COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

 FOOTPATHS & OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE

PRESENT:       Cllr G. Harris (Chairman)

Cllrs M. Innes, D. Ricardo, M. Wellman and H. J. Woodbridge.

1.                  APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Apologies were received from Cllrs D. Fry; R. Piercey; M. Barnes and M. Brar. Cllr Wellman declared a personal interest in items 2a and 4a on the agenda.

2.            ALFRED MAJOR GROUND:

a)            Opening arrangements for the Outdoor Fitness Zone and Play Area: The Clerk gave a brief up-date to say that the Outdoor Fitness Zone was now complete although she and Cllr Piercey had to draft a leaflet to accompany the Fitness equipment. The Play Area would have been complete but the large sand hole had delayed the completion of the work. The Clerk was in the process of finding a company to carry out a scan of the play area to ensure that no other holes were imminent. Cllr Woodbridge proposed inviting the Mayor to formally open the Outdoor Fitness Zone and the new Play Area. It was also AGREED to invite Kate Dagnall from RBWM as the officer who had liaised with the Clerk over the 106 funding. Cllr Wellman also suggested trying to find out which developer had contributed to the equipment and inviting them to the opening. The Clerk would consult with the Major’s diary on availability.

3.            FOOTPATHS:

a)            Comments on the Milestones Statement for 2009-2010: The Clerk ran through the works completed by RBWM during 2008. Major surface improvements or vegetation clearance had been performed on RB20 (Malders Lane); RB68 (Jobs Lane). Three stiles had been replaced with bridle gates on FP49; on FP 1 and 17 two stiles replaced with kissing gates; FP26 – one stile replaced with kissing gate; FP60/72 ramped boardwalk installed under Cookham Bridge to avoid the dangerous road crossing and steps. In addition RBWM were in the process of producing an easy-going level walk around Cookham. Cllr Harris said that the path over Widbrook Common linking with the Thames Path is almost agreed. Cllr Woodbridge asked if the path leading to Coxborrow Close could be a definitive path. The Clerk would make enquiries. 

4.            ALLOTMENTS:

a)         Quote for new fence using 106 money at Cookham Rise allotments: There was a brief discussion on the quote from Steve Taylor but the Clerk had not had time to get other “like for like” quotes. It was AGREED to defer this item to another meeting. Cllr Harris queried the use of gravel boards in the quote from Steve Taylor.

b)            Consideration of creating more space at Cookham Dean allotments and improving the parking facilities: Cllr Harris was unsure whether the parking was too small. He also felt that Sutton would be much cheaper and easier to increase. The Clerk said that some residents specifically wanted to have an allotment at Cookham Dean because it was much nearer to their homes. Cllr Woodbridge said that we would have to give at least twelve months notice to the tenants using Council land for grazing or hay-making. The Council would look to increase the allotment site by at least four ten pole plots.Cllr Woodbridge proposed a site meeting to be held with John Linegar to see how Cookham Dean allotments could be expanded. This was seconded by Cllr Wellman. VOTE: IN FAVOUR = 3, ABSTENTION = 2

c)            Entrance improvements at Sutton Allotments: The Clerk had started completing the form for Helen Leonard to approve at RBWM. Cllr Harris would give the Clerk details of the exact meterage of hedge to be replaced.

d)         Quote from Berkshire Pest Control to operate permanent rat control at Sutton and Cookham Dean allotments: The Clerk had spoken to several pest control specialists who all differed on whether there was a rat problem at Sutton. The opinion of Mike Johnson was that there were no rats but the allotment needed some professional ferreters. He had offered to give our details to some ferreters. Berkshire Pest Control had carried out a site visit and stated that there were rats on at least three locations at Sutton. They were offering a pest control contract to cover six visits per year with free call outs for rats and mice. Written reports would be supplied after each visit describing any action taken and detailing any poisons or insecticides used. The cost of the contract would be £252 plus vat for the year. Cllr Wellman proposed that the Council give this service a trial for the next year. This was seconded by Cllr Woodbridge and AGREED unanimously.

The Meeting closed at 7.05pm.