Agenda item

            (Ms. F. Holdsworth, Principal Parks and Cemeteries Services Manager, and Mr. J. MacFarlane, Bereavement Services Manager, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“Relevant Background Information

      Memorialisation is the term used to describe a scheme whereby families can purchase a type of commemoration after the death of a loved one, which contains wording.  Some types of memorialisation can include the provision for the disposition of cremated remains within the memorial.

      The Memorial Tree Scheme introduced in 1977, was very popular and successful, meeting the needs of families who wished to purchase a tree in Roselawn Cemetery in memory of their loved ones.  Cremated remains could also be buried at the trees.  Since 1977 over 11,000 memorial trees have been purchased.

      Other memorial schemes on the site have been introduced.  These are a commemoration in the Woodland Memorial Copse including an inscription on a stone, memorial seats and an entry in the Book of Remembrance.  In 2002 a columbarium was introduced for the disposition of cremated remains for a 10 year lease.  Thereafter the lease may be renewed or the remains scattered in the ‘Garden of Remembrance’.

Key Issues

      Currently there is no space for further memorial tree planting, although as new sections of the Cemetery are developed in the future, it is hoped to identify small areas for the establishment of memorial trees. Meanwhile, it is estimated that by October there will be no more memorial trees left for allocation at Roselawn

      To ensure that we meet the needs of families for memorialisation on the site there is a need now to provide additional methods to those already listed.

      An investigation into a range of alternatives has been undertaken by the Bereavement Services staff and it is proposed to provide the following range of options and let the public choose the memorial type most suited to their family wishes.  The new options proposed are

·         a memorial stone book

·         a stone desk top memorial

·         a basilica memorial.

      The existing columbarium which was built in 2002 has had only 3 niches allocated which is known to be partly due to the short 10 year lease for purchasers.  This issue also needs to be addressed and it is proposed that the lease is extended to 25 years.

Resource Implications

      Financial

      The costs of installation are as follows

·         the memorial stone book will cost approximately £7,500

·         the stone desk top memorial units cost £387 each, 20 units would be installed initially at a cost of £7,740

·         the basilica memorial units cost £421 each, 20 units would also be installed initially at a cost of £8,420

The proposed charges for the new memorials are

·         £250 per plaque for the memorial stone

·         £750 for the stone desk top memorial units to include interment and engraving of a plaque 

·         £850 for the basilica memorial units to include interment and engraving of a plaque

The charges for the existing memorialisation are

·         £53 for a Book of Remembrance two line entry

·         £298 for the Woodland Memorial Copse memorial engraving

·         £357 for a memorial tree and plaque

·         £567 for a colombarium niche with plaque, this is for the current 10 years and if agreed for a 25 year lease

·         £850 for a memorial seat

      It is projected that income from charges will offset the initial investment.

      Human Resources

      The staff on site will install the memorial units.

      Asset and Other Implications

      A contract will be set up with a monumental sculptor for the engraving of the plaques and tablets on the stone book, stone desktop memorial and the basilica. Arrangements are already in place for the supply and engraving of the tree plaques, stands and columbarium tablets.

Recommendations

      It is recommended that the Council agrees to the installation of the new proposed forms of memorialisation at RoselawnCemetery and that the lease on all columbarium niches is extended to 25 years.”

            After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendation.