Issue - meetings

(Report of the Assistant Director, Operations and Leisure)

The Chair introduced the Assistant Director, Operations and Leisure and the Operations Manager who were in attendance to present a report which followed a review of parts of the Cemetery Regulations by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee in 2020/21, following which officers were requested to explore the potential of a new memorial area for Tamworth residents to pay their respects to their departed loved ones.

The Assistant Director reported that three potential sites within Borough were identified, together with a fourth option, outside the Borough. The Assistant Director provided an overview of the four potential sites:

1.     Jubilee Gardens, in the Castle Grounds

2.     Area at Corporation Street, in the town centre

3.     Garden area within Wigginton Cemetery

4.     National Memorial Arboretum

It was reported that since the Committee had previously considered this item, there had been two requests from members of the public for a commemorative bench with a plaque and both families had requested a very specific location and there had been no requests for any plaques on our existing benches.

The Committee sought clarifications and commented on:

·       The estimated costs of any consultation exercise with the public, where the Assistant Director responded that the costs would depend upon the extent of the consultation.

·       The limited space in cemeteries for additional memorials, and the fact that requests were very personal and location specific.

·       The possibility for a memorial wall of plaques within a cemetery to be considered.

·       The costs associated within any additional scheme.

Following consideration and debate, the Committee:

RESOLVED:

1.     To note the report

(Moved by Councillor T Jay and seconded by Councillor J Chesworth)

2.     To propose no further action at this time

(Moved by Councillor T Jay and seconded by Councillor J Chesworth)

3.     To add this item to the Committee’s work plan in 2023

(Moved by Councillor R Ford and seconded by Councillor Dr S Peaple)

Following which, Councillors J Chesworth and R Rogers left the meeting