COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

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

Cllrs: P. Brockwell, M. Coker, D. Fry, G. Harris, F. Hewer, M. Innes,

M-L. Kellaway, R. Piercey (part time), D. Ricardo and M.Wellman.

1.                  APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies were received from Cllrs Jean Stretton; M. Barnes and M. Brar. Cllr John Stretton was at the Town Hall on Borough business. Cllr M. Coker declared a prejudicial interest in item 11 on the agenda. Cllr M. Wellman declared a personal interest in item 9 on the agenda.

2.                  APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on the 6^th January 2009 were circulated and duly signed with one amendment. Cllr Coker requested that the Minutes be amended to delete the personal interest stated in an item on approving the precept request. This was agreed as it was an error. Cllr Fry queried whether questions asked under Standing Orders should be published as part of the Minutes. The Chairman said that the Minutes would be brief and not in excessive detail. The Clerk agreed to consult BALC as to whether the answers to questions under Standing Orders should be part of the Minutes. Cllr Wellman queried whether Page 753 (Pink paper) should now be in the public domain. The Clerk would check whether the information on this page was still confidential. Cllr Piercey left the meeting at this point.

3.            COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Minutes of the Footpaths and Open Spaces Committee held on 26^th January 2009 were circulated and approved with no amendments. Cllr Ricardo wished to minute that he was unhappy about the use of poison to control rats in public spaces.

4.            REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES:

1.         Cllr Fry attended a presentation from Mr Wondayehu of the Kadida Project in Ethiopia. Holy Trinity Church and its congregation had raised a large sum towards providing fresh water for approx. 60,000 people.

2.         Cllr Harris attended the Local Access Forum.

3.         Cllr Innes attended a meeting of the Pinder Hall Management Committee.

4.         Cllr Hewer attended a meeting of the Cookham Youth Project. She reported that they had an interesting programme of activities. Cllr Hewer along with Cllr Brockwell also tried to attend the DALC meeting in the Guild Hall at Windsor. The meeting rooms were locked and the event abandoned.

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

6.            FINANCE: The list of cheques raised in the month of January as listed on Page 769 were approved on the proposition of Cllr Hewer and seconded by Cllr Innes.

7.         BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORT: There was no report due to the absence of Cllr John Stetton.

8.         UP-DATE ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING: The Clerk reported that the meeting would be held on Tuesday 24^th March 2009 at the Holy Trinity Parish Centre at 7.30pm. The venue was due to the Community Room only carrying insurance for fifty people. Pinder Hall was available but not until 7.15pm which was too close to the start of our event. There were two speakers planned. Mr John Parrot from Cross Rail to speak about this project and its effect on our local line from Maidenhead to Marlow. Also Mr Colin Berks would give a presentation on the archaeological dig at Cookham Cemetery and also the benefits of holding an Asset Register for the Cookhams. PC Marc Chapman may also wish to say a few words. The Chairman asked for all Councillors to wear their identity cards. Cllr Kellaway and Hewer reminded the Clerk that they do not have cards.

9.         NEW IDEAS FOR SUMMER ACTIVITIES ON THE ALFRED MAJOR:  The Clerk circulated some information on a new mobile skate board range of ramps and beams. The Councillors were not in favour. Cllr Fry said that they would have to be supervised and monitored. Cllr Harris queried insurance. Cllr Wellman said that the activities organised by RBWM included staff supervision. Cllr Fry then suggested falconry on the Alfred Major or a trailer of farm animals from Odds Farm. The Clerk said that she would send an email to Mark Camp-Overy who organised the summer activities last year. 

10.            THEFT OF LEAD FROM CDFC PAVILION AND PINDER HALL: Cllr Innes confirmed that the insurers had agreed to cover the cost of repairing the damage apart from the excess of £100. It had been suggested to replace the lead with an alternative material. It was assumed that the Football Club had also replaced their roof on insurance. There was also the mention of a team playing Tag Rugby on the Junior pitch. The Clerk had complaints from Mr Gavin and would try to meet with the rugby players to discuss their needs on the Alfred Major. 

11.            COOKHAM RISE PRIMARY SCHOOL’S PLANS FOR NEW FENCING AND THE LIABILITY OF THE COUNCIL:  The Clerk had met with the new headmistress, Mrs Helen Daniels. She told of her plans to replace the chain link fence around the school and the playing field. The Clerk had looked at the contract and the only restriction on the piece rented from the Parish Council was that the fence must be no higher than five foot. The Clerk also confirmed that the trees recommended for removal the RBWM tree officer would be moved during the Easter holidays. It was AGREED that the Clerk would write to the head mistress to ask for the Parish Council to be kept informed of her progress with the fence.

12.       UP-DATE ON THE ACTION TAKEN FOR THE PLAY AREA: The Clerk had made enquiries with Stephen Brown, Head of Transport. He had recommended an engineer from Balfour Beatty who would be able to scan the ground for faults. The hole had been filled and packed by Steve and Peter Taylor and the Clerk had monitored it for several weeks before opening the play area. The Clerk would continued to monitor the whole play area.

13.             CONFIRMATION OF MR BARRIE DANCER AS INTERNAL AUDITOR: On the proposition of Cllr Fry, seconded by Cllr Brockwell, it was AGREED to continue to ask Mr Dancer to carry out an internal audit for Cookham Parish Council.

14.             CHAIRMAN’S SUBMISSIONS: The Chairman mentioned that the owner of Cookham Dean Post Office was intending to sell the building. The Post Office were continuing to look for an alterative venue for the post office in the Dean. The Chairman also confirmed that if the river flooded, Cookham Parish Council had told RBWM that they would not be opening the Causeway. There was much discussion as to the lack of help provided by Darren Firth, the Emergency Planning Officer at RBWM. Cllr Hewer offered to attend the drop-in sessions at Tinkers Depot along with Cllr Coker. The Clerk was asked to continue to chase David Oram and Darren Firth for help with our Community Flood Plan.

The Clerk asked whether the Council were interested in paying a man with ferrets up to £150 a day to rid the allotments. The Councillors felt that the man could do the work for free and keep the rabbits but the Council should not pay.

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

The Meeting closed at 9.50pm.