COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

MEETING OF THE ADOPTIVE ACTS COMMITTEE

PRESENT:       Cllrs: P. Brockwell, M.Coker, G. Harris, M Innes, M. Wellman and

H. J. Woodbridge.

Cllr H. J. Woodbridge proposed that Cllr P. Brockwell should continue as Chairman of the Adoptive Acts Committee. This was seconded by Cllr Harris.

1.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies were received from Cllr Prichard. There were no declarations of interest.

2.  CEMETERY:

a)                  To comment on Burial Conference and agree an action plan - The Chairman went through the hand-out of notes accompanying the agenda. Cllr Woodbridge confirmed that no ruling had been passed by the Government but something may be released this Autumn. The Chairman said that this was preparation for any Government directive as and when it comes. The Clerk was asked to find out where our local Diocese is – Oxford or Reading - before asking if they have published a faculty detailing the correct procedure to lay down dangerous memorials. Cllr Coker said perhaps other religions carry out their own consecration procedures. The way we keep records of the activities in the Cemetery would also have to become a lot more comprehensive. The Parish Council is the land owner in the Cemetery and would be responsible if the next of kin cannot be contacted. It was agreed to continue looking at ways that the following information can be easily recorded:

·       who is in the Cemetery;

·       contact names and addresses of next of kin or powers of attorney;

·       official owners of grave or cremation plot;

·       expiry of exclusive rights;

·       undertaker;

·       stonemason first and second interments;

·       inscriptions;

·       programme of topple testing and photo of each grave.

b)         To review progress on new plants for central border – Cllr Harris has spoken to Vernon Brown and would bring some ideas to the next Committee meeting.

c)         To formally approve the installation of a notice board – Following several incidents at the Cemetery it was agreed that we need to have some contact numbers on site for relatives to call the Parish Council. The noticeboard would also contain basic information about cemetery procedures. It was AGREED that the noticeboard would be waterproof, the size to fit A4 sheets and would be situated near the gate in front of the chapel.

d)         Up-date on progress on new paths and edging – The Chairman confirmed that we had only agreed on new edging for the paths so far. It was suggested to invite contractors to have a look a the cemetery paths and put forward their suggestions for surfaces before formally sending them a tender document. Cllr Woodbridge said that we must have a formal contract. Cllr Harris said that he would investigate crushed stone. Cllr Wellman said that he would visit Bray Allotments to look at their new paths. The Clerk said that she would ring the Clerk at Bray to get the details of their contractor.

3.            CEMETERY CREMATION AREA:

a)                  To explore replacement for grass between stones – It was noted that the large bases under some of the Cremation tablets were making the paths too narrow and making the rows uneven. It was very difficult for the contractor to cut the grass in this area hence an alternative option to grass should be looked at. Cllr Innes said the problem with bark was that it would not stay in place. Pebbles were also possible but would change the character and rural feel of that part of the Cemetery. It was agreed to put this topic on the agenda for the next Committee Meeting.

4.    CHAPEL: 

a)         To discuss cleaning contract – Both the Clerk and the Chairman felt that the Chapel had not been cleaned properly for some time. It was AGREED  to explore the options for getting the Chapel cleaned at the times people wish to use it rather than having an ongoing service that simply was not good enough.

5.   LIGHTING:  

a)                  To report any lights out or flickering – The light on the junction of Westwood Green was a query for the Clerk to sort out with SEC.

b)                  To respond to letter from SEC re: unit 22 at Odney Lane – This light is in the garden of the Dower House and has been the subject of debate some years ago when SEC said it should come down. Dr and Mrs Phillips, the owners of the Dower House wanted the light to remain unchanged. It was AGREED that Cllr Innes would visit the owners to ask them if they wished to have the light disconnected; Cllr Brockwell would check the maintenance schedule to see how ofter SEC have had to do maintenance on the light and the Clerk would write to SEC with the results of this information.

6.   MEMORIALS:

a)                  Progress report on grant requests and action taken for seat behind Tarrystone in Odney Lane – The Clerk had no further news on the various grant requests sent off. The Chairman had some success in her investigations on the seat at Odney Lane. The seat was celebrating the life of Pilot Officer Michael Featherstone Briggs who died on 2^nd April 1941 and is buried in the Cemetery. His family lived in Walnut Tree Cottage in Sutton Road but have since moved away from this area. There is a lengthy inscription on the chair that is no longer readable the Chairman would like to contact the family to see if they have a record of what it says. In the meantime the Clerk would contact some stone masons to get quotes for cleaning the seat.

The meeting closed at 9.05pm