WOLSTON, BRANDON & BRETFORD 
JOINT BURIAL COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD AT THE OFFICE OF WOLSTON PC AT 7.30PM ON THURSDAY 9th AUGUST 2018

JBC 20.2018 Present
Councillor Mr Graham Wale (Chairman)
Councillor Mr Timothy Harvey-Smith (Vice Chairman)
Councillor Mr David Cross
Councillor Mr Robert Grainger
Councillor Reverend Iain Rennie
Councillor Mr Peter Wilson
Mrs Juliet Carter (Clerk)

Members of the public in attendance: None

JBC 21.2018 Apologies
It was resolved that an apology for absence from Councillor Mrs Mary White be accepted.

JBC 22.2018 Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting held on 31st May 2018, having been circulated to the Committee members, were proposed by Councillor Mr Timothy Harvey-Smith and seconded by Councillor Mr Robert Grainger to be a true record.  This was unanimously agreed, and the minutes were then signed by the Chairman, Councillor Mr Graham Wale accordingly.

JBC 23.2018 Matters Arising

i) JBC 4.2018 Grass
A new contract had been set up with Lakeside who were currently carrying out the grass cutting well, though the grass has hardly grown in the dry weather.

ii) JBC 4.2018 Conifers
The conifers on the graves of Mr & Mrs Wischusen and Mrs Montford had been removed.

iii) JBC 4.2018 Whisky bottle
The clerk had written to Eric Healey's daughter but received no response.  It was agreed to remove the whisky bottle.

iv)  2: 4.2108 Paving Stones
It had been reported that the granite setts at the front of the cemetery had become loose and some had been vandalised and thrown aside. It was agreed that the Wolston Parish Council Lengthsman should be asked to re-concrete the setts.  There are some spare setts in the Wolston Parish Council compound.

v) 3:7.2018 Bins
The Chairman had found some cheaper litter bins, and details had been circulated.  It was agreed to order five new bins, in green, type Pickwick Victoriana, from Tudor Environmental @ £139.00 each plus VAT.  The Chairman will arrange payment, collection and installation.

JBC 24.2018 Dogs 
It was noted that RBC had regulations prohibiting dogs running free in cemeteries and churchyards and the clerk will pass this information on to the vicar at St Margaret's regarding the churchyard there.

JBC 25.2018 TREASURER’S REPORT August 2018
It was agreed that the clerk would circulate a Treasurer’s report that has been redacted to remove names of living people to members of the Committee: Councillor Mr Robert Grainger, Councillor Mr Graham Wale and Councillor Mr Tim Harvey-Smith.

JBC 26.2018 Memorial
Applications for an additional inscription for Mr Bull, & new memorials for Brenda Montford & Paul Sullivan were unanimously approved.

JBC 27.2018 Leaning Headstones
There will be a working party on Saturday 20th October at 10.00 am at the cemetery.

JBC 28.2018 Exclusive Rights & Interment
     	 reserved ashes plot parishioner		£300.00	
Janet CAMPBELL parishioner new grave previously reserved 7 O  Grimmett & Timms
Patrick Frederick James KENNEY re-open grave non-parishioner 10G £600.00 Rugby Co-op

JBC.29.2018 Clerk's salary
It was agreed to put the clerk's salary as an agenda item for the next meeting and make an interim payment for two months' salary of June & July, based on the time sheet submitted.

JBC. 30. 2018 Unconsecrated Ground
The clerk explained the background. Originally when the land in the cemetery was consecrated, a quarter was left unconsecrated.  Some of this unconsecrated land had been taken up for burials, especially amongst traveller families, but there is still a large part remaining.  This was the portion of the cemetery which Mr Payne had claimed was a burial site for blitz victims from the Coventry raids of November 1940, but subsequent investigations by the Coventry Archaeological Society using ground penetrating radar had shown no evidence of burials.  However, Councillor Mr Robert Grainger had said that RAF aerial photographs taken in 1946 had shown ground disturbance and raised ground, indicating a burial.  The Bishop could consecrate the area concerned, for a fee of £175 plus VAT.  A map showing the area concerned would be needed.  Councillor Mr Robert Grainger said that there was a legal requirement for cemeteries to delineate areas of unconsecrated ground.  It was agreed that the Committee pursue due diligence in this matter and make every effort possible to find out if there were any burials in this section of the cemetery.  It was therefore agreed to consult the Burial Committee's minutes book for the 1940s to see if there was any mention of a mass grave and to this end Councillor Mr Robert Grainger will look at the records in the County Record Office in Warwick, when he and Miss Brenda Stone visit the office shortly.  It was pointed out that if there was indeed a mass grave, then the ground would need to be consecrated anyway.  It was agreed to put the matter on the agenda for the next meeting, when a decision could be taken after the investigations.  Councillor Mr Robert Grainger wished to abstain on this matter.  

JBC 31.2018 Date of Next Meeting
Thursday 25th October 2018 at 7.30 pm at the Wolston Parish Council Office in the Baptist Chapel.

The meeting closed at 8.45 pm.