COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

 Minutes of a Meeting of the

 COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

PRESENT:   Cllr H.J. Woodbridge (Chairman);

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

R. Piercey, D. Ricardo, Jean Stretton, John Stretton and Mike Wellman.

1.                              APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies were received from Cllrs Barnes and Kellaway. Cllr Woodbridge declared a personal interest in item 11 on the agenda.

2.                              APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on the 3^rd June 2008 were circulated and duly signed with no amendments.

3.            COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Minutes of the Adoptive Acts Committee held on 17^th June 2008 were circulated and approved with no amendments.  

4.         TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES:

1.   Cllr Harris attended the Public Rights of Way Access Meeting and said that the plans to make the Kennel Lane FP a bridleway had been abandoned due to a land owner refusing to co-operate.

2.   Cllr Fry attended three events. He represented the Parish Council at the Maidenhead Development Control panel where the recent application for developing the land at Hedsordene was on the agenda. This was refused. He attended the archaeological dig at the Cemetery. Cllr Fry also attended the Parish Conference and gave a short report.

3.   Cllr Brar attended the DALC AGM and noted that they would like to see four Parish Conferences a year. She also said that a Rural Forum was being set up.

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

6.            FINANCE:: The list of cheques raised in the month of June as listed on Page 664 were approved on the proposition of Cllr Brar and seconded by Cllr Jean Stretton.

7.         BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORT: Cllr Stretton said that the Maidenhead DC panel had declared that the old cinema site must be cleared by Christmas. He also mentioned that the Environment Agency had postponed a decision on the lock-keeper’s cottages for six months.                                   

8.         106 DEVELOPER’S CONTRIBUTIONS: Several items were added to the list of parish projects that may qualify for Developer’s Contributions. Cllr Coker asked for “Apparatus to determine the height of motor vehicles to enable diversion signage to be switched on in case of high vehicles in the vicinity of Cannondown Arch.” ; Cllr Fry asked for an “All-weather cricket strip in the Alfred Major Recreation Ground” ; Cllr Brar asked for “Speed warning signs in Whyteladyes Lane” ; Cllr Piercey asked for an “Improvements to slipway access to river at Stonehouse”. Cllr Wellman commented on how few of these projects had been achieved under the 106 developer’s contributions.

9.            TRANSPORT FOR PCSO’S:  The Clerk had received a letter from Cllr John Birkett of White Waltham Parish Council. He was asking for initial views on a scheme to jointly fund a vehicle for the PCSO’s to use in our area. Cookham is part of a large rural policing area that extends as far west as White Waltham. This area is also covered by Bisham, Hurley and White Waltham Parish Council. The PCSO’s had been using a van to transport their bikes but the lease on the van was due to expire. Inspector John McDonald had written to Cllr Birkett to offer a Vauxhall Corsa to the PCSO’s if the Parish Councils wished to fund it. The cost of the scheme would be a total of £3492 per annum which Cllr Birkett said would be split by the population of each parish. Each parish would pay £92 per Councillor – for Cookham this would work out at £1380. Cllr Wellman said that the Vauxhall Corsa would not be suitable for transporting bikes. Cllr Ricardo felt that once again the Parish Councils were being asked to pay twice for security just as they were with the Cookham-based PCSO proposal. On the proposition of Cllr Innes, seconded by Cllr Brar it was agreed not to support the scheme.

VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 7, AGAINST = 3, ABSTENTION = 2.

10.            RENOVATION AND DECORATION AT THE CEMETERY:  Two quotes were submitted for a range of work at the Cemetery to include renovating the mortuary, re-building the mortuary doors and painting the chapel doors. The first quote was from Philip Holdford at a cost of £1224 and the second was from Joe Stoneman at a cost of £1295. It was agreed that the Parish Council should specify the work to be done in more detail such as the paint to be used. It was proposed by Cllr Fry and seconded by Cllr Innes to award the work to Joe Stoneman. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 9, AGAINST = 2, ABSTENTION = 1. Cllr Coker stated that he would have liked to see more detail on the quote from Joe Stoneman.

11.            REQUESTS FOR DONATIONS FROM THREE CHARITIES:  The Parish Council has had requests for donations from Berkshire Blind Society, Thames Valley Hospice and Elizabeth House in Cookham Rise. Elizabeth House is in the middle of raising funds to complete a major extension on their dining room. It was proposed by Cllr Fry and seconded by Cllr Harris to award £200 to the Berkshire Blind Society. It was proposed by Cllr Harris and seconded by Cllr Fry to award £200 to Thames Valley Hospice. It was proposed by Cllr Woodbridge and seconded by Cllr Brockwell to award the sum of £500 to Elizabeth House. These donations would all come from the Donations sum allocated in the budget.

12.            CHAIRMANS SUBMISSIONS: An appointment was made for a site visit to discuss the trees at Cookham Rise Primary School. The Clerk was also asked to arrange a meeting with the Head of Planning, Mr Tim Slaney at RBWM. Those Cllrs volunteering to attend this session was: Cllr Wellman, Fry, Brar, Coker and Jean Stretton.

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

The Meeting closed at 9.45pm.