Keyworth Churchyard

As reported in the Parish Council's August 2011 newsletter in the Keyworth News, Keyworth churchyard, in the centre of the village, is now officially closed for further burials, and, in 2011, as permitted by the Local Government Act, the Parochial Church Council passed on responsibility for maintenance to the Parish Council which, in turn, at its meeting on 27th June 2011, decided to pass on responsibility to Rushcliffe Borough Council, the decision being made on the basis that the Borough Council has the resources to deal more effectively with certain maintenance issues.

The Borough Council will charge back £3970 to Keyworth annually (equivalent to around £1.49 annually for a Band D property) as a special expense appearing as a separate item on council tax demands, and we understand that this will cover the cost of grass cutting twelve times per year, tree work, pruning, weed control, and gravestone safety inspections.

It should be borne in mind that, if the Parish Council had not passed on this responsibility, there would, in any case, have been an impact on council tax via the Parish Council precept.