Bereaved families who have been in a battle over a council’s proposal to impose new rules on their loved ones’ graves say they are relieved after the dispute came to a conclusion.
Broxtowe Borough Council had been proposing to put in place restrictions on memorial items on graves across its cemeteries due to health and safety and maintenance reasons, but the planned changes prompted significant concerns.
The dispute over whether family members should be allowed to place memorial items and gardens on graves has been ongoing since October 2024, when those impacted started a petition opposing the planned tribute restrictions.
Council leader Cllr Milan Radulovic called a 12-month suspension on all rules to determine a “common sense” approach, but families have been left in limbo ever since due to a number of delays.
The battle came to a conclusion at a meeting of senior councillors on Tuesday (3 February), where new rules, and amendments tabled by families, were approved.
It was agreed that memorial items on all new graves must be placed within one metre of the headstone plinth.
• Memorial rules proposed for Broxtowe cemeteries
Meanwhile, the families managed to get a compromise passed for older or reopened graves, which will not be required to adhere to the new one-metre rule for tribute items and will be allowed to remain as they are.
The council also agreed to hold discussions with families over increasing the number of celebration days, during which a small amount of additional decoration is allowed, including for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
The families said they were “relieved” and happy with the amendments.
In a joint statement, they said: “We would like to thank the Broxtowe Alliance, Independent, and all other councillors who have supported us over the past 15 months, and we are happy that this issue has now been resolved.
“Although some compromises have had to be made, we hope that the new cemetery rules and guidelines will ensure that grieving families have more flexibility in how they choose to remember and honour their loved ones.
“We intend to stay in contact with council and cemetery staff throughout the implementation of these recommendations, and in the long term to maintain the working relationships we have built throughout this process.
“It’s been a long-winded process, but hopefully lessons have been learnt, and we have shown that it is possible to make a difference and have your voice heard when you are passionate about a local issue.”
A set of “common sense” rules – allowing items within reason – were originally set to be decided in June 2025, but this was deferred to allow more time for discussion between the council and families.
However, a final decision was delayed for the second time in six months following a deferral by the cabinet in December, after council officers failed to complete an equality impact assessment – a tool used to avoid discrimination against people with protected characteristics.
Lindsey Collins, whose son Josh Collins died in 2021 at the age of 19 and is buried in Beeston Cemetery, said at the time that she had no trust in the council and considered exhuming her son for cremation due to the “constant battle”.
Cllr Radulovic said he felt “badly let down by officers” following the delay.
The proposed amendments prompted concern from Cllr Philip Owen (Con) at the latest meeting because the amendments diverged from what officers had previously said was acceptable.
He said: “Has the assistant director of environment had the opportunity to look at and comment on these amendments, along with the health and safety officers of this council?
“If cabinet and council agree to recommendations and ways of working which are not fully signed off by the health and safety professionals, then in the event – and it may be an unlikely event, I accept – that there is an accident or injury, members of this council could potentially be liable to legal action.”
Deputy leader of the council Greg Marshall (Broxtowe Alliance) said: “I’ve personally had a detailed discussion with the head of service, particularly around the operational instructions for strimming, and indeed risk assessments and a risk log for this activity at cemeteries. I’ve been assured, and indeed the head of service is assured, that the proposals within the report will not contradict health and safety advice.”
Cllr Marshall said that while the equality impact assessment had raised some concerns over accessibility, “the number is low and they will be mitigated on a case-by-case basis”.
Cllr Marshall thanked the families, who form part of the Friends of Broxtowe Cemeteries group, for “conducting themselves with nothing but dignity”, and the proposals were unanimously approved by the cabinet.
The dispute started back in October 2024 in response to the council proposing to start removing and disposing of tributes from council-run cemeteries in January 2025.
Documents confirmed that rules were in place since at least 2009 and prohibited items, such as fencing, bedding plants, vases, windmills, glass and alcohol, were mentioned in cemetery rules in 2019 and 2023.
However, impacted families previously said the authority only updated its ‘Notice of Interment’ forms in 2023 to highlight which items were prohibited, leading to confusion over the rules.
The council’s original reasoning for the removal of tribute items was due to maintenance difficulties, health and safety, and because the rules already existed but had not always been enforced.
