Council to erect £850 chalet for flower vendor at cemetery

The council’s Director of Operations Geraldine Girvan told members that the existing contract with the vendor had been “put in place a few years ago with the option for two twelve month extensions.”

Cllr John Scott said he was “more than happy” to extend the contract. However, Cllr Billy Webb said he didn’t see why the rate payer should be paying £850 for the chalet.

Alderman Mark Cosgrove said that charging an annual rental fee of £125 for the chalet would be reasonable and would be “recovered very quickly.”

“If what we purchase is robust enough for 10-25 years and we get £125 per annum and officers were happy that would work I would second that,” he concluded.

However, Cllr Webb said that he didn’t think it was “fitting” to have a “garden shed stuck in the middle of a cemetery.”

“If the flower seller has been there some time and requires an extension I don’t see why they can’t continue. It isn’t going to look well in any cemetery,” he said.

Responding to a query from Cllr Anne-Marie Logue, Ms Girvan said that the flower seller would need to have their own insurance and that there was currently a legal agreement in place with the flower seller.

Ald Cosgrove seconded Cllr Scott’s proposal that the Council provide a chalet at a cost of around £850 plus installation, subject to an annual fee of £125. A 12 month extension to the existing contract was approved.

The motion was carried by 22 votes to nine.