5.8 Memorabilia
All of the following apply to graves and any memorial item leased by the Council (rose trees, trees, vaults, benches etc). The City Council aims to have a consistent and uniform look to its cemeteries, graves should be grassed and free from unauthorised memorabilia.
5.8.1 The planting of any type of trees or shrubs in the cemetery grounds is totally prohibited by the Council. The deed holder will be asked to remove these at their own expense and dispose of away from the cemetery. Failure to remove growing items within 28 days when requested could result in the Council removing them and the costs being passed onto the grave owner.
The Council will permit right/lease holders to plant small bedding plants in the margin area at the head of the grave, but the Council cannot be held responsible for damage caused by such.
5.8.2 The Council will uphold and maintain the grounds and cemeteries under any statutory provision.
5.8.3 The lease holder shall not, without written consent of the Council, position any unsightly items or memorabilia upon the site. If this occurs, the Council will write to the deed holder requiring that such items be removed within 28 days, after which, if they have not been removed, the Council will remove and store them away from the grave awaiting collection. If after a reasonable amount of time (a further 28 days) the items have not been collected they will be disposed of. This includes (but not restricted to) ornamental fencing, kerb sets, stone chippings, religious symbols of any type or material, glass flower vases/containers, or any other container deemed inappropriate to the cemetery situation (jam jars, milk bottles etc.). Any alcoholic beverage shall be immediately removed by the Council without notice being given. The City Council is not responsible for the reimbursement of costs for any items deemed as ‘unauthorised memorabilia’ which are damaged accidentally whilst carrying out cemetery management duties, this includes items disposed of following written requests to remove.
5.8.4 The deed holder/ lease holder remains solely responsible for damage or loss of any items, tablets or planting material. The City Council recommends suitable memorial insurances are taken out as security and/or CCTV does not exist within the Cemeteries. (Eastern Cemetery has very limited CCTV coverage but not of memorials or burial areas).
5.8.5 Memorial Wreaths placed upon a grave at Christmas will be removed on or after the third Monday in January.
5.8.6. At the Priory Road cemetery, no marker or other items are permitted on the natural grave area. Should any items be left, they will be removed without prior notification. At the Priory Road cemetery, ornamental fencing, kerbs, glass flower vases/containers, unapproved markers that are left at memorials or on graves in the lawn areas, will be removed without prior notification.
5.8.7. Baby Cemeteries Priory Road, Northern and Eastern Cemetery, should such items as ornamental fencing, chippings, vases, planting, gifts, pictures, ornaments or other unauthorised markers or items be left on the graves, they will be removed without prior notification. For new baby burial areas, grave deeds will be issued and grave owners expected to follow the rules and regulations herein.