Agenda item

A)  COVID-19 Regulations – Crematorium

It was moved by Councillor Strutton,

Seconded by Councillor Wright,

“Council notes that the Covid-19 regulations in place limit the number of people allowed to attend crematorium services and funerals are an especially difficult time for residents and their families. Allowing families to carry coffins aids in the grieving process and makes the ordeal easier, rather than the funeral directors carrying out the task; and

Council therefore resolves to -

·  Provide clear and up to date information around the rules regarding what is permissible for the ceremony. The current regulations allow the congregation to bear their deceased relative from the hearse into the chapel and placed on the Catafalque, providing those bearing the coffin live in the same household.

·  Allow family members to carry the coffin from the car to the trolley with gloves on, and wheel it into the service; as long as family members from the same bubble are wearing the appropriate PPE, and the numbers of people are limited to comply with the current regulations.

·  Immediately address the lack of recording facilities in crematoriums and ensure all services are recorded by the Council, so that family and friends can join the funeral virtually.”

It was moved by Councillor Mann, as an amendment,

Seconded by Councillor Swindlehurst,

“Council notes that the Covid-19 pandemic has been an extremely difficult time for residents and families who have suffered bereavements and that government regulations in place for crematorium services and funerals have the potential to add to this difficult time for residents and their families.

Council therefore resolves to –

·  Continue to provide clear and up to date information around the Governments rules regarding what is permissible for the ceremony on the Council’s website at http://www.slough.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/coronavirus-and-births-marriages-and-deaths.aspx

·  Continue to advise funeral directors (while noting that they are private business making their own health and safety decisions) that family members are currently permitted by government guidance to carry the coffin from the car to the trolley with gloves on, and wheel it into the service; as long as family members from the same bubble are wearing the appropriate PPE, and the numbers of people are limited to comply with the current regulations.

·  Immediately install live streaming facilities in Slough crematorium with a planned start date of  December 7, so that family and friends can join the funeral virtually.”

The amendment to the motion was put to the vote and agreed unanimously and became the substantive motion.

The substantive motion was put to the vote and agreed unanimously.

Resolved -

Council notes that the Covid-19 pandemic has been an extremely difficult time for residents and families who have suffered bereavements and that government regulations in place for crematorium services and funerals have the potential to add to this difficult time for residents and their families.

Council therefore resolves to –

·  Continue to provide clear and up to date information around the Governments rules regarding what is permissible for the ceremony on the Council’s website at http://www.slough.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/coronavirus-and-births-marriages-and-deaths.aspx

·  Continue to advise funeral directors (while noting that they are private business making their own health and safety decisions) that family members are currently permitted by government guidance to carry the coffin from the car to the trolley with gloves on, and wheel it into the service; as long as family members from the same bubble are wearing the appropriate PPE, and the numbers of people are limited to comply with the current regulations.

·  Immediately install live streaming facilities in Slough crematorium with a planned start date of  December 7, so that family and friends can join the funeral virtually.

B)  Commonwealth Veterans  

  It was moved by Councillor Mann,

Seconded by Councillor Ajaib,

“This Council recognises the tremendous role Slough residents, including those from Commonwealth countries, have played in our armed forces and the great sacrifices made by all our armed service personnel.

Council therefore calls upon the government to immediately grant the right for commonwealth veterans, who have a served a minimum of 4 years, the legal right to remain in the UK and British citizenship for any veteran who completes 12 years service and waive any fees.”

A prior request having been made for the record of the voting:

There voted for the motion:

Councillors Ajaib, Akram, Ali, Anderson, Bains, Basra, Bedi, Begum, Carter, Chaudhry, A.Cheema, H.Cheema, Dar, Dhaliwal, Gahir, Hulme, Mann, Matloob, Minhas, Mohammad, Nazir, Pantelic, D.Parmar, S.Parmar, Plenty, Qaseem, Sabah, A.Sandhu, R.Sandhu, Sarfraz and Swindlehurst…………31

There voted against the motion:

Councillor Smith…………………………………………….…………….………. 1

There abstained from voting on the motion:

Councillors Kelly, Strutton, Wright and The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Brooker…………………………………………………………..…………………..4

Resolved –

This Council recognises the tremendous role Slough residents, including those from Commonwealth countries, have played in our armed forces and the great sacrifices made by all our armed service personnel.

Council therefore calls upon the government to immediately grant the right for commonwealth veterans, who have a served a minimum of 4 years, the legal right to remain in the UK and British citizenship for any veteran who completes 12 years service and waive any fees.