Minutes of Main Council

Held in the Community Room on Tuesday, 10^th January 2006, after the Planning Meeting, at 7.30pm.

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

In attendance: Cllr M. Cubley (RBWM), Andrew Streat (Maidenhead Advertiser), Antony Quarrell (Maidenhead Express) and one member of the public.

Apologies were received from Cllrs Stretton and Saintclair-Abbott. There were no Declarations of Interest.

Cllr Coker requested item 8 to be brought forward on the agenda. There were no objections to this.

8. TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PARISH COUNCIL WISH TO SUPPORT THE PARISH PLAN AND TO DETERMINE A CONSULTATIVE PROGRAMME FOR THE COUNCIL TO PRESENT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY: Cllr Coker said that it was necessary for the village to complete a Parish Plan but the project must be done properly. Cllr Coker had spoken to the local schools with the aim of getting the kids and parents involved. However the task was to involve every aspect of the village including: Medical Groups; Sports and Social Clubs; Church Groups; and many more. Cllr Brar said that we could use local events to promote the Parish Plan. Cllr Prichard asked who would collate the project and the Chairman stated that the Clerk should not be asked to do the work. Cllr Prichard said that the Council should seek the expertise of a Consultant but other Councillors felt that this would be too expensive. The Chairman said that we need the Steering Group in place before any funding could be applied for. He suggested appointing a small Committee to work on recruiting a Steering Group. Cllr Wellman said that an advert could be place in the Maidenhead Advertiser to invite interested groups to get in touch. It was proposed by Cllr Fairlie to try the volunteer route first with adverts in the local papers and on the noticeboards. This was seconded by Cllr Brar. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 10, ABSTENTION = 2 (Cllr Prichard asked to be minuted that he had abstained). Cllr Coker left the meeting at this point.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 6^th December 2005 were circulated and duly signed as a correct record with one amendment. On page 182, after item 4, no.1, Cllr Prichard asked for the word “observing” to be deleted and “working with” to be inserted.

3. COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Minutes of the Adoptive Acts Committee held on 13^th December 2005 were approved with no amendments. The Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 20^th December 2005 were approved with no amendments.

1. Cllr Prichard attended the Sustrans Meeting. Three main things: the money and approvals for the route to cross the river using the railway bridge at Bourne End had been given; the surface was approved, but the route across Marsh Meadow was yet to be finalised.

The list of cheques raised in the month of December as listed on Page 202 were approved on the proposition of Cllr Prichard and seconded by Cllr Innes. Cllr Ricardo queried whether the Clerk’s extra hours included setting up the meeting for Sustrans. The Clerk replied that an itemised breakdown of all her extra hours were available to any Councilor and no work had been carried out for Sustrans.

Cllr Brar spoke of RBWM Roads Re-surfacing Programme and asked that the Council send their list again. It was emailed in December 2005. Councillor Prichard asked for Long Lane and Westwood Green to be added. Cllr Ricardo spoke of complaints about aircraft noise and said that the Clerk has a letter from BAA. He also mentioned the three planning applications from Michael Shanly to build on the site at Colin Hatch. It was on the agenda for Borough Planning Meeting on 18^th January and Cllr Ricardo wished to speak with however was representing the Parish Council. Cllr Prichard volunteered to speak “for the last time”.

9. TO DECIDE ON A POLICY FOR DEALING WITH MONETARY REQUESTS FROM LOCAL ORGANISATIONS: The Finance Chairman, Cllr Wellman, suggested that a policy should be that Cookham Parish Council will, at its discretion, make allowances for monetary requests. Cllr Wellman proposed setting up a Sub-Committee to make recommendations to either the Finance Committee or to Full Council. This was AGREED with Cllr Ricardo making the suggestion that organisations should be encouraged to suggest specific items or projects rather than just a request for a donation. This was also AGREED.

10. TO DISCUSS DONATION TO AIR AMBULANCE AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS AND SPECIAL DONATION TO COOKHAM SUMMER FM: In the past Cookham Parish Council have made regular donations of £500 to the Air Ambulance, although this was often in two installments. Monies had also been given to Cookham Summer FM – a medium which the Parish Council may wish to use to get people involved in the Parish Plan. Cllr Prichard proposed giving £500 to Cookham Summer FM and £250 to Air Ambulance. This was later withdrawn when Cllr Brar proposed giving £250 each to the Air Ambulance and Cookham Summer FM. This was seconded by Cllr Wellman. Vote: IN FAVOUR = 11, ABSTENTION = 1.

11. TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED PRECEPT REQUEST OF £56,000: The Finance Chairman spoke to say that in light of some late changes to the budget, he would like to re-visit the precept request until he had spoken to the Chairman. It was AGREED to defer this item and hold an Extraordinary Meeting on 24^th January 2006.

12. (a) FLOOD FORUM – TO DISCUSS AND DECIDE WHETHER THIS COUNCIL WISH TO CONTINUE ITS INTEREST IN THE FLOOD FORUM FOR CSG NORTH: Cllr Ricardo represents RBWM on the Thames Flood Forum. However, he is concerned that the CSG North has been disbanded which leaves Cookham with no group to protect its interests. There is still a strong CSG South with nine representatives to look after villages down stream. Cllr Ricardo argues that Cookham is still in need of a CSG North because the Environment Agency have admitted that the Jubilee Channel is not operating to its full capacity and Cookham is actually worse off. The Chairman asked if any Parish Councillor had any interest in trying to revive the CSG North. No volunteers came forward but Cllr Ricardo was told that the Parish Council will continue to support his efforts via the Thames Flood Forum. Cllr Brar told Cllr Ricardo that he must continue to report back from the meetings to keep the rest of the Council informed.

(b) TO DISCUSS THE CONCERNS RE: MARLOW TOWN’S PROPOSED COMPLEX FOR A FOOTBALL STADIUM AT LITTLE MARLOW: Cllr Ricardo has received numerous complaints about the lack of consultation from Wycombe District Council on these plans. Cookham Dean residents said that important views from Winter Hill will be spoilt and they will suffer from light pollution from the spotlights, noise of loudspeakers and the visual intrusion of an aluminum roof on the stadium. Reports seem to suggest that the scheme as met with local resistance by local residents. The Chairman confirmed that Cookham Parish Council along with RBWM had not been consulted on these plans and the documents available on-line were over 500 pages long. It was AGREED that the Clerk would write to Michael Stubbs from the National Trust to support the concerns of Cookham Dean residents.

13. CHAIRMAN’S SUBMISSIONS: The Chairman announced that Cllr Alan Hay had resigned from the Parish Council due to personal reasons. The Clerk would advertise the vacancy on the noticeboards and would inform the Council at the next meeting whether a Bye Election was to be held.

14. 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.