COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

MEETING OF THE ADOPTIVE ACTS COMMITTEE

PRESENT:      Cllr P. Brockwell (Chairman)

Cllrs: M. Barnes, M. Brar, M. Coker, G. Harris, M-L. Kellaway

and H.J. Woodbridge.

1.            APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies were received from Cllrs M. Innes. There were no Declarations of Interest.

2.              CEMETERY:

a)                  Approval of tender for concrete path edging and scalpings base  – Philip Holdford had re-quoted using scalpings as a base at a price of 13,000. The Clerk was asked to put together a tender document to allow for further comparable quotes. Several other amendments were made to the tender document such as stating that the depth of the scalpings should be 60ml in depth; a membrane should be laid to discourage weeds before the new scalpings are put down; and the existing pea shingle should be moved.

b)            Progress report on skip area – The Clerk was hoping for a quote from Joe Stoneman to compare with the quote from Philip Holdford. It was AGREED that the Clerk would put together a similar tender document as above. Cllr Harris advised that the area would need 6in of rubble in addition to the surface. The Councillers also mentioned the firm Knights who had laid some tarmacadam many years ago for the Parish Council.

c)            Review of burial fees – The Clerk circulated a chart comparing the prices of several local cemeteries. It was AGREED to increase the price of Exclusive Rights for residents to £250 and double this for those outside the Parish. This would have to be ratified at Full Council. The price of burial of cremated remains and the price of memorials were also included on the chart and the Clerk was asked to bring some proposals to the next Adoptive Acts meeting.

3.                CEMETERY EXTENSION: 

a)         Update on the archaeological dig and costings – The Clerk circulated a list of costings so far with the dig. Marlow Archaeological Society had cost £1128.76 so far but there may be another invoice to add to this total. This was well within the budget allowed of £3k.

4.          STREETLIGHTING:

a)            Replacement of the column in Station Parade – The Clerk had contacted the insurance company concerning this replacement column. The sum insured for the streetlights is divided by the number of lights leaving a total £325.95 per light.

Subtracting the £100 excess would leave the sum of £225.95. The Clerk had two quotes for replacement – one from SEC for a total of £1280 and one from RBWM for £1024. It was AGREED to ask RBWM to go ahead and replace the light as it was before – 5m column and 70w SON lantern. The Clerk was also asked to try to trace the car that had knocked down the light in the first place.

Cllr Wellman asked the Clerk to make the insurance of the streetlights an agenda item for the next Finance meeting.

b)            Lighting project in High Road – This item was brought back to the agenda because the Chairman of the Adoptive Acts Committee was unhappy at how the topic had been discussed at the last meeting. Furthermore, the Clerk had discovered that the map used by SEC to plan the lights was out of date and not showing all the houses. This map had now been revised and all houses were located. It was proposed by Cllr Barnes and seconded by Cllr Coker, to proceed with the new lighting in the positions identified without further consultation. This was AGREED unanimously.

6.         WAR MEMORIALS:

a)            Refurbishment of the Tarrystone Seat and repair of sign: The Clerk had been assured by Neil Johnson that the new plaque would be in place by the end of the week. 

b)         Two war memorials: The Clerk had also been assured by Neil Johnson that the repairs on the war memorial at Cookham Dean would be complete before Remembrance Sunday.

c)         Up-date on the bollards at Cookham Village memorial: The new bollard had lasted approximately eight days before the Clerk noticed that another car had broken it. It was clearly pointless to keep on replacing the bollard but the Clerk had the idea of installing a large concrete or cast iron flower planter. It was suggested that a Cookham firm may be interested in sponsoring the planter. The Clerk was asked to progress this.

The meeting closed at 10.15pm