COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

 COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

PRESENT: Cllr H.J. Woodbridge (Chairman);

      Cllrs: M. Brar, P. Brockwell, D. Fry, G. Harris, M. Innes, M.L.Kellaway,

R. Piercey, D. Ricardo, Jean Stretton and John Stretton.

1.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies were received from Cllrs Barnes and Wellman who were both on holiday. Apologies were also given on behalf of Cllr Coker and Cllr Hewitt. Cllrs Fry and Harris declared a personal interest in item 8. Cllr Ricardo declared a personal interest in item 12 as he is a member of the Flood Forum and lives in the Flood Plain.

The Chairman then asked permission to bring item 8 forward to save Mr and Mrs Scott waiting any longer. This was AGREED.

8.            REQUEST TO KEEP BANTAMS ON COOKHAM DEAN ALLOTMENTS AND TO REVIEW ALTERNATIVE COUNCIL-OWNED SITES:  There was much discussion as to the fact that no other allotment holders had voiced objections to the chickens being kept on the allotments. Cllr Harris was impressed by how well Mr Scott had looked after his bantams. It was felt that Mr Scott could be role model for others. Cllr Harris was however concerned about the quality of care from others. Cllr Brockwell asked how the Council felt about the other allotments in Cookham. It was agreed that each allotment site should be considered individually. Cllr Ricardo felt that to approve this proposal would be to open the flood gates on other allotments. Cllr Woodbridge said that the Council must protect itself and consult a solicitor. The idea of using a site away from Cookham Dean allotments was dismissed. Cllr Fry felt that this would leave the chickens exposed. Cllr Fry proposed to allow Mr Scott to keep his hens at Cookham Dean allotments, this was seconded by Cllr Brockwell. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 10, AGAINST = 1.

            Cllr Harris proposed allowing other allotment holders to keep chickens subject to a legal document drawn up to protect both the welfare of the hens and the liability of the Council. This was seconded by Cllr Brar. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 10, AGAINST = 1.

2.                  APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on the 3^rd July 2007 were circulated and duly signed with one amendment. Cllr Fry said that Page 481, item 5, line 13 should read “scheme” and not “schemen”.

3.                  COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Minutes of the Footpaths & Open Spaces Committee held on 24^th July 2007 were circulated and approved with no amendments. The Minutes of the Adoptive Acts Committee held on 21^st August 2007 were circulated and approved with no amendments. Cllr Ricardo had a query on item 5 c) concerning the Kings Hall Trust but Cllr Brockwell was happy to approve the Minutes without alteration.

4.                  TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES:

1.      Cllr Wellman and the Clerk attended the Stakeholders Meeting in Windsor. The Clerk had circulated a short report on the changes coming to the Planning Service and a single application form available online nationwide.

2.      Cllr Innes went to a meeting of the Pinder Hall Management Committee.

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

6.            FINANCE:: The list of cheques raised in the months of July and August as listed on Pages 506 and 507 were approved on the proposition of Cllr Brockwell and seconded by Cllr Innes.

7.         BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORT: Cllr Stretton spoke to up-date the Council on the progress of the road safety measures due to be taken at Cannondown Railway Bridge. A new scheme had been submitted due to insufficient 106 Developers Contributions being available. Cllr Stretton also revealed that RBWM Chief Executive, Mr David Lunn had resigned and was currently serving six months’ notice. It was expected that Mr Lunn would leave at the end of February 2008. 

Item 8 was dealt with at the beginning of the meeting.

9.            APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF WALL-MOUNTED NOTICE-BOARD SUJECT TO FORMAL PERMISSION FROM FORGE MOTORS: The current noticeboard at Barnside is very difficult to read and to fill with the agendas. It was proposed by Cllr Woodbridge to approve, in principle, installing a new wooden noticeboard at the Forge Motors site. This was seconded by Cllr John Stretton. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 9, AGAINST = 1. Cllr Ricardo said that the Council would have to get the permission of the owner of the site – Mr Knight. The Clerk replied that planning permission would also be required.

10.            COMMENT ON THE PROVISION OF CARAVAN SITES FOR GYPSIES AND TRAVELLERS: The consultation was a document produced by SEERA. Cllr Fry said that he was surprised at the number of sites allocated to RBWM. He preferred brownfield sites and not in the Green Belt or adjacent to residential areas. Cllr Brar spoke of the extra costs of these sites including lighting, water and schools – this would be an extra burden on the tax payer. There was some discussion of numbers of sites and numbers of families per pitch. It was AGREED to ask the Clerk to put together the Councillors comments in a report.

11.            COMMENT ON RBWM LDF TELECOMMUNICATIONS CONSULTATION: Cllr Jean Stretton read through the report she had prepared from the documents. It was agreed that our response should include areas in Cookham where masts had been erected including Green Belt, Flood Plain, Conservation Areas, Setting of the Thames and Areas of Landscape Importance. It would seem that RBWM was not following their guidelines. The health aspect of the masts was also discussed. Cllr Ricardo said that it was worse in rural areas due to the distance from the masts. He also said that shared masts were not acceptable due to the extra height. Cllr Fry called for more emphasis on making aesthetic improvements to the look of the masts. The Councillors voted in favour of the Clerk compiling a response from the work of Cllr Stretton and their comments at the meeting.

12.       PARISH COUNCIL’S POLICY ON FLOODING:  Cllr Ricardo spoke at length about recent planning decisions; the Causeway approach being flooded; opening the Causeway to traffic; whether the Causeway was an acceptable dry escape route; and whether vehicles should use the Causeway. The Clerk then up-dated the Council with her discussions with Darren Firth, RBWM’s emergency planning officer. He was still working on a template flood plan to help riverside parishes. He was currently working with Datchet Parish Council but promised that Cookham would be next. The work on the template had been delayed due to the summer flooding experienced in Maidenhead and other parishes. The ownership of the Causeway was also discussed at length. The Chairman said that ownership was in question but the Parish Council had taken responsibility for the Causeway for the past twenty years – and we must continue to assume that it is our responsibility. It was AGREED that the implications of opening the Causeway to traffic or pedestrians in times of flooding should be an agenda item.

13.            CHAIRMAN’S SUBMISSIONS: The Chairman said that there had been a delay between emails from the police and the Clerk however a visit from Chief Inspector Jim Templer would be arranged as soon as possible to continue the debate re: paying for a Cookham-based PCSO. The Chairman reminded members that the Council  had voted 6 in favour and 5 against to continue the discussions.

14.             CORRESPONDENCE:  A list of correspondence and periodicals received during the months of July and August was circulated with the agenda.  These were available in the Parish Office for Councillors’ perusal.

The Meeting closed at 9.35pm.