Minutes of Main Council

Held in the Community Room on Tuesday, 1^st April 2008, after the Planning Meeting, at 7.30pm.

In attendance: James Nadal (Marlow Free Press), Nick Meakin (Maidenhead Advertiser) and 3 members of the public.

Apologies were received from Cllrs M. Brar and J. Hewitt. Cllr Coker sent his apologies via email. Cllr Ricardo declared a personal interest in item 8 and item 10 on the agenda.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on the 4^th March 2008 were circulated and duly signed with one amendment. On item 9, line 15, Cllr Fry referred to percentage figures mentioned in the Cookham Plan proposal document which differed to percentages shown in the Cookham Society document.

3. COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Minutes of the Footpaths and Open Spaces Committee was circulated and approved with no amendments.

2. Cllr Innes had been to a meeting of Pinder Hall Management Committee. Cllr Innes said that the office was now being rented and the WI’s Country Market would be moving to Bourne End at the end of the month.

3. Cllr Jean Stretton attended a meeting of Marsh Meadow Management Committee. Various items were mentioned including: Sustrans. Cllr Fry said that he also attended this meeting and spoke of the impending retirement of NT Warden ‘Curly’ Carver. Cllr Fry also spoke of the dog mess and rubbish at the entrance of Marsh Meadow. Mr Copas had agreed to provide the dog bins if someone could empty them on a regular basis.

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

6. FINANCE:: The list of cheques raised in the month of March as listed on Page 614 were approved on the proposition of Cllr Brockwell, seconded by Cllr Innes.

7. BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORT: Cllr Stretton gave an up-date on the residents parking in Cookham High Street. He said RBWM were in favour of the scheme and the new arrangements should be in place by the end of June. Cllr Stretton also said that the new crossing in The Pound was not finished and the brightness of the white paint would fade in time.

8. CONFIRMATION OF VOLUNTEERS TO REVIEW THE COOKHAM PLAN: The Clerk circulated the list of volunteers who had completed a form to work on the new Traffic and Transport working group. There were various queries about the representatives and it was agreed that working Terms of Reference to cover all the groups would be needed. Cllr Ricardo said that a Cllr should be present on all the working groups along with a representative of The Cookham Society. The Chairman disagreed with Cllr Ricardo. Cllr Wellman said the volunteers must be given a proper remit to carry out a proper review and that interests must be declared. Cllr Ricardo then proposed that a Cllr should be on each new working group. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 2, AGAINST = 8, ABSTENTION = 2.

Cllr John Stretton then proposed to accept the volunteers to form a review body for the Traffic and Transport working group. This was seconded by Cllr Kellaway.

9. BEES ON SUTTON ALLOTMENT: The Clerk had received a request from allotment holder, Ro Facer, to keep bees on the allotments. The Council knew that one allotment holder was allergic to bees and if stung it could be fatal. After some discussion it was voted unanimously to not allow the bees for health and safety reasons.

10. WILDLIFE POND ON SUTTON ALLOTMENT: Once again the health and safety issues were considered. This particular tenant had not cultivated her allotment last year and there was a fear that the pond could be abandoned leaving the Council the work of filling it in. It was AGREED, ten votes in favour and one abstention, to not allow a pond at this allotment.

11. COMMITTEE TO DEAL WITH CONSULTATIONS: Cllr Wellman was concerned that Consultation deadlines were being missed. A Consultation Committee would be formed to deal with these consultations on behalf of other Councillors. The idea being that that a smaller unit of people could work much faster. It was AGREED unanimously to appoint a Consultation Committee at the AGM in May. The Committee would consist of four Committee members, the Chairman and the Vice Chairman.

12. RESPONSE TO PARISH CONFERENCE CONSULTATION: It was AGREED that individual Councillors could send their own replies on the future of theParish Conference. It was also AGREED to complete a reply on behalf of the Council and this would be done at the Emergency Meeting on Monday evening.

13. CHAIRMANS SUBMISSIONS: The Chairman circulated a reply on behalf of the Council to various letters and emails from Richard Simmonds and other members of the Steering Group on the Cookham Plan. The aim of the response was to clarify, with the aid of Council Minutes, the exact involvement of Cookham Parish Council in giving a remit to two Councillors to set up the original Steering Group. This letter and the various attachments were approved unanimously. The Cookham Summer Tour had also come up and Cllr Wellman said that if there was money in the budget, the parish should sign it up for another year. The trees at Cookham Rise Primary School were also discussed. It was AGREED that the Clerk would write to the acting Head, requesting that the trees were removed in the Autumn.

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