COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

MEETING OF THE ADOPTIVE ACTS COMMITTEE

PRESENT:       Cllrs: P. Brockwell, M. Coker, G. Harris, A. Prichard,

M. Wellman and H. J. Woodbridge.

1.      APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN:

Cllr H.J. Woodbridge proposed Cllr P. Brockwell to continue as the Chairman. This was seconded by Cllr A. Prichard and agreed unanimously.

2.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies were received from Cllr M. Innes. There were no declarations of interest.

2.  CEMETERY:

a)            Review completed repair of cemetery porch – The Clerk reported that the toughened glass was now in place and the porch was finished. The rot had been so severe that metal rods had been put into the porch structure to support the roof. News of the RBWM grant was still awaited however Cookham Builders confirmed that their price would remain at £2,000 plus vat despite the severe rot.

b)                  Quotes for path edging, new path surfaces and repair of blocked soakaway – Various quotes had been circulated but due to the recent finding of the blocked soakaway not all of the quotes had addressed this problem. Also some quotes were only for path edging whilst others were for the new path surface and the edging. Joe Stoneman had provided the cheapest quote for path edging at £4730 - whilst Garden Tech had quoted £5645. However Joe had measured the paths at 430 metres whilst Garden Tech had measured 550 metres. It was agreed that a proper specification was needed to finalise the different parts of the work. Cllr Harris and Cllr Prichard said they would measure the paths at the Cemetery.

c)            Review of Philip Holdford’s contract – The Committee compared the contract drawn up by David Armstrong in 1999 with the new contract presented by Mr Holdford. The main difference was that the new contract did not mention taking away the grass clippings. It had also been noticed that hedge clippings were not always taken away. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to Mr Holdford to remind him of the contract as approved by Cookham Parish Council and to inform him that the skip on site at the Cemetery could be used for the disposal of grass and hedge clippings. The Clerk would also ask Mr Holdford to make sure his men do not leave the tablets in the Cremation area covered in grass from strimming. The tablets must be readable after the work has been done.

d)            Request to put a bench in the cemetery – Mr Macdonald from Oxfordshire has recently buried his wife in the Cemetery. He wished to put a bench in her memory in the Cemetery but wanted the Clerk to organise it for him. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to Mr Macdonald giving him permission to arrange for a new bench but on the proviso that he does his own organising!

3.            LIGHTING:

a)                  Update on lights out and lights flickering – None to report.

4.   ALLOTMENTS:

a)                  Request for a policy on lighting fires at Sutton Allotment – It was agreed that a reference should be made in the Allotment Rules and Conditions to say that fires must be attended at all times – preferably with the prevailing wind blowing away from Sutton Close. The Clerk would send out letters to Allotment holders from all three Allotments. It was also agreed that the Rule Book would be amended at the next opportunity.

b)                  Up-date on water leak at Cookham Dean – Cllr Harris confirmed that the recent water leak at Cookham Dean has been repaired temporarily and seems to be holding. Should a more permanent repair be made, it may be better to move the stand pipe away from the Car Park to a location where it will not be knocked over. It was agreed that the Parish Council would pay for the new pipe in the event that the Allotment holders themselves, working with Cllr Harris, decide to carry out this work. It would not happen until October at the earliest.

5.   FINANCE:

Review of Adoptive Acts Finances 2003/2004 and review of budget for 2004/2005 -

The budget was considered with the knowledge that £2,000 had been kept in Reserves for the repair of the chapel porch and a further £1000 allowed for the back-dated street lighting energy bill. Allotment regeneration costs had not been shown separately. The Clerk agreed to make this information available. Cllr Harris warned that the repair of a gate post at Cookham Dean allotment made need some financing at some point.

The meeting closed at 10.00pm