COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

 COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

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

      Cllrs: M. Barnes, M. Brar, P. Brockwell, M. Coker, D. Fry, G. Harris,

J. Hewitt, M. Innes, R. Piercey, D. Ricardo, Jean Stretton and

John Stretton.

1.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies were received from Cllr Kellaway. Cllr John Stretton declared an interest as a Borough Councillor. Cllr Woodbridge declared a personal interest in item 11. Cllrs Brar and Wellman declared an interest in item 10.

2.                  APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on the 5^th June 2007 were circulated and duly signed with no amendments.

3.                  COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Minutes of the Adoptive Acts Committee held on 12^th June 2007 were circulated and approved with one amendment. Cllr Brockwell wished to change item 3a), line 9 to state that “some of the slates on the roof would need repairing”. The Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 25^th June 2007 were circulated and approved with two amendments and one query. On Page 474, Cllrs Jean Stretton and John Hewitt gave late apologies to the Clerk. Also on page 474, Cllr Coker queried the costings on the Asset Register. He was informed that the valuations were set at the time of purchase but the Parish Council insurance was on a “new for old” policy. On Page 475, item 10, the word “lease” should be replaced with contract.

4.                  TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES:

1.      Cllr Brar attended the DALC AGM and spoke of a presentation from the Chairman of Bray Parish Council on how they present planning applications using a computer and projector.

2.      Cllr Brar also attended the Parish Conference and saw a presentation from the new Head of Planning Tim Slaney. The presentation was on the Government White Paper on Planning. CllrBrar also saw a presentation on the new anti-smoking laws. The Clerk also attended this conference.

5.         TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS UNDER STANDING ORDERS 24/26:  A question had been presented to Cllr Woodbridge from Cllr Ricardo concerning what arrangements were in place to help residents in time of flooding. The Chairman asked the Clerk to answer this first question. The Clerk spoke of a presentation at the Parish Conference in February where the RBWM Emergency Officer, Mr Darren Firth, had promised that a template document would be available for different parishes to use to organise their own flooding policy. This document had not appeared and the Clerk had left a message for Mr Firth for which no response has been received. Cllr Ricardo then put forward a second question. At the Full Council Meeting on 6^th March, the minutes stated that Flooding would be put on the agenda of the next meeting. The Chairman said that as far as he could remember, not being Chairman at the time, the Environment Agency were going to make a major presentation concerning another flood alleviation schemen and there was little point before this was done. Cllr Ricardo insisted that the item be put on the next Full Council agenda. The Chairman then summarised the Parish Council’s responsibilities in times of flooding as they stand at present.

6.            FINANCE:: The list of cheques raised in the month of June as listed on Page 483 were approved on the proposition of Cllr Stretton and seconded by Cllr Brockwell.

7.         BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORT: Cllr Stretton gave a lengthy report on the various schemes that he presented to the Cabinet concerning traffic in Cookham. Ideas being looked at included making Cookham Bridge a toll bridge but residents would not have to pay; a southern by-pass from opposite Westwood Green to Sutton Road in order to relieve The Pound; traffic lights at the east end of The Pound and take out the humps making the hump outside Spencers a pedestrian crossing; and a new access to Holy Trinity School using the farm land at the back of the school. Cllr Stretton also gave details of the new rumble strip called “ripple print” that will be laid either side of the Cannondown Railway bridge in order to force traffic to slow. Cllr Stretton said that this scheme would use 106 developers contributions and there would be some money left over to re-instate the cat’s eyes in the Cookham end of Maidenhead Road.

8.            FORMAL ADOPTION OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES (MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT) ORDER 2007:  The Clerk circulated all the papers with the agenda. Cllr John Stretton proposed to formally adopt this code retaining paragraph 12 (2) that allows Councillors to speak from the public gallery on any item including prejudicial matters. This was seconded by Cllr Fry and AGREED unanimously. 

9.            APPROVAL OF THE AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS AND ANNUAL RETURN FOR 2006-2007 FINANCIAL YEAR: The only queries concerned items on the asset register. Cllr Ricardo asked why the bench at Stonehouse Lane was not listed on the register. Cllr Wellman said that four benches were purchased in 2002 and listed as being on the Alfred Major. It was AGREED to check and correct this before the next audit. Cllr Brockwell proposed approval of the audit form and accounts for 2006-2007 financial year. This was seconded by Cllr Innes and AGREED unanimously.

10.       CCTV ON THE ALFRED MAJOR USING 106 MONIES: The Clerk had been in touch with Kate Dagnall who said that there was now £25,000 in the play area and £19,000 for pitches and environmental projects. She said that a proportion of the £19,000 could be used for CCTV if it would protect the equipment that was already there. She was in favour of the Parish Council involving a third party such as the police or Cookham Rise Primary School.

11.            DONATION OF £200 TO BERKSHIRE BLIND SOCIETY: This was recommended by the Finance and General Purposes Committee. Cllr Harris proposed approval, this was seconded by Cllr Fry and AGREED. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 13, ABSTENTION = 1.

12.       SUBSCRIPTION TO CLERKS AND COUNCILS DIRECT MAGAZINE:  Cllr Fry wished the Parish Council to pay a personal subscription for all Councillors who wished to receive their personal copy. It was AGREED that the item would be put on the agenda of the next Finance Meeting.

13.            CHAIRMAN’S SUBMISSIONS: The Clerk gave details of a discussion with PC de Haan concerning the possibility of the Parish Council paying half towards an extra PCSO. The deal was that the Parish Council pay half the cost at £15,000 per year and this PCSO would be ring-fenced to serve only in Cookham for two years. The Chairman asked the Clerk to progress this. Cllrs attending the Crime Forum the next evening were warned to not say anything that may compromise their impartiality.

14.             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. Cllr Fry mentioned a book on Hedgerows that he would like the Parish Office to purchase. It was agreed that this could possibly be down-loaded from the internet.

The Meeting closed at 9.12pm.