maintenance has taken place. Cllrs M Brown, P Brown and Lees to soil infill and reseeding when appropriate. Additional outstanding works include the rose at plot W7, the Gate Post, the Fence and the Bench at the entrance to the Burial Ground. ACTION: Clerk to work with Cllrs Lees to progress these issues.
e) It was NOTED that the bequest to the burial ground was nearing the conclusion of Probate. ACTION Clerk to obtain confirmation from the Solicitor as to the proper use of the money.
f) It was NOTED that, when standing with the school on the right, the ground to the left of the path through the Burial Ground was consecrated up to the fence at the far end. The ground to the right of the path, beyond the line of trees, was understood to be unconsecrated.
It was RESOLVED to approve that separate areas should be designated to provide for both burials and the interment of ashes in consecrated and unconsecrated ground. An additional charge should apply to burials and ashes interments in consecrated ground to contribute towards the cost of future consecrations. ACTION: Clerk to coordinate a walk about at the Burial Ground to determine different areas
g) It was RESOLVED to approve the policy detailing the Councils approach to non-resident applications for interment and Exclusive Right of Burial with the following changes: clarification of what is acceptable supporting evidence (e.g. signed letter from the club where they were volunteering) Additional admin charge of £50 to cover the time required to check validity of request.
h) It was NOTED that further time was needed to populate Scribe Cemetery and that it should be ready for the next meeting.
i) It was RESOLVED to approve overtime of 1hr per week for the litter collector to clear leaves
j) Correspondence relating to the Burial Ground was NOTED. Including the request by a family friend to restore the fallen headstone. Permission was received from the EROB grant holder before work was permitted. Request for interment of ashes where not all named persons on the EROB grant were in agreement was denied. Cllr Lees was thanked for promptly addressing a complaint about the condition of a grave adjacent to a newly dug plot.
6. GARDEN OF REFLECTION (26/014)
It was NOTED that the church are interested in a joint venture regarding the area of land owned by the diocese. It was NOTED that the diocese had been contacted regarding the possible transfer of this land to the church. There was no further update at this time. Action: Clerk to follow up with Diocese and Rev’d S Tierney
7. CAPTURE OF FUTURE ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION / AGENDA ITEMS (26/015)
Review of budget requirements for 2026/27 to include Fence repairs, tree work, results of investigations
8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING (26/016) Provisionally set for 4th December 11am in the Pavilion
Meeting closed 3pm