Committee Report: Cemeteries - Regulation of Ground Anchor Fixings for Memorials
Report to: |
Cabinet |
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Date: |
16 November 2006 |
Subject: |
Cemeteries - Regulation of Ground Anchor Fixings for Memorials |
Report of: |
Chief Executive, Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust & Assistant Chief Executive, Wigan Council |
Contact officer: |
Stuart Murray - 01942488555 |
Purpose/summary: |
To seek approval to a proposed new regulation that will be applied to the fixing of all headstones/memorials installed in the Borough’s municipal cemeteries |
Alternative options considered and reason for selecting the one recommended: |
Voluntary compliance has only been partially successful. Only regulation will ensure full compliance to an appropriate standard of fixing. |
Recommendation/decision: |
Cabinet is recommended to:- 1. approve the introduction of a new regulation that will require all masons operating in the municipal cemeteries to use the National Association of Monumental Mason’s (NAMM’s) ground anchor fixing specifications, with effect from 1 January 2007. 2. amend the Wigan Council General Cemetery and Crematorium Regulations and Management Rules Section (28) – all memorials must be fixed to National association of Memorial Masons (NAMM) approved ground anchor systems |
Key Decision: |
This report does not involve a key decision The decision made as a result of this report will be published within 48 hours and cannot be actioned until five working days have elapsed after that (making a total of seven working days after the meeting) i.e. before 28th November 2006. |
Implications: |
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Financial: |
No additional costs |
Staffing: |
None |
Policy: |
None |
Equal Opportunities - Has a Diversity Impact Assessment been conducted? |
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Wards affected: |
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Special Interest Members – Which have been consulted |
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Tracking/Process:
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Consultation |
Ward Members |
Partners |
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Panel |
Overview & Scrutiny |
Cabinet |
Council |
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16th November 2006 |
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There are no Background Papers to this Report within the meaning of Section 100D of the Local Government Act 1972.
Proper Officer |
Rodney F Hill Adrian Hardy |
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Date |
16th November 2006 |
1.0 Introduction
1.1 National concern about the safety of headstones and memorials in cemeteries been an issue for several years. It was last highlighted in June 2004, the Health and Safety Executive issued a letter to Local Authorities further attention to how authorities should approach the issue, having first raised it in 1997. The letter cited some 21 serious accidents, including 3 fatalities, in the five years prior to 2004.
1.2 While there have been very few recorded incidents in Wigan, headstone is being managed through a process of inspection by cemetery staff. last recorded accident related to a falling memorial in Wigan was in 2003
1.3 The Council has a Duty of Care to keep the cemeteries safe for the visiting public, although the headstones themselves are the property of private. The testing of headstone stability and the subsequent remedial is therefore a potentially sensitive issue.
1.4 One of the reasons that headstones can become unstable is the quality of the that connect the vertical headstone to the horizontal foundation. Historically these have been of high quality and durability, although the older the memorial, the more risk of decay. In more modern times the quality of fixings have become more variable and therefore even modern and relatively small memorials can become unstable.
2.0 The Way Forward
2.1 The erection of headstones and memorials within the cemeteries has always been covered by the Cemetery Regulations. Headstones and memorials have to comply with Wigan’s guidelines, and a permit is required before memorial masons can carry out the work requested by the owner of the Burial Rights on a particular grave plot.
2.2 In order to improve the quality of work relating to headstones and memorials , the council introduced a registration scheme for memorial masons in 2003. This has been a big step forward, but following consultation with the registered masons, there is a consensus that a compulsory requirement for approved ground fixings would be beneficial.
2.3 The National Association of Memorial Masons has published a set of approved specifications for ground fixings. These relate to five height bandings for headstones, although there are many variations due to the number of different manufacturers involved. It is proposed to require compliance to these specifications for all new headstones/memorials - there will be no be retrospective requirement.
3.0 Recommendations
Cabinet is recommended to:-
3.1 Approve the introduction of a new regulation that will require all masons operating in the municipal cemeteries to use the National Association of Monumental Mason’s (NAMM’s) ground anchor fixing specifications, with effect from 1January 2007.
3.2 Amend the Wigan Council General Cemetery and Crematorium Regulations and Management Rules Section (28) – all memorials must be fixed to National association of Memorial Masons (NAMM) approved ground anchor systems