COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the EMERGENCY COMMITTEE held at the

PRESENT:             Cllrs M. Barnes, P. Brockwell, D. Fry, G. Harris, Jean Stretton, M.Wellman and H.J. Woodbridge.

ALSO PRESENT: Mr Jon Fisher.

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1.                  APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Apologies were received from Cllrs Brar, Innes and John Stretton. No declarations of interest were made.

2.       DISCUSSION OF RECENT FIRE INCIDENT AT SUTTON ALLOTMENTS:

This Emergency Meeting was called to discuss the implications of a second fire in six months at  Sutton Allotments. Mrs Ro Facer rang the Clerk on Friday 11^th April to say that Roger Johnson’s shed had been burnt to the ground. She also stated that other sheds had been vandalised with windows smashed. Mrs Facer had a fire in her own shed in the summer. She seemed to consider that this was youth-related incident that had occurred during the night.

The Clerk visited the Allotments on the Monday morning and photographed the remains of Mr Johnson’s shed. The fire had been started in the plastic compost bin and the Clerk was alarmed to see a large fire-blackened gas cylinder on Mr Johnson’s plot. The Clerk could not see any other signs of windows smashed and there was no damage to the shed on the adjacent plot.

The Clerk also received a visit from a resident in Sutton Close who was concerned about the fires so close to their homes. The Councillors agreed with the resident and were most concerned that gas bottles were being left unattended on the allotment.

Mr Fisher suggested that every tenant be asked to fill out a self risk assessment form detailing what chemicals and inflammable liquids were on each plot. Mr Fisher offered to send a template to the Parish Office. After much discussion, it was AGREED to accept the offer of the risk assessment form for all allotment holders to complete. This form could be used in conjunction with the revised Tenancy Agreement (that the Clerk was working on for the chickens request) and this would be used to make allotment holders aware that chemicals, combustibles and gas cylinders should not be left unattended on the allotments at any time. In the interim period, the Clerk would write to all allotment holders to increase the awareness on this issue.

The Council would also renew the combination lock on the gate and further consideration would be given to hedge and fencing ideas.

The Meeting closed at 8.05pm.