COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

 Minutes of a Meeting of the

 MEETING OF THE ADOPTIVE ACTS COMMITTEE

PRESENT:      Cllr P. Brockwell (Chairman)

Cllrs: M. Brar, M. Innes and H.J. Woodbridge.

1.            APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies were received from Cllrs M. Barnes, M. Coker, G. Harris and M-L. Kellaway. There were no Declarations of Interest.

2.              CEMETERY:

a)                  Up-date on cemetery footpaths  – Cllr Brockwell and the Clerk had a site meeting with Joe Stoneman to plan the work on the footpaths. Most of the smaller side paths would be one metre wide. Some of the main paths would be 1.5 metres, especially through the centre of the Cemetery. There was also the agreement for Joe to quote on some of the extra paths that would be put in to link existing. Joe agreed to send the Clerk some figures for this before starting work in the new year. The edging was discussed and Joe would keep as much of the original Victorian edging for the main centre path. Concrete edgings would be put on the minor paths. The price for the extra paths had been quoted at £1950 in addition to the approved cost of £9850.

b)         Up-date on use of space in old cemetery – Cllr Brockwell and the Clerk had looked a the rest of the space in the old part of the cemetery. Some new rows would be created on Section G towards the Maidenhead Road allowing for the new path towards the skip area. It was agreed that although there was space on the far left of Section H for another row, it would leave very little room for the new path. The space could be left for a row of children graves or even ashes plots. It was also agreed to put in another row in Section G near the Chapel between the children’s area and the adults. 

c)         Grave-tidy service – The Clerk circulated details of the new scheme and the Councillors agreed to give it a trial for six months. A tariff of prices and services is shown on Page 741a of the Minutes.

3.                STREETLIGHTS: 

a)         Up-date on the insurance issue – Cllr Brockwell confirmed that a site meeting had taken place for the extra lights for High Road and they were now on order. Regarding the insurance issue, the Clerk had spoke to Barrie Dancer and he had advised getting a quote to raise the insurance of the streetlights from SEC. He felt that the extra insurance would not be a huge increase on the premium.

4.              TREES AT THE CEMETERY:

a)            Replacement of the lop-sided Aspen– The Aspen was due to be felled very shortly. It was AGREED for the Clerk to contact a tree officer to ask if a replacement tree such as a silver birch would be a suitable replacement.

5.         WAR MEMORIALS:

There was no news on the war memorials but the Clerk had a new contact for the outstanding work on the Cookham Dean memorial. The Committee was still hoping for Lambs to finish the Tarrystone plaque but would make fresh enquiries if necessary.

6.               FINANCE AND RISK:

a)         Budget for 2009-2010 financial year: The Committee considered the draft figures and noted that income from burials was likely to be over the £10,000 budgeted for last year. The energy figures for street lighting was also steadily increasing. The capital project of replacing the concrete columns was discussed. There were three to do at a cost of approx £1800 for each. It was AGREED that the Clerk would ring SEC to see which column should be given the priority.

b)         Up-date of the Risk Register for Adoptive Acts Committee: The Committee considered that most of the actions taken by this Committee were to improve the risk to the public. The Clerk would up-date the register with the new projects such as the new lighting in High Road and the new paths in the Cemetery.

The meeting closed at 8.40pm