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, G. Harris, M. Innes and H.J. Woodbridge.

1.            APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies were received from Cllrs M. Coker and M-L. Kellaway. Cllr Harris declared a personal interest in items 2a and 2b on the agenda.

2.              CEMETERY:

a)                  Approval of quote for concrete path edging and scalpings base  – A total of five quotes were received for this project. Philip Holdford had quoted a total of £13,600 plus vat; Cookham Builders quoted £13,207 plus vat; Nigel Jefferies quoted £12,980 plus vat; AES quoted £11,650 plus vat and Joe Stoneman quoted £9,850. The quotes were considered in detail and Joe Stoneman was the only contractor to quote the depth of the path at 150mm deep. The Clerk said that Joe had recently completed some path work on FP60 along The Bounty pub. It would also be possible for the Parish Council to hire the equipment and buy the materials in order to claim back the vat which would represent another saving on his quote. On the proposal of Cllr H. J. Woodbridge, seconded by Cllr Pat Brockwell, it was AGREED unanimously to award this contract to Joe Stoneman. This decision would be ratified at the next Council meeting.

b)            Approval of quote for the skip area improvements – Two quotes had been received for this work. The first from Philip Holdford for £2,900 plus vat and the second from Joe Stoneman for £2,500. On the proposition of Cllr Brar, seconded by Cllr Brockwell, it was AGREED unanimously to award this work to Joe Stoneman – to be completed at the same time as the paths. This decision would also be ratified at the next Council meeting.

c)            Review of fees for ashes burials and memorial permits – The Clerk circulated a chart comparing the prices of several local cemeteries. It was AGREED to increase the price of ashes burials for residents to £100 and double this for those outside the Parish. This would have to be ratified at Full Council and would take place from 1^st January 2009. The prices of memorial permits were also considered. On the proposal of Cllr Barnes, seconded by Cllr Woodbridge, it was AGREED to increase the price of memorial permit for Cookham Residents to £50 and for additional inscriptions to £25. The Councillors noted that these increases would bring us in line with Bray Cemetery run by Bray Parish Council. Cllr Wellman stated that the prices should be reviewed every year.

3.                CEMETERY EXTENSION: 

a)         Update on the archaeological dig and costings – The Clerk had verified with Colin Berks of MAS that the final report was due very soon.

4.          STREETLIGHTING:

a)            Replacement of the column in Station Parade – The Clerk had been told by Dave Stephens at RBWM that the column would be replaced on 5^th November 2008.

b)            Lighting project in High Road – A total of four new bracket lights had been ordered for High Road. The Chairman was due to hold a site meeting with David Page of SEC to finalise the position of the lights.

5.            TREES AT THE CEMETERY:

a)            Approval of Picus Tomograph test on lop-sided Aspen on Long Lane boundary – This tree had been looked at by tree officers at RBWM and there was sufficient cause for concern for the recommendation to conduct this test. Simon Holmes was a specialist recommended by RBWM to carry out this test. The price quoted was £175 plus vat and mileage at 50p per mile from Reading. Further Picus tests may be necessary at a cost of £55 plus vat for three dimensional decay assessment. This quote was significantly cheaper than those received by the Tree Surgeons who are not expert enough to carry out the work themselves. Cllr Woodbridge proposed that we give this work to Simon Holmes. This was seconded by Cllr Brar.

6.         WAR MEMORIALS:

a)         Repair of sign above Tarrystone Seat and repairs on war memorials: The Clerk had chased Neil Johnson who had promised that the sign would be in place by the end of August. Sadly this had not happened and the Clerk was now considering looking at other stone masons. Similarly with the outstanding repairs to the war memorials, it seemed that the work would not be done before Remembrance Sunday. It was however AGREED to ask Philip Holdford to tidy up both war memorials and to carry out some repairs to the missing cobbles at Cookham Dean memorial.

b)         Up-date on concrete/steel planter at Cookham War memorial: No further action had been taken to date.

The meeting closed at 8.30pm