Minutes of Meetings

Held in the Community Room on Tuesday, 5^th October 2004, after the Planning Meeting at 7.30pm.

Cllrs. M. Barnes, M. Brar, P. Brockwell, M. Coker, S. Fairlie, G. Harris, M. Innes,

In attendance: Cllr M. Cubley (RBWM), Andrew Streat (Maidenhead Advertiser) and Charles Watts (Maidenhead Express).

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr A. Hay who said that he did not receive his agenda. There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman requested permission to bring forward item 8 on the agenda as Cllr J. Stretton was not well and wished to leave the meeting after this discussion.

8. TO CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR TRAFFIC SPEED CONTROL OVER COOKHAM MOOR AND HIGH STREET: Cllr Stretton said that recently a policeman with a radar gun had stopped countless motorists from speeding across the Moor and through the High Street. He suggested several ways to bring the motoring speeds under control – speed cameras, road humps such as in The Pound or a permanent Speed Indicator Device (SID) such as the ones on the road to Henley. Cllr Wellman said that the first step was to compile the statistics first such as two strips across the road to record the traffic speeds. This was AGREED however Cllr Saintclair-Abbott had reservations about interrupting the flow of traffic.

2. MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING: The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 7^th September 2004 were agreed and signed as a correct record with one amendments. On Page 935, item 6, Cllr Ricardo wished to change “either side of the Causeway” to “eastern side of the Causeway”. There were no matters arising.

The Minutes of the Footpaths and Open Spaces Committee held on 21^st September 2004 were circulated and duly approved with two amendments. On page 942, item 2a should be changed from “protective metal bar” to “protective wooden bar”. On page 943, item 4a) should read Village in Bloom and not Gardens in Bloom. There were no matters arising.

1. Cllr A. Prichard attended a meeting of the Cookham Shopkeepers for the Xmas Shopping Day. Only one trader from Cookham Rise was taking part. Cllr Prichard also attended a site meeting with GCD to discuss CCTV for the Alfred Major. A demonstration of the equipment would take place on Monday evening at the Alfred Major to show the performance of the cameras day and night.

3. Cllr S. Fairlie attended two meetings of the Patients Participation Group and she mentioned a coming event entitled, “Get it off your chest”.

4. Cllr M. Coker attended a Governors meeting of the Cookham Rise Primary School. He mentioned the school cat Nero who had recently died. He also said that Cookham Rise School had adopted the Constitution and that he was continuing on the Board of Governors as a Community Governor rather than a Parish Council representative.

5. Cllr M. Innes attended a meeting of the Pinder Hall Management Committee and the next project was to refurbish the kitchen and floor.

1. Cllr D. Ricardo asked the Clerk to write to RBWM to find out what has happened to the Cookham signs that used to be on Cookham Bridge.

2. Cllr D.Ricardo asked for the Clerk to receive the Minutes from the meetings of the Marsh Meadow Management Committee.

3. Cllr M. Coker asked whether it was possible to move the sandbags from the school yard.

4. Cllr A. Prichard asked Cllr Ricardo to explain his actions on paper regarding the Copas planning application for a farm shop and the Borough Planning panel.

On the proposition of Cllr M. Innes, seconded by Cllr M. Wellman, the cheques as listed on Pages 951 were passed for payment in the month of September. Cllr Harris requested that Mr Linegar’s receipts for the two allotment payments are split to show the £25.00 paid for rental of the paddock and the £7.50 for his allotment at Cookham Dean.

Cllr Ricardo said that the AMACO barrier had been partly removed. Cookham High Street had its sewers jetted but it was not successful as the High Street flooded two days later. The works at Strande Lane were on schedule. Cllr Ricardo had also attended a meeting regarding repairs to the Causeway Bridge. Cllr Brar reported that the parking bays on Lyndhurst Avenue were almost finished and the parking scheme for Whyteladyes Lane was not yet finalised but residents would be consulted.

It was AGREED that, although Cookham Parish Council was not required to have a representative on this organisation, the Chairman was quite happy to meet the Mayor of St Benoit during their visit in October.

10. COUNCIL OPINION ON LIFTING OR LEAVING THE RESTRICTED WATER FLOW AT THE WEIR AT FLEET BRIDGE:

Cllr Ricardo said that the water had been drained from Cockmarsh and the Weir resulting in two dead trees near the war memorial. He said that the ditches on Marsh Meadow showed that the water table was 6ins down even when the river was in flood. Marsh Meadow should be marshy and the area of Special Scientific Interest was now a muddy pool. Cllr Saintclair-Abbott did not agree that the water table in Marsh Meadow was low. He said that the river would drain into the water table, as water always seeps to the lowest level. He said that perhaps we should try to find out the environmental effects of the bund. It was RESOLVED to ask the Environment Agency for a site visit to talk about the possible effects of the Maidenhead bund and the level of the water table.

11. CHAIRMAN’S SUBMISSIONS: Volunteers were asked to lay a wreath at the two war memorials on Armistice Day. Cllr Prichard volunteered for Cookham village and Cllr G. Harris for Cookham Dean. It was also mentioned that the British Legion wish to place a bench near the memorial at Cookham Dean. The Clerk would endeavour to find out who owns the land around the memorial.

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