COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

 COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

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

Cllrs: M. Brar, P. Brockwell, G. Harris, M. Innes, M-L. Kellaway, R. Piercey, D. Ricardo, Jean Stretton, John Stretton and M.Wellman.

1.                  APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies were received from Cllrs D. Fry and F. Hewer. Cllr Coker apologised after the meeting. Cllr M. Wellman declared a personal interest in items 12 and 13 on the agenda.

2.                  APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on the 7^th October 2008 were circulated and duly signed with no amendments.

3.            COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Minutes of the Adoptive Acts Committee held on 14^th October 2008 were circulated and approved with one amendment. Cllr Kellaway had attended this meeting. The Minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee held on 21^st October 2008 were circulated and approved with no amendments.   

4.            REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES:

1.         Cllr Innes attended a meeting of the Pinder Hall Management Committee. The service of the boiler had been completed and a kitchen assessment was now underway. The next meeting was the AGM.

2.         Cllr Jean Stretton attended the meeting of Marsh Meadow Management Committee. She was waiting for the minutes from Linda before reporting back.

3.         Cllr Kellaway attended a meeting of the Patients Participation Group. Their AGM was at the end of November and a newsletter would be available soon.

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

6.            FINANCE: The list of cheques raised in the month of October as listed on Page 720 were approved on the proposition of Cllr Innes and seconded by Cllr Piercey.

7.         BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORT: Cllr Stretton said that the residents’ parking in Cookham High Street was now in force with no complaints so far. The accident on the bend in Whyteladyes Lane was due to ice. Stephen Brown had been

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 looking at the bend the week before and intended filling the hashed lines with red tarmac to keep drivers away from the kerb. Cllr Stretton explained that this was an interim measure whilst waiting for the building work to be completed. Cllr Stretton also mentioned the consulation on alcohol-free zones which was due to be discussed at later meetings in November.

8.            VACANCY ON THE FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE: Cllr Hewer had contacted the Chairman to volunteer to serve on this Committee. Cllr Barnes proposed that the Finance Committee accept Cllr Hewer’s offer. This was seconded by Cllr Brar and AGREED unanimously.

9.            CYCLE RACKS IN THE PARISH:  Cllr Piercey was very keen to see some provision of cycle racks throughout the parish. The ideal places were considered to be Cookham Station, outside the library and other parts of the parish. Cllr Wellman said that there had been two outside the Social Club but one had been unscrewed from the wall. It was AGREED that the Clerk would compile a list of possible places to set before the Finance Committee.

10.            WORKING GROUP TO PRODUCE A FLOOD PLAN FOR COOKHAM: The Clerk had produced a draft plan based on the model provided by South Bucks District Council. RBWM had now produced their generic flood plan. The Clerk was also trying to get hold of a copy of the plan recently completed by Datchet Parish Council. Cllr Hewer had volunteered to go on this group. Cllrs Brar, Innes, Brockwell and Ricardo also volunteered to work through the various drafts and produce a plan for Cookham.

11.            INCREASE IN BURIAL FEES AT COOKHAM CEMETERY:  The Adoptive Acts Committee presented a range of increased fees that had been set and recommended to the Full Council. The price of Exclusive Rights for burial plots would rise from £185 to £250, cremation plots from £85 to £100, memorial permits from £30 to £50 and additional inscriptions from £5 to £25. These prices would be doubled for people residing outside the parish. Cllr Innes proposed acceptance of these increases from the new year. This was seconded by Cllr Barnes and AGREED.

12.             WELCOME SIGN FOR OUTDOOR FITNESS ZONE: The Clerk explained that at present the Outdoor Fitness Zone was a circle of equipment which could do with an entrance point. A quote had been received of £350 for a Welcome Sign which would set out all the equipment and some notes on exercising. On the proposition of Cllr Barnes, seconded by Cllr Piercey, it was AGREED to purchase the Welcome Sign. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 9, ABSTENTION = 3.

13.       TREE REPORT FROM RS WATTS: The Clerk had written to several contractors to secure quotes for various tree works on the Alfred Major and at Cookham Cemetery. Mr Watts had offered a competitive price for the works and had incorporated his report for free within the letter. The Council voted unanimously to accept his letter as a report as this would save the Council several hundred pounds.

14.            REMIT FOR THE VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT: The initial remit, that had already been approved by RBWM, was presented to the Parish Council by the Village Design Statement Working Group on the 27^th October 2008. The Cllrs had been asked to make any comments for the Council to consider. Cllr Hewer had emailed through several comments. Cllr Barnes suggested passing these suggestions to the VDS Working Group to see if they had any objections. This was seconded by Cllr Innes. The next meeting of the Working Group was 13^th November. The Clerk was asked to put the item on the agenda of the meeting on 18^th November. Cllr Ricardo expressed concerns about the duplication of work that had already been done.

15.            PRACTICAL AND FINANCIAL HELP FOR THE VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT PROJECT: Cllr Innes left the meeting at this point. Cllr Wellman referred to the total sum being requested of £10,000 and suggested that the only way to afford this sum was to add it to the precept. The Clerk reminded the Council that RBWM would not allow us to substantially increase the precept for a second year in a row. The monies for this project could be spread over two financial years. The Cookham Society may also decide to contribute. It was AGREED to put the financial aspect of the VDS on the agenda of the Finance Meeting on 18^th November. By that time, the Working Group would have had time to respond to Cllr Hewer’s comments on the Remit. Cllr Wellman expressed fears that the money would be spent with nothing to show for it – such as with the Parish Plan. Cllr Barnes said that this project was very different from the Parish Plan and if properly done, would become a Supplementary Planning Document specifically for Cookham parish. Cllr Barnes volunteered to represent the Council on the Working Group.

16.             CHAIRMAN’S SUBMISSIONS: The name of “Hartley Close” had been submitted to RBWM for the new development on the pumping station site on Whyteladyes Lane. Several ideas were discussed and it was AGREED to suggest the name of Arthur Close after the late Cllr Dick Arthur. Final comments were also requested on the revised Traffic and Transport Plan. The comments would be given to the Clerk by 11^th November for final approval on 18^th November.

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

The Meeting closed at 9.28pm.