Health, news
Broxewe Borough Council, Milan Radulovic (Brox Alliance)
By Lauren Monaghan, the reporter of the Junior's local democracy
The chairman of the Broxowe Borough Council says that he is “annoyed” and “insulted” by the funeral service of his own authority about his attitude to changes in the cemetery rules in the district.
The Council's cabinet met yesterday (June 3) – as a report in which future guidelines for serious tribute posts were proposed in the regional cemeteries.
The topic has caused controversies and protest since October 2024, as a survivor, a petition began in response to a decision by the cabinet in July 2024, which led to “unofficial environments” that were removed from some graves in cemeteries.
The reason for this decision was based on maintenance difficulties, health and security and because the rules already existed but had not always been enforced.
Since then, the cabinet documents from 2009 have confirmed the rules, but the mourning service updated its forms for “announcements of the internment” in 2023 in order to consider prohibited serious objects such as fences, bed linen, vases, windmills, glass and alcohol.
The controversy led to the leader of the Council, Cllr Milan Radulovic (Brox Alliance), in which the rules in October 2024 incorporated a 12 -month cancellation of the rules and set up a working group with affected families in order to find “common sense” approach for rules.
Since then, updated rules have been developed and the council has been transferred – but the grief service of the council suggested a rejection of them.
This should be discussed in yesterday's session.
In the new rules, dangerous objects should be removed from all graves, but say that the diagrams bought before August 2023 remain similar and the tribute objects bought after this date are approved within 2.5 feet from the front edge of the tombstone.
In cabinet documents, the grief service rejected the new rules and said that some were “not acceptable”.
It is said that there were reports of people with visual and physical disabilities that feel disabled by decorative objects.
In a document it says: “The Council has accidentally weakened its own position by granting a 12-month expansion for the removal of decorative objects and commemorative grines despite clear, well-documented health, safety and accessibility risks in connection with the associated well-documented risks.”
At yesterday, the Council decided to delay the discussion and to vote on a later date that has not yet been confirmed -so that council members, civil servants and families go through reports.
In response to the funeral service, the advice of the council said that his position “weakened”, the chairman Milan Radulovic told the local democracy reporting service that he “completely refuted” the proposal – and criticized the mourning services.
It is unusual that chosen municipal councils publicly criticize the measures of the unnecessed council employees in their own authority.
Cllr Radulovic said: “In fact, I'm upset about it [the report]. We are not there to represent the establishment to the people, we are there to represent people for the establishment.
“I am extremely annoyed about it and feel insulted by him personally.”
The deputy leader, Cllr Greg Marshall (Brox Alliance), repeated CLLR Radulovics 'anger'.
CLLR Marshall reacted to the proposals of the mourning service to reject the plans of the collaborative group for grave items: “We do not think that the balance think [within the rejection report] it's right. We are also a hearing advice on other questions.
“We want to ensure [the public] are listened to completely. If we simply go through a tick box exercise, it reflects us badly. “
In a joint statement, those affected and involved in the cooperation with the cooperation: “We are obviously disappointed that a decision was not made at today's meeting.
“This next month will continue to be full of stress and concern for all of us, as in the past few months.
“However, we respect that the cabinet wants more time to take into account all information provided, and we hope that the right decision will be made as a result.”
The council's funeral service was contacted for further comments.