Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 November 2024, be received and approved as a correct record.

Ashlea Montgomery, the Council’s Team Leader for Improvement and Change presented the report and advised Members that a project was currently underway by Neighbourhood Services to review and update the Council’s Cemeteries and Memorials Strategy.

Within the District of Ashfield, six cemeteries and seven closed churchyards were currently being maintained by the Council.  These were listed and information was provided in respect of the total areas of land being maintained which included the Council owned existing buildings on site, the trees, paths, roads, site boundaries, drainage, water services and waste management.  Formal grounds maintenance and grass cutting was undertaken as part of maintenance duties alongside burials and reopening of graves across all sites as required.

Members were asked to note that since publication of the agenda, new information had been received by officers and the projected life of Sutton Cemetery was in fact 17 years and not the 2 years as stated.  In addition, the lesser 7 years for Hucknall’s cemetery was due to the high water table in the area and the inability to bury more than one level deep.

The Council’s Regeneration and Commercial Development Team had also recently been requested to explore cemetery land expansion options to ensure the required needs of the Strategy for the future, could be met.

Committee was advised that maintenance of the sites was costing the Council £233,271 per annum (the total cost being £503,271 with an offset income generation of £270,000).  Key factors impacting the ongoing cost of maintenance were detailed as follows:

·         The transfer of closed Churchyards from the Diocese to the Council was increasing maintenance demand.

·         Existing cemetery space was depleting in key areas across the District, resulting in a need for expansion to cater for growth and demand

·         The income generated was not enabling the Council to attain and provide a self-financing service.

To enable the Council to refresh the Cemeteries & Memorials Strategy and build an increased service, offer and provision, Members considered the following proposals:

Chapel Services – to consider re-opening on-site Chapel(s) for use by the families of the bereaved to hold small local services (closed during Covid pandemic).

Tree Planting – to consider operating a scheme whereby the deceased ashes are mixed with fertiliser and a tree seed or young tree is grown using the

material. The trees are then later planted into open spaces at designated sites or locations.

Woodland Burial Site – to consider offering an ‘ECO Burial’ either on a woodland site or as part of the onsite tree planting.

Ashes Internment – to consider offering a wider range of options for ashes interment including urns stored in a columbarium, urn headstone, interment walls, memorial gardens, etc. The Council currently only offers burial as an interment option.

Kerb sets – to consider offering single grave plots that allow for kerb sets but restricted to certain sections of the cemetery.

To conclude, Members were advised that the Neighbourhoods Team, with support from Policy and Performance officers, would be submitting the draft Strategy to  ...  view the full minutes text for item PS.16

Committee to receive an update on the Council’s participation in the No Mow May Campaign in 2024.

David Marriott, the Council’s Green Space Manager, gave a presentation to Members in respect of the Council’s contribution to the 2024 No Mow May Campaign.

Aim of the Project

To help support biodiversity by giving a much needed boost to wild plants, insects and other wildlife throughout summer and to provide support for the start of the grass cutting season.

Benefits to Supporting the Campaign

Additional signage had been installed to inform residents/visitors to the District and different types of flora had flourished to help support the biodiversity of the area.  From a service perspective, the break had allowed the Green Team to catch up on work from the statutory bank holiday breaks resulting in the generation of positive feedback from residents.

Lessons Learned

Local residents/visitors were still not overly aware of the No Mow May Campaign, and it became evident that there had been insufficient communication and planning with stakeholders and community groups.  The locations for the campaign could have been conveyed to Members at an earlier stage to enlist valuable insight and feedback as to location selection.  Some residents had complained about unkempt grass.

Recommendations for the 2025 Campaign

1.  To facilitate an appropriate public awareness campaign in good time prior to the No Mow May Campaign in 2025

2.  To include a survey questionnaire to Ashfield Matters Magazine to engage public feedback in respect of the Campaign.

3.  Earlier engagement with Members to enable site suggestions with subsequent approval of locations as required.

4.  To consider incorporating non-residential locations in the 2025 Campaign.

Potential Sites for 2025

Highways – A611, A608, A38.

Council owned sites:

Summerfield open space – Kirkby in Ashfield (Old Play Area)

Sutton Lawn (Micky’s Field)

Selston Country Park (1st Tee)

Kingsway Park, Kirkby in Ashfield

Acacia Recreation Ground, Annesley Woodhouse

Titchfield Park, Hucknall (next to the brook).

Wildflowers - Idea for Expansion

Sewing wildflowers would enable Council sites to provide extended seasonal support to biodiversity and enhance some existing open spaces.  It would also give the Council’s cutting teams the opportunity to improve service delivery without additional costs or resources.

Following the presentation Members spent time discussing the outcomes from the Council’s contribution to the 2024 campaign including some suggestions for improving the 2025 Campaign, as follows:

·         to include Spider Rec, Quarrydale Road, Skegby to the list of potential sites for inclusion in the 2025 Campaign

·         concerns as to why the introduction of maze grass cutting at earmarked locations (as approved by Cabinet for the 2024 campaign) did not happen

·         to include Wharf Green at Jacksdale to the list of potential sites for inclusion in the 2025 Campaign

·         acknowledgement that the bigger locations earmarked for the 2025 Campaign would be having pathways cut through to enable visitors/dog walkers etc. to continue to use the green spaces as required

·         a suggestion to contact local landowners within the District to see if they would wish to participate in the 2025 Campaign to run alongside the Council’s contributions

·         the importance of ensuring all Members are  ...  view the full minutes text for item PS.17