Agenda and minutes

The Chair to note any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Aziz and Kilbride.

At this point the Chair welcomed Simon Hollowell, of Hollowells Funeral Directors, Co-Optee to the meeting.  He emphasised the value of co optees to the Scrutiny process.

The Chair to note public address requests.

The public can speak on any agenda item for a maximum of three minutes per speaker per item.  You are not required to register your intention to speak in advance but should arrive at the meeting a few minutes early, complete a Public Address Protocol and notify the Scrutiny Officer of your intention to speak.

There were none.

The Chair confirmed that he had received written documentation from Mr Appleyard, member of the public, regarding some of the town’s cemeteries.  This information would be documented as received and he invited Mr Appleyard to address the Panel on this information at the next meeting under Public Addresses.

Members to state any interests.

There were none.

The Scrutiny Panel to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2017 were signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record.

The Scrutiny Panel to receive a response to its core questions from a variety of expert advisors.

The Scrutiny Panel noted Councillor Hallam’s apologies for attendance of this agenda item. 

Julie Seddon, Director of Environment and Culture and Mick Tyrrell, Contracts Manager, presented the response to the core questions from the Cabinet Member for Environment and highlighted the key points contained within.

Ruth Austen, Environmental Health and Licensing Manager, presented the written brief around Local Authority funerals and highlighted the key points.

The Scrutiny Panel made comment, asked questions and heard:

·         There is a need to ensure that the Policies and Regulations regarding cemeteries are adhered to.  The Scrutiny Panel felt that a potential recommendation of its final report could be that the Policies, procedures and guidance are tightened up and a zero tolerance policy is applied.

·         Should a tombstone become unstable and unsafe, Officers can organise for it to be made safe.

·         The Co Optee referred to the Scrutiny Panel to a cemetery within a local churchyard where the Vicar had given notice that all solar lights and toys must be removed within six months.  If they were not removed by this date, he removed them himself.

AGREED;      That the comprehensive updates are noted and inform the evidence base of this Scrutiny review.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Panel to provide feedback from the recent site visit to a number of cemeteries.

The Scrutiny Panel referred to its recent site visits and the written brief detailing the findings and potential recommendations:

In discussing the findings as detailed above, the Scrutiny Panel felt that the potential recommendation regarding the removal of trees at Towcester Road cemetery should be widened to include the removal of trees at all cemeteries, where appropriate.

It was highlighted that the potential recommendation regarding a key pass for the cemetery in Towcester Road should be widened to emphasise that the key pass is for the use of toilet facilities within the cemetery.

A further potential recommendation was suggested:

Signs be erected in cemeteries “ Dogs to be kept on a leash at all times”  “Please clean up after your dog.”

The Scrutiny Panel felt it would be useful for a potential recommendation to be included within its final report that litter and recycling bins in situ within the cemeteries are replaced with modern bins, where appropriate.

A further potential recommendation for inclusion within the final report was suggested:

“All signs erected within the borough’s cemeteries are of the same style and standard”

and

            “The tops of the vaults are made secure”

The Scrutiny Panel discussed green burials and asked that a briefing note regarding green burials is presented to the next meeting.

AGREED:      That the information is noted.

 The Scrutiny Panel to receive a briefing note detailing various relevant Legislation.

The background information was noted.

The Scrutiny Panel to receive information regarding fees and charges for cemeteries.

The Scrutiny Panel considered the briefing note around fees and charges for cemeteries.  The fees and charges are set by the Local Authority annually.  Benchmarking takes places across the country.

The Scrutiny Panel felt it would be useful for consideration to be given to the building of a crematorium in Northampton and that this would be considered as a potential recommendation for its final report.  The Scrutiny Panel had been very impressed by the crematorium at Kettering which it had visited as part of the scheduled site visits.  It was noted that Billing Road cemetery is closed to new burials.

The Chair requested that the Scrutiny Officer undertakes research regarding price comparisons for burials and cremations from:

            Kettering, Wellingborough and Rugby

This information would be presented to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Panel.

AGREED:      The information on fees and charges is noted and informs the evidence base of this Scrutiny Review.

The Scrutiny Panel to review the Guidance on Cemeteries.

The Cemetery Guidance was noted.  The Scrutiny Panel reiterated that a potential recommendation of its final report could be that the Policies, procedures and guidance are tightened up and a zero tolerance policy is applied.