Finchampstead Parish Council met at the Memorial Hall on Thursday, 2 February.

Councillor Eric Cox, Chairman of the Finance Committee, presented the Council with the 2006-7 precept, which, at £96,970 is approximately the same as that for 2005-6.  This was approved by the Parish Council, which also expressed its gratitude to Councillor Cox and the Clerk for their hard work in producing the Budget.

One of the projects which the Council is keen to support is the provision of a new Scout Hut at California Country Park.  Councillor Geoff Markham reported on a meeting he had had with the Scout leader and Chris Buggy from WDC Countryside Services.

Parish Councillors have been working for several months on a Five Year Plan, which sets out the aims of each committee, and the final draft was approved at the meeting.  It was also agreed that the plan be reviewed every January to see whether our aims are being achieved!

One of these aims is to improve safety and visual amenity at California crossroads, so Councillors were delighted to hear from District Councillor Simon Weeks that WDC is aware of problems there and is actively looking at improvements.  The Parish Council will be kept informed of any plans. Councillor Weeks also informed the Parish Council of the schedule for the closure of Finchampstead Road, which is to begin on 27 February, when the section from TESCO to Molly Millars Lane will be closed for three weeks, followed by Molly Millars Lane to Eastheath Avenue, Eastheath Avenue to Luckley Road, and, finally from 15 May to 18 June, Luckley Road to Evendons Lane.   Diversion signs will be in place, but it is probably reasonable to expect chaos and many of us might find it quicker to walk!

Other subjects discussed included:-

Affordable housing – a talk by Arlene Keresley from the Community Council for Berkshire, but geared to Parish Councils which own land.

Thames Basin Heath – someone from WDC is coming to explain it to us!

War Memorial – needs spring cleaning!

New times for Parish Council meetings will be published soon.

Finally, as Dr. Ian Hossack has decided to stand down as a Parish Councillor, a vacancy now exists.  Please see notice boards or telephone the Parish Office if you are interested in joining us.

Cllr Chris Driver

The date this page was last altered was March 11, 2007.

Copyright © 2003 Finchampstead Parish Council