COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

 FOOTPATHS & OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE

PRESENT:            Cllr G. Harris (Chairman) Cllrs: M. Barnes, A. Prichard, A. Hay, M. Wellman and H. J. Woodbridge.

In attendance: Cllr P. Brockwell and Andrew Streat (Maidenhead Advertiser).

1.                  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS: Apologies were received from Cllr S. Saintclair-Abbott. There were no Declarations of Interest.

2.      ALFRED MAJOR GROUND:

a):        On-going care and upkeep of recreation field: Cllr Wellman spoke of some sunken ground on the Alfred Major where the path finishes. The Chairman said he would look in to it. The Clerk asked from some assistance to replace the missing signs – because they are missing it is difficult to know what to replace them with!

b):        To discuss request for vandal-proof football nets and a donation towards them: Firstly the donation would have to be referred to the next meeting of the Finance and Generals Purposes Committee. The Committee did not know whether vandal-proof nets were available to buy on the market. The general view was that they had no problem with nets being used on the junior goalposts but health and safety dictated that the nets would have to be put away over night. There were also no fittings on the goalposts therefore hooks would need to be fitted. The Committee RESOLVED to have no objection to nets being used on the Alfred Major but would ask for a guarantee that someone would be responsible for putting the nets away every night.

3.      FOOTPATHS:

a):        To review any footpaths or stiles in need of urgent maintenance: The Clerk had contacted Nick Clark RBWM re: the broken plank at Lea Farm FP25. Cllr Harris had carried out a temporary repair but the stile would need urgent attention. The Clerk was asked to ensure that this stile was repaired and if not carried out urgently she would contact Sheila Holden at RBWM.

b):            RBWM request to add FP62 to the Parish Path Maintenance Schedule: Cllr  Wellman queried the number of new footpaths we had been asked to add to our programme. This was the third one to date (FP48 and FP42 being the others) and our request for more money had been turned down. Cllr Barnes asked how thorough the initial tidy up would be. It was AGREED to request notification of the tidy up and if the path was presentable to add this to our schedule.

4.      SECTION 106 FUNDING FOR CCTV:

a)                  To review quote from GCD and sample CD’s from site visit:  The Committee’s view was that this was a very professional and detailed quote. Cllr Prichard queried the ten year maintenance contract as GCD had only quoted on a two year contract. The third estimate was due soon as a site meeting had been held earlier today. The Police had also promised a contribution of up to £1,000. Cllr Woodbridge queried whether we would present all three quotes or just one. Cllr Wellman said that we select our preferred quote to present to RBWM. It was RESOLVED to ask James Fox at RBWM  for guidance as to what happens next in the bid to secure some of this 106 funding.

5. CORRESPONDENCE: (Information only) A letter from Thames & Chilterns in Bloom Association concerning next year’s competition was circulated to all on the Committee.

The Meeting closed at 8.05pm.