Agenda and minutes

Councillor Greer (vice chair in chair) welcome all members and officers to the Committee.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Lee David Sanders Councillor Peter Fallart attended as a subsitiute, Councillor Elif Erbil who Councillor Hass Yusuff attended as a substitute, and Councillor Susan Erbil.

Members of the Council are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests relevant to the items on the agenda.

Councillor Yusuf declared that he represents the ward that Sloemans Farm is in.

To review the Cabinet decision taken on 13 October 2021 as a result of the matter having been Called-in.

The response to Call in reasons is not attached to the agenda and will be circulated “to follow”.

Councillor Laban introduced the call in and made the following key points:

·         It was felt that the proposals for the cemetery focused on income over provision for burial space

·         Sloemans Farm has not had a proper use for a number of years

·         The Sloemans Farm site only came third in the assessment for burial space provision

·         The report does not consider that the Council is not required to provide burial space.

·         Transport links to Sloemans Farm are inadequate – there are no direct bus routes, pavements to walk would need to be resurfaced/created, there is a lack of street lighting for residents.

Councillor Caliskan responded by making the following points:

·         A technical assessment was completed and found that there was a need for additonal burial space in the borough

·         A soft consultation of residents found there was a demand for additonal burial space in the borough

·         There is a moral obligation to meet the needs of deseased residents in the borough which is important to their loved ones

·         The first two sites in the assessment conducted have been marked to be used for agriculture.

·         The proposed burial site will be subject to receiving the appropriate planning permissions which would require a transport plan to be proposed.

·         The current lease on the site has come to an end so it is a good time to redevelop the site

Members of the Committee then asked the below comments and questions:

·         Using Sloemans Farm as a burial ground will provide for residents in decades to come.

·         All residents in the borough have a need for burial sites

·         There was a level of reassurance by the references in the report which relate to Firs Farm. It was noted that Firs Farm wetlands would not have been included as a burial site if it was selected.

·         It was questioned by planning permission was not granted before the decision was. Advice from legal was sought before the decision was made by Cabinet. There is a cost of resources to seek on advice on planning.

·         By meeting the need for burial sites in the borough it reduces the need for other afterlife provision requirements in the borough.

·         Concerns were raised about risk management in relation to transport facilities and street lighting by the proposed site.

·         It was asked why it was important for local authorities to own and manage after life provisions. Councillor Caliskan advised that that Sloemans Farm is already owned by the Council, so to find a site outside of the borough would be an additional expense as this would have to be brought/leased. Enfield Council have a large amount of experience in managing cemeteries.

·         Concerns were raised about the amount of distance from Crews Hill Station to the site. Transport for London have not placed a bus stop near the site currently as there is no need for one. This would change if there was a burial site there. There is a long lead in time for this proposal which would allow footpaths and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Business Meeting

Thursday 25 November 2021

Business Meeting

Wednesday 1 December 2021