COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

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

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

M-L. Kellaway, D. Ricardo, Jean Stretton, John Stretton and M.Wellman.

1.                  APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies were received from Cllrs R. Piercey; M. Barnes and D. Fry. Cllr G. Harris declared a personal interest in item11 on the agenda.

2.                  APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on the 10^th February 2009 were circulated and duly signed with one comment. Cllr Wellman asked the Clerk to check with Ian Bellinger about the confidential nature of the sites proposed to be returned to Green Belt.

3.         COMMITTEE REPORTS: There were no Committee Meetings held in February.

4.         REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES:

1.         Cllr F. Hewer attended the meeting of the Cookham Youth Project. She said that they were looking for ideas for summer activities. The youthworkers supplied by RBWM were only available during the day and there may be problems with their funding.

2.         Cllr M. Innes attended a meeting of the Pinder Hall Management Committee. The stolen lead from the roof had been replaced with a different material. The cost of this was covered by the insurance.

3.         Cllr M-L. Kellaway would be attending the health evening at the Medical Centre as part of the Parents & Patients Participation Group on 19^th May.

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

6.         FINANCE: The list of cheques raised in the month of February as listed on

Page 777 were approved on the proposition of Cllr Woodbridge and seconded by Cllr Wellman.

7.         BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORT: Cllr John Stretton mentioned that the Council Tax for RBWM was one of the lowest in the UK.

8.         TESTING FOR THE PRESENCE OF ASBESTOS ON THE SITE OF THE MILLENNIUM CLOCK: The Clerk had received a letter asking for confirmation that there was no asbestos in the vicinity of the Millennium Clock. The Clock was on a building owned by Network Rail and leased to an Architectural Practice. It was AGREED that the Clerk would write to Network Rail and explain the situation.

9.         CANCELLATION OF WORKS AT THE BOURNE END VIADUCT: Cllr Hewer said that the Bourne End Viaduct looked very sad at present. However the closing of the foot bridge whilst the engineers carried out the repair works would have a significant effect for residents living on this part of the river bank. Cllr Hewer felt that the Parish Council should keep up the pressure to get the work done. Cllr John Stretton proposed that the Council write a letter to Network Rail expressing disappointment that the work has been postponed and asking them to put this matter on to their agenda at the next available opportunity.

10.       RBWM’s COMMUNITY FLOOD PLAIN TEMPLATE: RBWM had at long last issued a Community Flood Plan. It is a lengthy generic document that would require a lot of work to complete. Cllr Hewer said that Cllr Ricardo had already done a lot of good work on the flood plan for Cookham. Cllr Ricardo said that we could not complete a Flood Plan for Cookham until David Oram answered our questions on the responsibility of the Causeway. Copies of the flood plan template had been sent to all Cllrs with computer facilities. It was a large file and would be very expensive to print off paper copies for all Councillors. It was AGREED that the Clerk would ask for a meeting with David Oram.

11.       CONSIDERATION OF THE FIRST DRAFT RESPONSE TO THE REST OF THE PARISH PLAN:  Due to the fact that Councillors had only received the notes at this meeting, Cllr Wellman asked for this item to be deferred. It was AGREED to hold an Extra-Ordinary Meeting on Monday 9^th March at 6pm in the Parish Office in order to go through these notes.

12.       CHAIRMAN’S SUBMISSIONS: The Clerk issued reminders about the BALC Planning Training event and the Garden Party Draw. A letter had been received from Wynn McCabe concerning a car break-in suffered by the CEO of his company. Mr McCabe wanted the Parish Council to write and express concern. He also wanted the Parish Council to consider offering a free lunch of tickets to the Spencer Gallery in way of compensation. It was AGREED that the Clerk should write to express sympathy but to firmly state that tax-payer’s money cannot be used to purchase the treats suggested.

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

The Meeting closed at 9.45pm.