Issue - meetings

The following motion on Chatty Benches has been proposed by Councillor Chris Clarance, seconded by Councillor Alex Hall and supported by the requisite number of Members within the procedural rules.

Background

Teignbridge offers places and supplies memorial benches for relatives wanting to commemorate those who have passed on. This is able to take place when a person donates money to Teignbridge which includes a sum of money to have it looked after for a period of 20 years. Shaldon in general has many of these benches including all along Marine Parade (20 benches plus 5 vacant spots where benches fallen apart once were) and in parks and places all over Shaldon and indeed throughout the District.

Chatty Benches initiative

Chatty Benches is where existing or newly installed benches have a sign on them that shows by sitting on them, a person is happy to chat with whoever comes and sits next to them.

Chatty Benches is a national initiative, and signs have been installed in various locations across the Country in a bid to combat loneliness and isolation. For those who are feeling lonely, or needing to talk, Chatty Benches are a great way of encouraging people to connect with others.

Proposal

Mental Health encompassing depression and loneliness is something I would like to highlight and to try to leave a better legacy over in my time of being a Councillor and to give people the opportunity of being less lonely in life whilst alive.

I would like to propose an addition to the Memorial Benches scheme to allow people who want to donate a bench be given the opportunity of not only having a memorial plaque placed on the bench, but having it painted a different one colour (Yellow is the nationally recognised colour for Chatty Benches) and the additional words “Chatty Bench” written on the plaque or on a separate plaque.

So in effect anyone choosing to sit on such a bench is expected to be engaged in conversation by a total stranger and in effect vice versa. This is nothing new, there are other Councils within the UK that make much the same provision, and I feel it would be nice for Teignbridge to adopt such a scheme leading the way in this area.

I for one would like to do this, by providing such a bench, on behalf of a deceased neighbour who back in October 2024 passed away aged 99, who admitted to my wife Sally, who cared for her for over the last two years of her life, that before this she had been so lonely in life.

The Motion asks that the Council resolves to:

1. Introduce an addition to the Memorial Bench scheme to allow for residents who wish to donate a memorial bench to have it painted a different colour to make it stand out and include a ‘Chatty Bench’ plaque to encourage people using the benches to talk to each other to promote the reduction of isolation and loneliness.

RESOLVED

The Motion be approved:

The Council introduces an addition to the Memorial Bench scheme to allow for residents who wish to donate a memorial bench to have it painted a different colour to make it stand out and include a ‘Chatty Bench’ plaque to encourage people using the benches to talk to each other to promote the reduction of isolation and loneliness.