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Decision details
Maidstone Cemetery - Supervisor's house disposal
Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Environment (Cttee),
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
To consider the freehold disposal of The Supervisor’s House and garden (the property), at the Maidstone Cemetery.
Decision:
1.
That the property, as shown on the plan set out at
Appendix Aof the report of the Assistant Director of Environment
and Regulatory Services, be declared non operational.
2. That the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment be given delegated authority to place a public notice pursuant to Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 in respect of the disposal of open space and that any objections or representations which might be received in response to the advertisement be considered by me.
3. That the final decision on disposal be made when the property has been advertised as a disposal of open space and any representations have been considered.
Reasons for the decision:
The
property is located adjacent to the cemetery car park and access is
currently via the main entrance gates to the cemetery. The property
has an extensive garden and the rear boundary wall backs onto
Pheasant Lane with another boundary adjacent to the cemetery
grounds.
The
property was originally provided as an on site residence for the
cemetery supervisor. The supervisor retired approximately ten years
ago, but remained in the property fulfilling a gate locking duty.
The property is now vacant and the gate locking duties have been
absorbed into the general operation and management of the site and
there is no specific need identified for an on-site
employee.
The
building is a Hawthorn Leslie steel
framed detached house with an integral garage. These buildings were
developed in the mid 1960’s and are basic in design and in
quality of construction. The cemetery house is not in a good
condition and it would require considerable funds to bring it up to
an acceptable modern condition and this is considered
uneconomical.
Consequently, as there is no operational requirement for the property, it is considered that disposal of the property's freehold by way of a private treaty arrangement would be the best option at the earliest opportunity to avoid any on going maintenance issues, subject to the following.
1. The consideration of any response to a Section 123 (Local Government Act 1972) public notice advertising the intention to dispose of public open space.
2. Appropriate consents for the disposal/demolition being obtained.
3.
The production of a development brief.
It is envisaged that any development brief would include the demolition of the house and consideration for a number of dwellings to be built on the available land and for access to be achieved via Pheasant Lane or by realigning the main entrance to the cemetery.
Alternative options considered:
The
property occupies land that adjoins the cemetery and one
alternative for its use would be to demolish the house and
integrate the land holding into the cemetery to provide burial
space in the future. The potential
future demand for grave space at the cemetery has been reviewed and
based on the present usage trends and the number of available new
grave plots indicates that there is a minimum of fifty years space
available. There is also the likelihood
that within this time frame burial legislation will change due to
the acute shortages experienced, especially in the London boroughs,
to allow other ways to extend the use of the current land bank in
cemeteries therefore removing the need for burial authorities to
provide more ground for burial in the future. It is not considered
necessary, or appropriate, at this time to secure the land for
future burial use.
Currently there is a wooden site hut located in the cemetery
close to the main entrance and car park. This hut is used as the base for the Maidstone
Borough Services ground staff working in the cemetery. The hut provides very basic facilities and does
not have any mains drainage. Upgrading
this facility, or providing an alternative, would be desirable
although this is estimated to cost in excess of £50,000.
However, it is not considered that the Supervisor’s house
would be a suitable alternative due to the problems reported above
and the potentially high cost to undertake the necessary
upgrading.
Wards Affected: (All Wards);
Details of the Committee: Cemetery burial records – held in the Bereavement Services office at the Vinters Park Crematorium.
Contact: Email: timjefferson@maidstone.gov.uk.
Report author: Tim Jefferson
Publication date: 10/06/2011
Date of decision: 10/06/2011
Decided: 10/06/2011 - Cabinet Member for Environment (Cttee)
Effective from: 18/06/2011
Accompanying Documents: