COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

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

Cllrs. P. Brockwell, M. Coker, S. Fairlie, G. Harris, A. Hay, M. Innes, R. Piercey,

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

1.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Barnes, Brar and Stretton. There were no Declarations of Interest.

2.                  MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING: The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 4^th January 2005 were circulated and approved as a correct record with one amendment. One Page 006, 2^nd line, “Sergeant Becks” should be “Commander Becks”. The Minutes of the Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting were agreed with no amendments.

3.                  COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Minutes of the Footpaths and Open Spaces Committee meeting held on 18^th January 2005 were circulated and duly approved with no amendments. There were no Matters arising.

4.  REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES:

1.         Cllr A. Prichard attended a Governors Meeting at Holy Trinity Primary School.

2.         Cllrs Prichard and Harris attended the Parish Conference and notes had been circulated to all Councillors. One of the topics at the Conference was transport and Cllr Prichard confirmed that the bus service from Cookham Dean to Maidenhead was due to finish at the end of March. There was some discussion on this because the Cookham Dean bus is well used and several Councillors had been approached. Cllr Iles at RBWM said that the service had to go due to budget restrictions from the Government. However, Cllr Iles said that there was money available to subsidise the service if volunteers could be found to run it. Cllr Prichard asked Cllr Ricardo to find out why the Cookham Dean service had been targeted. The Clerk was asked to write as soon as possible to ask RBWM to reconsider their decision and to emphasise that it was a well-used service that would be sorely missed. Cllr Coker suggested we ask RBWM to subsidise an outside body to provide the service such as the Post Office. Cllr Saintclair-Abbot queried what the shortfall was between providing a subsidy to a volunteer and actually running the service.

3.         Cllr M. Coker attended a Governors Meeting at Cookham Rise School as a Community Governor. He said that 106 funding was due to be given to the school as soon as the new houses in Maidenhead Road are started. He also mentioned that the school would involve the children and their parents in having a say on the future strategic plans for the Cookham villages.

4.      Cllr M. Innes attended a meeting of Pinder Hall Management Committee. He said the floor was due to be refurbished in August.

5.      Cllr G. Harris attended a Governors Meeting at Cookham Dean Primary School.

5. QUESTIONS UNDER STANDING ORDERS 24/26:

There were no Questions asked.

6.            FINANCE:

On the proposition of Cllr P. Brockwell, seconded by Cllr M. Wellman, the cheques as listed on Page 021 were passed for payment in the month of January.

7.            BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORT:

Cllr Ricardo had little to report other than the drainage works in Cookham High Street was ready to go to tender.

8.         TO RESOLVE THE COUNCIL’S TOTAL FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS TO LULLEBROOK BRIDGE: Cllr Ricardo read letters from previous Clerks, Amy Dixon and Joan Hill, and requested that the gate should be included in all plans to re-construct the bridge. Cllr Wellman said that the Parish Council should strive to remain in its current financial situation ie: £5,000 reserved towards the new design of the bridge with no current commitment to maintenance. Cllr Woodbridge said that the Parish Council needed to retain an interest in the bridge and the right to vehicle access for general maintenance. Cllr Saintclair-Abbott advised caution. He said that we cannot have a controlling interest without paying. He advised entering into negotiations with RBWM where we pay for access over the bridge. Cllr Harris reminded the Councillors that Cookham Parish Council currently accepts money from filming companies to use Lullebrook Bridge and Odney Common. Cllr Prichard proposed that we write a statement confirming our commitment to pay the sum of £5,000 towards the refurbishment of the existing bridge. (The word refurbishment should be underlined as there is some confusion with a new bridge. The current proposals are to refurbish the old bridge with new decking and sides but using the original piles.) Cllr Saintclair-Abbott added to the proposal to say “Without Prejudice” and that we should negotiate a “peppercorn” rent to cover intermittent vehicular use of the bridge. This was seconded by Cllr M.Innes on the condition that the gate was included in the £5,000. This was AGREED on a unanimous vote and the Clerk was requested to write to RBWM and the Environment Agency to inform them of our official position.

9. TO APPROVE DATE FOR MEETINGS FROM MAY 2005 – MAY 2006:  The draft of dates for Council meetings had been circulated with the agenda. Cllr Wellman thought that the Council could do with two Planning Meetings during August to avoid a situation where comments are not returned in time. It was RESOLVED that the dates would be accepted with the revision of dates in August to allow for a Planning Meeting on 9^th August and Planning and Adoptive Acts Committee Meeting on 23^rd August 2005.

10. TO APPOINT A COMMITTEE TO INTERVIEW CANDIDATES FOR CLERICAL ASSISTANT: Cllrs Brockwell, Innes, Prichard and Wellman would be available during the day for interviews. Cllr Saintclair-Abbott and Hay would be able to attend evening interviews. The Chairman and the Clerk would also attend.

11. TO PERMIT THE CLERK TO USE OLD DRAWINGS TO ENTER THE TRINITY FESTIVAL’S GUYS AND DOLLS EVENT: The Clerk wished to enter this village event on behalf of the Parish Council. She wished to use the old, out of date blueprint drawings stored in the vestry to make a figure possibly resembling a Parish Councillor! This would be an important way to support the Trinity Festival and the Clerk reminded the Councillors that some of them would be asked to judge the winners. Permission was granted.

12.            CHAIRMAN’S SUBMISSIONS: 

The Chairman mentioned the DALC meeting on 17^th February at Sheet Street, Windsor. Cllrs Prichard and Saintclair-Abbott would attend. Cllr G. Harris wished to attend the RBWM meeting on Anti-Social Behaviour on the same night. The Chairman also reminded all Councillors to review the Register of Code of Conduct at the Parish Office to bring them up-to-date.

13.            CORRESPONDENCE:

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

The Meeting closed at 9.20pm.