Purpose

Approval to adopt Memorial Safety Policy

Decision

Decision:

To adopt the Memorial Safety Policy, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

Reason(s):

The Council has a statutory obligation to test the safety of and, where required, carry out works to make safe memorials within its closed churchyards and cemeteries. It is the expectation of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that burial authorities have a memorial safety policy outlining their safety programmes in order to demonstrate compliance with memorial safety legislation. The HSE has enforcement responsibility for all cemeteries apart from those located in (closed) churchyards for which the local authority has enforcement responsibility

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

The Executive does nothing; it does not adopt the policy. It is the expectation of the HSE that burial authorities have a rolling safety programme and definitive policy in place to demonstrate compliance regarding memorial safety obligations. If the organisation does not have an approved policy in place, it cannot demonstrate compliance and leaves itself open to significant financial, legal and reputational risk should an injury or fatality occur.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.