COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

 COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL 

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

Cllrs: M. Brar, P. Brockwell, M. Coker, D. Fry, G. Harris, M. Innes,

M-L. Kellaway, R. Piercey, D. Ricardo, Jean Stretton and John Stretton.

1.                              APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies were received from Cllr M. Barnes. Cllr G. Harris declared a personal interest in item 9 on the agenda.

Item 9 was brought forward to first item before the Planning Meeting.

9.         THE FUTURE OF COOKHAM LOCK AND THE ACCESS VIA ODNEY COMMON:           Cllr John Stretton said that the home at Cookham Lock would not be safe in the hands of people who know nothing about floods. It was AGREED that John Lewis must be made aware of the situation as soon as possible. Cllr Ricardo said that Cookham Lock was very different to some of the other locks because it was not easy to gain access. There was no road other than the route over Lullebrook Bridge and across Odney Common. This was not a highway and the public only had right of access on foot. Cllr Ricardo said that there was no dry escape route should the river flood and the lock keeper would struggle to reach the lock. There was concern that the Environment Agency had not discussed their plans with the Parish Council. Cllr Harris said that the Commoners also had rights to graze their cattle on Odney Common. There would have to be another gate to stop the cattle wandering up the road and further safety measures in the time of foot and mouth disease. It was AGREED that the Environment Agency should be invited to hold one to one discussions with the Parish Council so that we can find out what is planned without relying on the views of others.                                                                                                                                

2.                              APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on the 1^st April 2008 were circulated and duly signed with one amendment. On Page 612, Cllr Coker had not attended the meeting.

3.                              COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Minutes of the Emergency Meeting held on 15^th April 2008 were circulated and approved with no amendments. The Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee was circulated and approved with two

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amendments. On P. 618, Cllr Wellman asked for an asterisk to be added to state that the figures for the loan from the Public Works Loans Board were not available at the meeting. On Page 619, item x, the Thames Valley Hospice were also requesting a donation. Cllr Coker also added that written proposals for new computer equipment would be available shortly. The Minutes for the Adoptive Acts Committee were circulated and approved with no amendments.

4.                              TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES:

1.   Cllr Kellaway had attended the meeting of the Patients Participation Group. She announced a coming event entitled “How to stay away from your doctor”.

2.   Cllr Fry attended the retirement party of Sir Philip Wroughton;  the public enquiry into the planning application at White Place Farm; the first meeting of the Traffic and Transport Meeting of the Cookham Plan Review along with Cllr Jean and John Stretton; the Borough Planning Meeting and the archaeological dig at the Cemetery as a new member of the Marlow Archaeological Society.

3.   Cllr Brar attended the second meeting of the Traffic and Transport Working Group along with Cllrs Jean and John Stretton

4.   Cllr Innes attended a meeting of the Pinder Hall Management Committee.   

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 April as listed on Page 634 were approved on the proposition of Cllr Innes and seconded by Cllr John Stretton.

7.         BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORT: Cllr Stretton gave an up-date on the recent Borough Planning Meeting. The application at 2, Whyteladyes Lane had been refused. The application for land adjacent to Hedsordine was on course for a refusal when a member of the audience shouted out that British Rail had not been consulted. This resulted in the application being deferred until this consultation could be carried out.   

8.         ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TO CPRE: On the proposition of Cllr Brar, seconded by Cllr Fry it was AGREED to renew the annual subscription to CPRE.

10.       CLARIFICATION OF THE 106 FUND REQUESTS FROM COOKHAM DEAN FOOTBALL CLUB:  Cookham Football Club had put in two requests for pitch improvement works to be carried out and paid for using 106 developers contributions. There was concern that one of the requests was for annual maintenance works that should be paid for by the Football Club under the terms of their contract. The Club were also keen to use the Junior Pitch, recently improved by the Parish Council, for their under 11’s team. It was agreed by eleven votes to two, to send the requests off the Kate Dagnall at RBWM and let her make the decision.

11.       CONSULTATION ON NATS AIRSPACE: Cllr Ricardo said that the proposed minimum height of 3,000 ft instead of 5,000 ft, along with increased frequency of air craft would have a dramatic effect over this area. The noise levels would be greatly increased depending on the type of air craft. The low level flights would increase air pollution. Cllr John Stretton said that the skies were already very crowded. A response was prepared to reflect these concerns and to protest in the strongest way to these proposals. 

12.       CHAIRMANS SUBMISSIONS: The Chairman confirmed that three candidates had put their names forward and an election had been requested. There was also concern that the press refered to the Cookham Plan being rejected by the Parish Council. This was incorrect, the Cookham Plan had not been rejected but was being reviewed.

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

The Meeting closed at 9.00pm.