COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the PLANNING COMMITTEE held at the

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

Cllrs M. Barnes, M. Brar, P. Brockwell, M. Coker, G. Harris,

M. Innes, R. Piercey, D. Ricardo and John Stretton.

Also present:            Five members of the public, PC Val de Haan, Nick Meakin (Maidenhead Advertiser) and Tom Pochcial (Marlow Free Press)

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OPEN FORUM: Mr Serman from the Coach House, Spring Lane spoke over his concerns regarding Pln Appn 07/02670. He felt that it would be sad to demolish Mount Lodge because the home and the position as the Gate House to the estate formed an important contribution to the character of the area. He felt that the proposals would be detrimental to the Green Belt and feared that this could set a precedent for more development in this area. The owner of Mount Lodge, Mr Draper, then spoke in defence to his planning application. He mentioned that they needed to rebuild the house in order to put in equipment to help his disabled wife live more comfortably. He argued that the position was not greatly changed and that by moving the home, they would lessen the bulk on view from Spring Lane. Mr John Kellett then spoke to remind the Council that permission to extend had already been granted. He also spoke of a letter to residents from Mr and Mrs Draper which spoke of their desire to downsize Mount Lodge due to their plans to spend part of the year abroad. Mr Kellett finished by saying that 2008 would see the centenary of the book, “Wind in the Willows” – which had been inspired by the property – a former home of the author, Kenneth Graham. The Chairman thanked the audience for their comments and asked permission to move Pln Appn 07/02670 to the front of the agenda.

1.                  APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Apologies were received from Cllrs Jean Stretton, D. Fry, M-L Kellaway and J. Hewitt. Cllr Piercey declared a prejudicial interest in Pln Appn 07/02522. Cllr J. Stretton declared an interest as a Borough Councillor serving on the RBWM Planning Panel and he reserved the right to change his mind at a later stage.

2.                  PLANS CONSIDERED & DISCUSSED:

Cllr Ricardo commented on the Listed Building Consent granted to White Place Farm. He queried whether full permission had been granted or deferred to another authority such as GOSE for approval. The Clerk was asked to make enquiries.

3. NOTIFICATION OF MINOR AMENDMENT AT COOMBE END COTTAGE, HIGH STREET, COOKHAM: Notification sent by RBWM detailing a minor increase in the volume of the extension (ref: 04/01198 and listed building consent ref: 04/01199). Details available in Parish Office. Information only, the Parish Council were not required to comment.

4. TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE OFFER FROM THAMES VALLEY POLICE FOR A PART-FUNDED PCSO RING-FENCED TO COOKHAM PARISH: At the start of this sensitive topic, the Chairman called for all Councillors to debate with an open mind. Cllr Ricardo said that he was against the whole concept of paying for more police protection. He said there was no guarantee of improved performance and asked whether the Police would concentrate on villages with less protection. Cllr Stretton then spoke in favour of securing an extra PCSO for Cookham. He quoted the Clerk from Chorleywood Parish Council who felt that the scheme had been a success overall plus quotes from other Councils in Bucks. Cllr Stretton then looked at adding the cost (£15,000 per year for two years) to the precept. He stated that the cost worked out to an average of 20p per week, per house. (This was allowing for 1500 homes = £10 per household, per year = 80p per household per month or 20p per week.) Cllr Stretton proposed accepting the offer of the Cookham-based PCSO. This was not immediately seconded. Cllr Harris was concerned about the funding; Cllr Innes was happy with the existing PCSO’s but did not agree with increasing them; Cllr Brar asked what would happen after the two years’ agreement was finished; Cllr Coker was concerned about the shift patterns; Cllr Wellman wanted an agreement  on the working hours; Cllr Barnes said that the feedback from some villagers was that they did not want to pay for it; Cllr Barnes also queried whether we were getting the level of service from our present constabulary. Cllr Ricardo also said that some of the police work in issuing parking tickets will be taken away by RBWM from 2008, so their work load would go down.

The discussion was then adjourned to allow PC Val de Haan to speak. He mentioned the three priorities for this area: speeding, burglaries and parking. He said that the police would still be on standby for the parking in case RBWM needed help. He reminded Cllrs that the current two PCSO’s covered a huge area that extended as far as Waltham St Lawrence. He had succeeded in getting his other Police Officer for this area replaced but was not sure this would happen in future. PC de Haan said that there was a shortage of fully trained Police Officers in the country. He also said that car crime figures were creeping up again in High Street. He spoke of the current contract that the PCSO’s followed – they were only obliged to work one weekend in 4 but the two Cookham PCSO’s had volunteered to work two weekends and were extending their hours from 6pm – 2am. He said that if we got another good PCSO, all weekends would be covered in Cookham.

The meeting was then resumed. Cllr Stretton said that the precept for Cookham Parish Council was one of the lowest in the Borough. Cllr Woodbridge wanted the PCSO ring-fenced to Cookham for a guaranteed 80% of their time and not the 50% currently quoted in the letter from Chief Inspector Templer. Cllr Wellman mentioned that we did not have to put our precept request in until the end of January if Councillors wanted to keep the debate open. He said the finances would have to sorted out and that the money could only come from the precept. Cllr Wellman also felt that the final decision ought to be made with all Councillors present as there were four absent tonight. The Chairman supported Cllr Wellman and said that the Council should go back to the negotiating table. However, Cllr Stretton said that the Council had the power to vote tonight to stop any further discussion on this item. He felt the Council should vote tonight to indicate their preference. He counter-proposed that the Council should agree in principle to funding a Cookham-based PCSO subject to a satisfactory contractual arrangement agreed with Chief Inspector Templer. This was seconded by Cllr Barnes who added that the terms and conditions of the agreement should come back to Full Council for final approval. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 6, AGAINST = 4, ABSTENTION = 1.

5. CHAIRMANS SUBMISSIONS:  There were several events coming up that Councillors may choose to attend including the Active Rural Communities Rural Conference at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park on 15^th November; the BALC AGM on Saturday 10^th November from 10.30 – 12.30 at Grazeley Village Hall; the Stakeholders Meeting at the Town Hall at 6.00pm on 13^th November 2007 and the Parish Conference at Windsor at 7.00pm – items for the agenda are due by 31^st October 2007.

The meeting closed at 8.55pm.