A REQUEST by cemetery staff for a clothing allowance to meet the costs of the smart suits they have to wear when carrying out statutory funeral duties was rejected by Tavistock town councillors last week.
The workers are required to dress smartly when identifying coffins or directing undertakers to the correct grave at the Plymouth Road cemetery.
Tavistock Town Council?s staffing sub-committee was asked to consider paying a lump sum of £200 to cemetery employees for the purchase of appropriate clothing, or paying a daily allowance of £5 to compensate for wear and tear to the workers? own clothes.
Members voted unanimously to recommend refusal of any clothing allowance.
Cllr Betty Batchelor, chairman of the sub-committee, said staff at the graveyard should not have to wear suits as long as they were presentable.
?As long as someone is neat and tidy, I don?t think a suit is necessary in this day and age,? she said.
?The attitude towards funerals has changed over the years, and it seems to be generally a less sombre occasion these days, celebrating a person?s life.?
Cllr Norma Woodcock said: ?My own feeling is that the cemetery supervisor and his deputy, who carry out these duties, should be formally dressed, but I would question the need for a suit.?
The matter will now go before full council for a final decision, and further discussions regarding cemetery staff clothing will take place at a future date to be set.