East Bergholt Parish Council
Burial Grounds Committee Meeting
Minutes of Meeting
Thursday July 24
th
2025

In Attendance

Cllr. M Hurley (Chair)
Cllr. N Roberts
Cllr. R Smith
Cllr. J Miller
Cllr. R Allen

Meeting opened at 7pm

Public session: No members of the public present, session closed and meeting
commenced.

1. Welcome & Apologies for Absence: noted that Cllr. P Dent was absent from the
meeting, committee also welcomed newly co-opted Cllr. R Smith to the committee.

2. Minutes: Minutes were circulated, proposed by Cllr. M Hurley seconded by Cllr. N
Roberts, unanimous approval to accept the minutes from the past meeting.

3. Matters arising: Cllr. J Miller brought to the council’s attention that in regards to the
digitisation project the company(s) which were tasked to produce the final product still
have not completed the addition of colour coding following the request from the clerk’s.
It was noted that two systems of records were still being used due to this, Cllr M Hurley
& Cllr R Smith agreed to touch base with the clerks to have an update/look at the
digitisation project and to ensure that one record is being kept and to also chase up
on the colour coding system.

4. Memorial Trees: A report was passed to the committee by the assistant clerk with
the prospect of a ‘Memorial Tree’ a metal feature for the cemetery in which people
could rent out leaves engraved with their loved ones’ names, Cllr. M Hurley put forward
his initial thoughts, although there is a prospect of this venture generating income the
total of £11,000 is still a tremendous amount of money to put down, these comments
were followed by a unanimous view from Cllr. J Miller & Cllr. N Roberts that going by
the images provided a large metal tree would not be in keeping with the look of the
village cemetery, it would stick out. A proposal was made to decline any further action
& discussion around this idea proposed by Cllr. J Miller & seconded by Cllr. N Roberts,
vote taken and passed unanimously.

5. Potential Coffin Restriction: Following the discussion of an “American Casket” being

buried in the cemetery, discussions emerged around the lasting effects these caskets
may have and if they continue to be placed in the cemetery in the future, after seeking
advice from the custodian of Mistley Cemetery and Manningtree funeral directors
although these are uncommon, they do require a great deal more work, a deeper hole
and much larger mound of dirt, the following proposal was made by Cllr. J Miller to
“refuse The American Style of casket from the cemetery on the grounds of both space
and potential hazard after burial” seconded by Cllr. R Allen, vote taken and passed
unanimously. It has also been noted that Clerk & Assistant Clerk may update the
method of burial site plotting, Cllr. M Hurley to follow up.

6. Urgent Communications: None received.

Meeting Closed at 7:19pm