Minutes of Main Council

Held in the Community Room on Tuesday, 4^th July 2006, after the Planning Meeting and Extra-Ordinary Meeting, commencing at 7.30pm.

In attendance: Yvette Caster (Maidenhead Advertiser), Sitala Peek (Bucks Free Press), Dominic Bareham (Maidenhead Express) and one member of the public.

Apologies were received from Cllrs Barnes, Fairlie and Innes. Cllr Harris declared a personal interest in item 10 on the agenda. Cllr Wellman declared a personal interest in item 8 and Cllr Piercey declared a personal interest in item 9 on the agenda.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 6^th June 2006 were circulated and duly signed with no amendments.

3. COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Minutes of the Adoptive Acts Comittee held on 13^th June 2006 were circulated and approved with no amendments. The Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 20^th June 2006 were circulated and approved with just one amendment. On Page 293, item 3, the recessed floodlights should read “Thorn Mica”.

1. Cllr Fry attended a meeting of the Marsh Meadow Committee. He said that over 800 scouts would be camping on Marsh Meadow for four days to celebrate their Centenary. Any concerns would need to be brought to Cllr Fry’s attention before the next meeting in September/October.

2. Cllr Prichard attended a Governors Meeting at Holy Trinity Primary School. He confirmed that his year as a Parish Council Governor has now ended and he has been re-elected as a Community Governor. The Clerk was asked to include on the next agenda whether the Council still wants to take reports from those Councillors attending Governors Meetings.

3. Cllr Coker reported that the Parish Plan was successfully launched on 28^th June at Pinder Hall. A leaflet drop will follow shortly of what will be happening following the launch and a questionnaire will also be circulated.

5. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS UNDER STANDING ORDERS 24/26: No questions were received.

6. FINANCE:: The list of cheques raised in the month of June as listed on Page 307 were approved on the proposition of Cllr Stretton and seconded by Cllr Woodbridge.

7. BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORT: Cllr Brar reported that the road re-surfacing programme was due to start shortly. Cllr Prichard queried why Westwod Green was not on the programme. Cllr Brar said that the entrance of Westwood Green was due to be re-surfaced but not the rest of the estate. Cllr Brar answered a question from a previous meeting stating that the annual sum paid by RBWM to Seeda is £13,315. Cllr Brar said that she had also written to Daran Jones regarding the potholes in the car park at Station Parade. She said that the holes should be filled within two weeks. Cllr Ricardo mentioned a wall that has been knocked down in Alleyns Lane and the flood relief drainage scheme in Cookham High Street should be completed shortly.

8. TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF DECLARING THE ALFRED MAJOR RECREATION GROUND AN ALCOHOL-FREE ZONE: The Councillors voiced concerns on noisy gangs of children gathering on the recreation ground during the warm evenings. Damage had been sustained in the children’s play area and Cllr Brar said that a syringe had been found by a dogwalker. Cllr Wellman said that the recreation ground had been used more now that Cookham Summer FM was at the railway station. Cllr Prichard proposed that we negotiate with the Royal Borough to pass a bye-law to make the Alfred Major an alcohol-free zone. This was agreed and the Clerk was asked to make enquiries and to keep Cookham Dean Football Club informed of the Council’s intentions.

9. TO REPLY TO COOKHAM DEAN PRIMARY SCHOOL’S REQUEST FOR CCTV CAMERAS IN THE ROAD OUTSIDE COOKHAM DEAN POST OFFICE: The Councillors supported the call for cameras but were sceptical as to whether it would deter any further robberies at the Post Office. Cllr Ricardo did not support the cameras and said that there were far more deserving areas that could do with greater security. He cited the raids on the Off Licence in Cookham Rise. It was proposed by Cllr Prichard to send a copy of the letter from the school to the Royal Borough. This was seconded by Cllr Stretton. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 7, AGAINST = 1. ABSTENTION = 3.

10. TO REPLY TO THE PROPOSED SITE SHARE BY T-MOBILE OF EXISTING ORANGE RADIO BASE STATION AT WINTER HILL FARM: T-Mobile wished to replace the existing mast with a mast that was 4 metres higher but disguised as a tree. It was some way from most residential homes and there had been no letters of objection from any neighbours. Cllr Coker said that the Parish Council had been in favour of encouraging mast-sharing in the past. Cllr Fry thought that two smaller trees would look better than one big tree. It was finally proposed by Cllr Stretton and seconded by Cllr Woodbridge to recommend to T-Mobile that the Parish Council would prefer two smaller masts disguised as trees at Winter Hill Farm. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 4, AGAINST = 3, ABSTENTION = 4.

11. CHAIRMAN’S SUBMISSIONS: The Chairman announced that the next Planning Meeting would move forward by one week due to the Clerk being away on holiday. Therefore the next Planning Meeting would be held on 18^th July and NOT 25^th July.

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