COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

 Minutes of a Meeting of the

 COOKHAM PARISH COUNCIL

PRESENT:   Cllr D. Fry (Chairman);

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

M-L. Kellaway, R. Piercey, D. Ricardo, H. J. Woodbridge and M.Wellman.

1.                  APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Apologies were received from Cllrs M. Barnes, Jean and John Stretton. The Chairman declared a prejudicial interest in item 10 on the agenda. Cllr Woodbridge would take the Chair for this item. Cllrs Brar, Coker and Wellman declared a personal interest on item 10.

2.                  APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on the 2^nd June 2009 were circulated and duly signed with one amendment. On Page 823, the Chairman wished to include that he was also on the Alfred Major to meet Radio Berkshire and Playground Facilities. The Minutes of the Emergency Meeting held on 27^th July 2009 were circulated and agreed with no amendments.

3.            COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 16^th June 2009 were circulated and approved with one amendment. Cllr Ricardo disagreed with a comment inserted by the Clerk. As this was not actually said at the meeting it was AGREED to delete the words in brackets. The Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 23^rd June 2009 and the Adoptive Acts Committee held on 21^st July 2009 were circulated and approved with no amendments.

4.            REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES:

1.         Cllr Hewer attended a meeting of the Cookham Youth Project and a meeting of the Riverside Parishes. The Riverside Parishes discussed a wide range of flooding issues and were concerned that not enough information and time was given to parishes. It was agreed to establish a Liaison Group for Riverside Parishes and the first meeting was due to take place on Tuesday 15^th September 2009.

2.         Cllr Innes attended a meeting of the Pinder Hall Management Committee. One hundred new chairs had been purchased and were available should the Parish Council have need of them. Fine Signs had been bought by Country Stoves. Cllr Innes also attended a meeting of the Sustainable Communities panel at the Town Hall. Cookham  Parish Council received no invitation to this meeting but the main topic was to consider the Town Hall taking over the Fire Service from the Royal Berks.

3.         Cllrs Brar and Kellaway attended the NAG meeting. Speeding was being looked at in Whyteladyes Lane, Sutton Road and Dean Lane. Cllr Brar and Hewer announced that they were meeting with PC Chapman in Whyteladyes Lane.

4.         Cllr Brockwell and Brar attended the AGM of the DALC. Cllr Brockwell felt that the meeting was not very interesting.

5.         Cllrs Fry and Wellman attended a meeting of the Stakeholders at the Town Hall. This proved to be a very lively meeting with Cllr Alison Knight taking much criticism from White Waltham Parish Council over the fact that 106 monies never seem to be spent in their area. The future consultation on the Green Belt also featured at this meeting. There is to be a further consultation with the allocated sites due to be announced in the Autumn.

5.             QUESTIONS UNDER STANDING ORDERS 24/26:  Cllr Ricardo asked three questions of the Chairman.

i) Why was Cookham Parish Council not notified of the exhibition at Court Gardens of the Marlow Flood Relief Scheme? A: The Clerk had no notification of this event but Cookham Parish Council is now registered direct with Wycombe District Council.

ii) Why were the Cookham Councillors not notified of the draft Flood and Water Management Bill? A: The Clerk apologised that this single sheet of paper has only recently emerged on her desk.

iii) Why has the ownership of the Causeway still not been resolved? A: The Chairman detailed the letters and emails from David Oram over the last year. RBWM think that the National Trust own the Causeway but this has not been confirmed. The Chairman is now actively trying to set up a meeting with David Oram to discuss this issue and others to do with flooding.

6.            FINANCE: The list of cheques raised in the month of June as listed on Page 851 were unanimously approved. Cllr Hewer wished to know what the Parish Council insurance covered. The Clerk invited Cllr Hewer to look at the schedule which was kept in the Parish Office in a file marked “Insurance”. The list of cheques raised in the month of July as listed on Page 852 were unanimously approved. Cllr Coker queried the bill from Brian Clews. The Clerk would supply a breakdown but this was for work connected with the Village Design Statement.

7.         BOROUGH COUNCILLORS’ REPORT: Cllr Stretton apologised that he was not able to attend to give a report.

8.         BID FOR CCTV TO GO TO COMMUNITY SAFETY CAPITAL FUND: The Chairman has spoken at length to Brian Martin of RBWM and he is most sympathetic of the recent vandalism problems on the Alfred Major Recreation Ground.  Cllr Brar proposed that we apply for the sum of £10,000 to pay for the CCTV cameras. This was seconded by Cllr M. Coker and AGREED unanimously.

9.            IMPLICATION OF THE MARLOW FLOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEME AND POSSIBLE EFFECT ON COOKHAM: Cllr Ricardo thinks that the flooding in Cookham will get worse as a result of the intended works at Marlow. He also called for a clearance of the North Town ditch and private meetings with the Environment Agency. Cllr Coker wished to know whether the computer modelling had been done for the Marlow Alleviation Scheme. The Chairman said that the future meeting with David Oram may give us some answers. It was AGREED to make contact with the new lady at RBWM who was supposed to be making the Causeway her priority and had not contacted the Parish Council so far. Cllr Wellman suggested talking to Mr David Swann of the EA. The Chairman pointed out that a draft flood plan had been given to the Councillors some time ago from the Clerk. Cllr Hewer said that this draft plan along with a different draft from Cllr Ricardo would need some work to bring the two documents together and guidance from RBWM.

Cllr Woodbridge took the Chair for this next item.

10.            REQUEST FOR REGULAR GARDEN CLEARANCE FROM MRS PICKERING’S PARENTS:  The Clerk has been having on-going correspondence and telephone calls with Mrs Pickering and her parents, Mr and Mr Lippett of Groves Way. Every Autumn there are complaints that the large oak tree on the Alfred Major Recreation Ground that overhangs their garden drops leaves and acorns. This year, the recent works on the trees have resulted in the dead ivy leaves dropping in to their garden over the summer. Cllr Brar said that the clearance of the garden is the responsibility of the MDHA and there is a form they have to complete. It was felt that any work done in this garden would create a precedent for the rest of the road to ask for the same service. It was proposed by Cllr Innes and seconded by Cllr Brar to write to the Chief Executive, Jim Pettitt, to explain the situation and see if a form could be sent to Mrs Pickering or her parents. This was AGREED unanimously. The Clerk asked whether she could send in a contractor to do a one-off clearance of the ivy leaves but the Council were not in favour of this.

11.       DOG BINS ON FP 60: It was AGREED that the Clerk would write to the various landowners – RBWM, Marsh Meadow Management Committee and the National Trust – and request these bins along with regular emptying.

12.             HEATHROW AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE DIRECTIVE CONSULTATION: The deadline for this consultation was not until 5^th October 2009. It was AGREED to defer this item to give more Councillors a chance to study the contents and formulate their views. Cllr Brockwell had answered the consultation.

12.            CHAIRMANS SUBMISSIONS: The Chairman announced that there was a new Inspector at Maidenhead Police Station – Lee Townsend. There was also another possible grant scheme that could be of interest to the Parish Council – this would be included on the agenda of the next meeting. The Clerk mentioned the offer of a tree from the owner of Magnolia in Worster Road – this would be positioned in the Outdoor Fitness Zone. News from BALC included the Local Government Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, this  would allow appointed Councillors in addition to elected and co-opted Councillors. Also the need for five elected Councillors to attend a meeting to make it quorate. Also only elected Councillors could be Chairman and Vice Chairman. The Clerk would try to find out more about the implications of this Act.

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

The Meeting closed at 10.00pm.