After the preliminary formalities, the Chairman, Councillor Roland Cundy, announced that, as we had some residents present, Public Question Time would be moved to the beginning of the meeting.

Steve Bowers, Chairman of the Gorse Ride Residents’ Association, requested a grant of £250 towards the “Gorse Ride in Bloom” event later in the summer.  This will be the third year that the event has been run and the Council was pleased to approve the grant, as the event promotes community spirit and has produced some excellent results. 

The next item on the agenda was the co-opting of Councillors to fill two vacancies.  Malcolm Macey and Roger Woof were both successful and took their seats immediately.  The Chairman announced that Councillor Isobel Vaughan-Morgan did not wish to be co-opted back on to the Council, thus leaving another vacancy.  We are now down to only two women councillors, so, female residents, please think of coming to join us!!  The vacancy will be advertised on notice boards and on our website.  

Councillor Mrs Driver, Vice-chair of Amenties, reported that the flower baskets are in place at California Crossroads, and are being watered by Councillor Steve Bromley and our Litter Warden, using the newly purchased water bowser.  Councillor Wally Chapman reported for Footpaths, and there was some discussion about new footpaths when the gravel working to the west of Longwater Road (not yet started) is completed.  There are plans for the circular bridleway, and a footpath down to the river by opening up the old green lane.  This is very exciting, but a long way in the future.

The Parish Council is again to have a presence at the Summer Fete, hopefully giving people some idea of what the Parish Council does.

Councillor Simon Weeks, who is also a Borough Councillor, then spoke about the Borough Council Core Strategy, which is, in effect, its plans for housing and associated issues for the next 20 years.  After considerable consultation, the Borough Council has decided that the most effective way to meet its housing targets is to build bigger new developments, rather than infill existing areas.  These developments will benefit from having schools, shops, play areas, etc., all produced by the developer.  The nearest large development to Finchampstead will be at Arborfield Garrison, where there are plans for 3500 homes.  The Core Strategy document can be seen on Wokingham Borough Council’s website and in the next Borough News, which we all receive. 

The Parish Council approved the Risk Management Policy, Annual Accounts, Annual Governance and E-mail Policy, all representing considerable work by councillors and/or the Clerk.

And finally, it was agreed unanimously that we should have a celebration to mark the many years of service given to Finchampstead by Councillor Vaughan-Morgan, whose enormous knowledge of the area has been so valuable, and who will be missed by all.

Cllr Chris Driver

The date this page was last altered was September 14, 2008.

Copyright © 2003 Finchampstead Parish Council