COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES TO BE APPROVED of a Meeting of the

 FOOTPATHS & OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE

PRESENT:       Cllrs MK Brar, D. Fry, G. Harris, R.Piercey, John Stretton, M. Wellman and H. J. Woodbridge.

PC Val de Haan spoke before the meeting opened to inform the Council that Cookham would have its first Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) starting work in May. The meeting, held at Burchetts Green Agricultural College in April to launch Neighbourhood Policing, was well attended by Cookham residents. Speeding, Parking and Burglary were the three crimes that people were most concerned about from the meeting. In some areas, locals have been trained to use speed guns to report offending vehicles.

1.                  APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Apologies were received from Cllrs Innes.  Cllr Harris declared a personal interest in items 5a and 5b. Cllr Wellman declared a personal interest in items 3a, 3c and 5a. Cllr Brar declared a personal interest in items 3a and 3c. Cllr Fry declared a personal interest in item 5a.

2.            APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN: Cllr Brar proposed Clr Harris to continue as Chairman of the Footpaths and Open Spaces Committee. This was seconded by Cllr John Stretton and AGREED unanimously.

3.            ALFRED MAJOR GROUND:

a):        Ideas for 106 funds for Alfred Major: There is approximately £16,000 to spend on the football pitches or other projects and £15,000 to spend on the play area. A quote has been received from Mr P.R. Spittles to enlarge the play area fencing at a price of  £1313. It was AGREED to go ahead with this work to make space for further new play equipment. Other ideas put forward for the £16,000 included CCTV, Skateboard Park and provision of car park.

b)            Review of Rospa report and action plan: The Chairman went through the recent report supplied by Rospa. The report listed no high risk actions but a number of medium risk actions identified by Councillors. It was AGREED to make the large multiplay unit with slide the priority for repair. The Clerk would also contact the company who recently installed the new see-saw to ask them to check the mounting as per the report.

c)         New Trees on the Leased area at Cookham Rise Primary School:  Following the comments made at the Open Forum earlier this evening, the Councillors had differing views on whether the School should be allowed to keep the ten trees planted in the leased part of the playing field. Cllr Fry said that children should be encouraged to look after trees. The contract does not actually specify any guidance on whether the school may plant trees but does specify no fences or hedges over 5ft high. Cllr Woodbridge did not like the positioning of the trees. Cllr Wellman commented that this was the only flat part of the Alfred Major and would like to see the trees more spread out. Cllr Fry proposed allowing the school to keep the trees. This was seconded by Cllr Piercey. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 4, AGAINST = 2, ABSTENTION = 1. This recommendation would be put on the Full Council agenda in June.

4.            FOOTPATHS:

a):            Comment on proposed TPO’s on 16 Lime Trees along Lower Road: The Councillors were in favour of the Tree Preservation Orders and asked the Clerk to get the rest of the Limes from Whyteladyes Lane to Cookham Dean also protected. A request was made for the tree outside 2 Lower Road to be pruned.

b):            Temporary footpath closures on Marsh Meadow: This item was for information only. The Footpaths would be temporarily closed on Marsh Meadow over the Bank Holiday to allow the Maidenhead area Scout groups to hold a celebration for their centenary.

5.            ALLOTMENTS:

a)                  Request by Matthew Scott to keep bantams at Cookham Dean: All Committee members had seen a letter written by Mr Scott formally asking permission to keep bantams. The bantams were already in place and had been at Cookham Dean allotments for some time. Cllr Woodbridge said that nothing could be decided without checking the legislation. The Clerk had made enquiries and several parish councils allowed the keeping of poultry and rabbits for personal consumption. Cllr Fry was in favour of keeping poultry as long as this was strictly controlled. It was AGREED to grant Mr Scott temporary permission for three months. During that time a letter would be circulated to other allotment holders at Cookham Dean and the Clerk would check the legal issues. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 6 AGAINST = 1.

b)                  Review of Lease Agreement with John Linegar:  It was AGREED that Mr Linegar had been an excellent tenant over the years and the lease would be reviewed next year.

6.            CORRESPONDENCE:

a)            Renewal of Subscription to CPRE: Cllr John Stretton proposed that the Council renew this subscription. This was seconded by Cllr Harris and AGREED unanimously.

The Meeting closed at 9.40pm

Copies to all other Councillors for information.