COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the PLANNING COMMITTEE held at the

Community Room on Tuesday, 21st January 2003 commencing at 7.30pm.

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

Cllrs. M. Brar, P. Brockwell, M. Coker, S. Garrard, G. Harris, A. Hay, M. Innes, A. Prichard, D. Ricardo, Jean Stretton.

The meeting opened with a talk from David Trigwell, Head of Planning at the Royal Borough. Mr Trigwell assured the Parish Council that although the Royal Borough has had problems and performed badly in the past, the Best Value initiative and other efforts has begun to show an improved service. He said that the Parish Council’s role in determining the outcome of planning decisions was essential. The local knowledge of the area and key issues that affected the village helped the Borough Councillors to take fair decisions. The local plan was due to be reviewed and this was a good opportunity to get the Parish Council involved. The first stage will available for comment in the Summer (June-July). Mr Trigwell then answered a variety of questions regarding planning and enforcement issues from the Councillors.

OPEN FORUM

Members of the public were invited to address their questions to Mr Trigwell. Beryl Mcneany asked why it took the Royal Borough nine months to stop the recent building works at Dean Garage. David Trigwell emphasised that issuing a stop notice on builders is not a decision to be taken lightly. The builder can claim all expenses and costs if stopped for the wrong reasons! The Council was also on ‘shaky ground’ with this particular building work but Mr Trigwell insisted that the Council had acted as quickly as they could and that any future plans will be available for inspection.

Mr John Bowley asked whether any long term changes would be made as a result of the recent floods. Mr Trigwell said that this was really an issue for the Environment Agency to answer but Sarah Ball at the Royal Borough could give advice on areas at risk. Mr Trigwell admitted that the using the Environment Agency in the consultation process for new planning applications has slowed down the process but they are striving to act quicker. Ideally he would like to create a situation where the Borough relies more on local expertise. The Chairman thanked Mr Trigwell and Mr Ford for their time.

OPEN FORUM ON OTHER ISSUES

The Chairman then asked if any other members of the public wished to speak. Arun Brar spoke to say that he had written to the Parish Council regarding a skateboard park on the Alfred Major playing fields. Sean Revez also spoke about a petition signed by over fifty people all in favour of a skateboard park the last time the Parish Council discussed it. He said they were not looking for anything big and they would help with fund-raising. Arun said that some skateboarding magazines have rental or hire schemes where you can try them first and buy later. The Chairman replied that Arun’s letter had been taken seriously and the topic was on the agenda for discussion at our Footpaths and Open Spaces Meeting later that evening.

Robert Harris, Chairman of Cookham Social Club spoke about his concern at the time delay on the Station Hill project. He did not understand why the Councillors were not allowed to vote. Rather than go through the Code of Conduct, the Chairman assured Mr Harris that he shared this frustration and had personally taken the decision to discuss and vote on the project tonight. However, the Chairman emphasised that this was decision for every Councillor to taken individually.

David Ricardo also spoke to comment on a ditch that the Environment Agency wished to delete. In his view it will make flooding more serious. The Chairman established that this was a new application that had come in to the Parish Office that day and assured Mr Ricardo that it would be discussed at the next Planning meeting on 4th February.

The Planning meeting opened at 8.20pm.

APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Apologies were received from Cllrs Arthur and John Stretton.

Declarations of interest were received from Cllr Ricardo on Appn no 02/39688 and Cllr Harris on Appn 02/39710.

On the Station Hill item, Cllr Wellman declared a prejudicial interest because he worked at Cookham Social Club. Cllr Harris also declared a prejudicial interest because his son is the Chairman of the Social Club. Cllrs Woodbridge, Hay, Brockwell, Prichard, Brar and Jean Stretton declared a personal interest as members of Cookham Social Club.

PLANS CONSIDERED & DISCUSSED

PLANNING DECISIONS

OTHER ITEMS:

STATION HILL PROJECT

Cllrs M. Wellman and G. Harris declared a prejudicial interest and left the meeting whilst the discussion and voting took place. The Chairman recapped on the current situation and re-presented the final set of plans drawn up by Chris Wheeler from RBWM. These were the plans originally approved by the Parish Council in February 2002 with just a few minor amendments from the meetings of the 1^st October and 11^th October 2002.

Cllr Brockwell was concerned that the road would become narrower once the pavement was finished. On the plans, Chris Wheeler had shown that the road would be realigned on the opposite side of the road, but this was now in question as the incumbent Railtrack owns this land. Cllr Stretton said that Babtie had done all the measurements and that although the road would be a little narrower it was still within the legal width and had their approval.

Cllr Ricardo sent a photograph showing the present dangers with cars and lorries parked on both sides of the road approaching the level crossing. He said if the scheme went ahead there was a danger that cars would be backed up on the railway line. Cllr Prichard said that drivers should use their driving skills to assess the crossing on approach and stop if the way over was not clear. It was confirmed that the gates at the level crossing would be extended out to keep the cars away from being stranded on the railway line.

The Clerk said that she had received a call from David Parr of Burnt Oak whose disabled wife was forced to bash on a driver’s back window to avoid being knocked over. The Chairman said that safety for pedestrians was the primary reason to pass this scheme but he acknowledged that safety to drivers was equally important. Cllr A. Prichard proposed that the scheme should be allowed to go ahead, this was seconded by Cllr P. Brockwell.

Cllr D. Ricardo requested a named vote:

IN FAVOUR = 7 votes from Cllrs. S. Garrard, A. Prichard, M. Coker, P. Brockwell, Jean Stretton, M. Innes, P. Woodbridge.

AGAINST = 2 votes from Cllrs. D. Ricardo and A. Hay.

Cllrs M. Wellman and G. Harris did not vote.

CONFIRM ANNUAL PRECEPT AND SIGNATORIES

Cllr Wellman said for the year end 03/04 the figure of £14,328.69 was based on having £17,950 at the end of the current year. It was noted that the income for burials had reached less £5000, far short of the predicted £12,432. Brian Marpole from RBWM had confirmed that monies for maintenance of the new office would

be hundreds rather than thousands – the contract states that Cookham Parish Council will pay 11% as their share of the costs. We may also have election costs in May estimated at £1200 – a figure we think is quite low. Cllr Prichard suggested using the Community Room for the election to save the cost of hiring Pinder Hall.

Cllr Wellman proposed that the Annual Precept should be increased by £2000 to £50,000 for next year. The extra £2000 will pay for the increased library hours due to cost £1500 and £500 towards funding a Christmas Tree and a power supply for Cookham Rise. Cllr Woodbridge proposed accepting the increase to the annual precept to £50,000, seconded by Cllr Prichard.

Signatories were also discussed. Barclays Bank will continue to give us free banking as long as our account stays under £100,000. However after next May we will be limited to three signatories. It was proposed that the Chairman, the Vice Chairman and the Clerk should be the signatories for the coming year. The vote accepting this was unanimous.

The Meeting closed at 9.35pm