COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of an Extra-Ordinary 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, S. Fairlie, G. Harris, A. Hay,

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

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Cllr M. Innes joined the meeting late after attending a meeting of the Pinder Hall Management Committee. There were no other apologies or declarations of interest.

1.      TO RESPOND TO THE LATEST CORRESPONDENCE FROM RBWM AND THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY RE: LULLEBROOK BRIDGE:

Cllr John Stretton reminded the Councillors that the sum of £5,000 had already been agreed and passed by the Parish Council towards the cost of the new bridge. If we objected to being part of the project, we could lose our integrity after such a long negotiation period. He said the £5,000 was in the Reserves and should be paid as agreed. Cllr A. Prichard said he had no problem with paying the original sum of £5,000 or 5%, whichever is the lesser, but he was nervous about committing the Parish Council to an on-going maintenance programme. The Chairman said even though RBWM now agree that they may be the owners, we must retain an interest in Lullebrook Bridge and Odney Common for which we charge filming companies to use. Cllr Saintclair-Abbott proposed that the Parish Council should write to the Environment Agency to confirm the payment of £5,000 without prejudice and to inform the company that we were in negotiation with RBWM regarding the issues of ownership and maintenance contributions. Cllr Coker said the £5,000 should give us an interest for the future. Cllr Saintclair-Abbott’s proposal was seconded by Cllr Barnes and AGREED unanimously.

2.      TO APPROVE THE PRECEPT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2005-2006:

The latest tabulations of the budget for the next financial year were circulated with the agenda. The Finance and General Purposes Committee recommended an precept request of £54,000 to cover the financial needs of the Parish Council. Cllr H.J. Woodbridge proposed to accept this sum, this was seconded by Cllr Prichard and AGREED unanimously. Cllr Prichard also recorded thanks to Cllr Wellman, Chairman of the Finance Committee, and the Clerk for their work in preparing these figures.

The Meeting closed at 8.50pm