COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

 Minutes of a Meeting of the

 COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

PRESENT:            Cllr H. J. Woodbridge (Chairman); M. Wellman (Vice Chairman).

Cllrs. M. Barnes, M. Brar, P. Brockwell, M. Coker, G. Harris, A. Hay, M. Innes,

D. Ricardo, S. Saintclair-Abbott and J. Stretton.

1.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs S. Fairlie, R. Piercey and A. Prichard. There were no declarations of interest.

2.      MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING:

The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 4^th May 2004 were agreed and signed as a correct record with no amendments.

3.      COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 11^th May 2004 were circulated and duly received with no amendments. There was one matter arising from Cllr Ricardo who mentioned that no representative had been appointed for the FRAG committee. The Chairman said that these groups were not always Annual Appointments and he would put it on the agenda for the next Full Council Meeting. The Minutes of the Footpaths & Open Spaces Committee held on 18^th May 2004 were circulated and received with no amendments.

4.  REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES:

1.      Cllr M. Coker did not go to the Governors’ Meeting at Cookham Rise School but he spoke to the Governors’ Clerk about Re-constitution and was informed that there would be no change before 2006.

2.      Cllr H.J. Woodbridge and Cllr G. Harris attended the Rural Parishes Forum and listened to presentations on Rights of Way and Planning Obligations. It was noted that only two Parish Council attended this Forum. Apparently approx. £950,000 has been taken by RBWM in Developer’s Contributions and some of this is from Cookham. It was impossible to estimate how much was due to us.

Cllr Woodbridge felt that the “goal posts” were continually moving as to controlling which projects qualified for funding. There was nothing new in the presentation only that the monies must be allocated in reasonable time. Also the developers are entitled to ask where the money has been spent. The Rights of Way presentation gave details of the RBWM Consultancy programme to improve footpath and leisure facilities. Cookham Parish Council was highly praised for the on-going footpath maintenance programme. Cllr Brar said that Councillors can put items on the agenda for the Rural Parishes Forum up to twenty-four hours before the meeting.

5.            QUESTIONS UNDER STANDING ORDERS 24/26:

1.                  Cllr G. Harris asked for better sign-posting for lorries approaching the Cannondown Railway Bridge and better divert signs around Whyteladyes Lane.

6.            FINANCE:

On the proposition of Cllr. H.J. Woodbridge, seconded by Cllr M. Wellman, the cheques as listed on Page 890 were passed for payment in the month of May. Cllr Brockwell was not happy about paying Phillip Holdford’s bill for monthly maintainance of the Cemetery. The Clerk said that Mr Holdford’s contract was on the agenda for the Adoptive Acts Meeting next Tuesday.

7.            BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORT:

Cllr Ricardo said that the Little Marlow sewage tunnel had now been finalised from Little Marlow to High Wycombe. The surface drain was due to arrive in September. There was a lot of confusion at the Strategic Railway Association meeting. Ideas for the future running of the local railway were withdrawn when people heard details about the responsibilities involved! Cllr Ricardo also said that the Clerk was doing the Environment Agency’s Flood Relief Action Plan. Cllr Brar said that RBWM thinks the Community Support Group for FRAG should continue and a representative from Parish Council and Borough Council level should be appointed for all the wards affected from flooding. Meetings will be at least every six months.

8.  PRESENTATION OF THE PARISH COUNCIL LEASES:

The leases belonging to the Cookham Parish Council were made available at this meeting.

9.  REQUEST TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE BENCH IN MEMORY OF Cllr DICK ARTHUR:

Cllr Arthur’s widow, Stippell, has written to the Parish Council to donate the bench she has erected at Station Parade in memory of Dick. The Councillors voted unanimously to take care of the bench and to include it as a parish asset.

10.              CONSIDER OFFICE EQUIPMENT NEEDS: 

Due to the problems that the Clerk has been experiencing with the photocopier, a replacement was discussed. It was agreed to monitor the present copier as the Clerk has a new toner cartridge installed in the machine and another replacement cartridge on order to replace the faulty one. CD Writers were also discussed and the Clerk would do some more research in order to purchase one at a reasonable price between £50 - £70. The use of a laminator was discussed and the Clerk was asked to present more prices to the Finance Committee on this before going ahead. Cllr Coker asked the Clerk to get RBWM to link up the scanner which could then be used with the printer as a back up for if the photocopier should fail again.

11.              CHAIRMAN’S SUBMISSIONS: 

The Chairman mentioned the Terms of Reference guidelines that Cookham Parish Council had voted to adhere to back in 1999. The Terms of Reference state no more than five Committee members along with the Chairman and Vice Chairman should sit on the Parish Committees. Therefore the appointments made at the Annual Meeting on May 11^th were illegal and the minutes must be rescinded. To do this, the Chairman was calling an Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting to take place on 8^th June before the Adoptive Acts Committee Meeting. The Chairman also mentioned the Community Partnership meeting to discuss Parish Plans. Cllr Coker said that he would attend on behalf of the Parish Council.

12.              CORRESPONDENCE:  A list of correspondence and periodicals received during the month of May was circulated with the agenda. These were available in the Parish Office for Councillors’ perusal.

The Meeting closed at 9.40pm.