Agenda item

Joint Report of the Director of Open Spaces and the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee received a joint report of the Director of Open Spaces and the Director of the Built Environment detailing a proposal to develop a programme to enhance the churchyards in the City.

The Committee noted that the churchyards were historic open spaces and had

collective significance as a cultural asset. They formed the setting for the

numerous listed churches and ancient monuments and were essential places for workers, visitors and residents to rest and enjoy. Many were popular green spaces, however, others were underutilised, uninspiring and in need of improvement.

The establishment of the Churchyards Enhancement Programme would address the

need for improvements to the churchyards in order to support the Future City, and individual projects would then be initiated and progressed through the City’s project gateway process as usual.

In response to a question concerning the financing of individual projects, and whether churchyards were actually part of the public realm or the responsibility of the Diocese, the Committee was advised that it was envisaged that projects would be funded from a variety of sources including CIL, the Diocese and grants.

A member also commented that the churchyards should be non-smoking.

Resolved – that Members approve the initiation and development of the

Programme utilising £85,000 from the CIL Public Realm and Local Transport Improvements pot.