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, R. Piercey, A. Prichard, D. Ricardo, S. Saintclair-Abbott and

J. Stretton.

1.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr S. Fairlie. There were no Declarations of Interest.

2.                  MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING: The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 7^th December 2004 were agreed and signed as a correct record with several  amendments. On page 983, item 4, number one, Cllr M. Innes also attended the special DALC meeting to discuss the latest Flood Maps issued by RBWM. On Page 984, item 4, number 3, Cllr M. Coker wished to change the words “Cookham Resident” to “Committee Member”. On Page 985, item11, Cllr D. Ricardo wished to delete the word “Approve” from the topic title for the Cookham Bridleway Circuit. The Chairman refused to change the title of the topic as this was the recorded item on the agenda. Cllr Ricardo also asked to change the last line of the minutes on this topic from “approve this Bridleway for public use” to “discuss this Bridleway for public use”. This was agreed. There were no Matters arising.

3.                  COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Minutes of the Adoptive Acts Committee meeting held on 14^th December 2004 were circulated and duly approved with no amendments. The Minutes to the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on Tuesday 21^st December were approved with several amendments. On Page 995, Cllr M. Coker queried whether the topic discussed under Section 66 should have been on a separate page. This was confirmed by the Chairman and the Clerk asked to make the necessary alterations. On Page 996, item 4, seventh line, the minutes should read: “Vote: IN FAVOUR = 3, AGAINST = 3, ABSTENTION = 3. The Chairman used his casting vote against the motion. Cllr Woodbridge asked for a named vote. Those IN FAVOUR = 3 (Cllrs Woodbridge, Stretton and Coker), AGAINST = 3 (Cllrs Wellman, Prichard and Barnes), ABSTENTION = 3 (Cllrs Brockwell, Piercey and Harris).” The second named vote should be deleted from the Minutes. There were no Matters Arising.

4.  REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES:

1.         Cllr A. Prichard reported that he had received a letter from the Head Girl at Herries School inviting him back to see the bulbs in the Spring.

2.                  Cllr M. Innes attended a meeting of the Pinder Hall Committee and said the floor was due to refurbished in the Spring and the office space adjacent to the Hall was available for let. Cllr A. Prichard requested a public telephone to be installed at the Hall.

5. QUESTIONS UNDER STANDING ORDERS 24/26:

Cllr Stretton was reminded that questions must be with the Chairman or the Clerk five days before the Council Meeting. There were no Questions asked.

6.            FINANCE:

On the proposition of Cllr A. Prichard, seconded by Cllr P. Brockwell, the cheques as listed on Page 007 were passed for payment in the month of December.

7.            BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORT:

Cllr Ricardo said that he was still waiting for a report on the recent FRAG meeting that took place in Staines. A new Chairman was also needed for this Committee. A report from the Environment Agency was also awaited on the flooding situation in Cookham. It was due approx. April/May. Cllr Prichard queried the position regarding the flood wardens. Cllr Ricardo said that Cookham’s flood warden was Mr McGee but was unsure what responsibilities he actually had. Cllr Ricardo was asked to resolve this with RBWM.

8.         TO APPROVE JOE STONEMAN AS CONTRACTOR FOR PATH EDGING PROJECT AT COOKHAM CEMETERY: Cllr Brockwell said that the work was quite large and would take place over the next two years. The Adoptive Acts Committee considered three quotes: Cookham Builders at £4949.00 plus vat; Garden Tech at £5645 and from Joe Stoneman at £4730. Cllr Ricardo queried the lengths of the paths and said that Cookham Builders were cheaper than Joe Stoneman at £9.90 per metre. He was informed that Cookham Builders’ quote adds a cost for the actual edging of £1641 or £4760 to the price per metre making them substantially more expensive. Cllr Prichard queried whether the money was available. Cllr Wellman said that £2,500 would be available this year and the Adoptive Acts Committee would reserve a similar amount for next year. It was RESOLVED to approve Joe Stoneman to do this work based on the quality of his recent projects for the Parish Council. Cllr Saintclair-Abbott voted against this decision on the grounds that the figures did not add up.

9.                  TO REQUEST A FULL ACCOUNT OF POLICING IN THE PARISH OF COOKHAM WITH ALL RELEVANT FACTS AND FIGURES:  Cllr Saintclair-

Abbott was responding to various requests by the public about the quality of the policing in Cookham. In order to give a considered opinion, Cllr Saintclair-Abbott wished to conduct a fact-gathering exercise . Cllr Prichard said he was delighted to back this

initiative. It was generally acknowledged that crime is on the increase even though Commander Becks refuses to admit it. Cllr Woodbridge mentioned the Parish Conference last year when he had asked for figures and to date had received no reply. It was mentioned that PC Les Bullion used to work closely with the Parish Council giving monthly statistics. Cllr Coker said that he was tired of being told that a Community Safety Council was being set up, he said “We want cameras that work and feet on the beat”. Other comments on the CCTV cameras were made but Cllr Saintclair-Abbott said that the Council must not be distracted by other factors. He said this was simply a data-gathering exercise in order to form an opinion of the Policing in Cookham. The Parish Council voted unanimously IN FAVOUR of this.

10.            CHAIRMAN’S SUBMISSIONS: 

The Chairman mentioned the Parish Conference on 20^th January and the deadline for items. Cllr Ricardo wanted to put topic on Community Railways on the agenda but Cllr Saintclair-Abbott said that there was no actual proposal on the table as far as the railway operators were concerned. The Clerk was asked to try to find out what plans the Railway operators may have in mind. Cllr Prichard asked for a topic on ‘Flood Wardens – what progress have RBWM made?’ to be put on the Parish Conference agenda. The Chairman ended the meeting by reminding Councillors that their duty is to represent the view of the electors.

13.            CORRESPONDENCE:

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

The Meeting closed at 8.50pm.