A Message from Our Chairman To contact your emocracy in Action is at the heart of a Parish Council and RBWM would Ward Councillor like to see that Elections, the process underpinning democracy, are held BRAY D more frequently for vacancies on Parish Councils. Bray Parish Council is in Steve Adams - 01628 622405 the vanguard of this drive and we have just had a contested Election for a vacancy in the Ward of Oakley Green and Fifield. The vacancy was caused by the retire- Ken Elvin - 01628 624823 ment of John Foulger after 26 years of active service. Our thanks go to John for his Chris Graham - 01628 778054 invaluable contribution. In his place we welcome newly-elected Councillor Nick Derek Mellor - 01628 630005 Pellew. Nick is already involved with local clubs and with the Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan. We look forward to his involvement in the work of the Parish Margaret Pierce - 01628 622289 Council. HOLYPORT In a Parish Council of 15 members there is always change and vacancies do arise Peter Janikoun - 01628 636891 from time to time. So, if you are interested in becoming a Bray Parish Councillor, Louvaine Kneen - 01628 675996 please contact the Clerk, Janice Eden Bagley on 01628 777997 or by email [email protected] Andrew Monks - 01628 628597 Leo Walters - 01628 627967 The operation of a Parish Council is governed by Standing Orders. As things pro- gress and develop it becomes necessary to update these from time to time. Bray Mark Smith-Lyons - 07833 781776 Parish Council has just voted to adopt a new set of Standing Orders based on the Susan Mackie - 07721 613214 National Association of Local Councils template, but modified to suit our particular needs. In addition to the Standing Orders, we adopted two further documents OAKLEY GREEN & FIFIELD which control two aspects of our work: Financial Regulations and The Planning Nick Pellew - 01753 830644 Process. These documents are available on our website or from the Parish Office. Chris Yates - 01344 882374 Devolution of Powers to Parish Councils is a very current topic and Bray has taken ALEXANDER the view that we are interested in Powers where we can use those Powers to make Helen Howard - 01628 782003 a difference for our Residents, but not in those where economies of scale mean that they are better managed at Borough level. We have signed an Agreement to DEDWORTH take responsibility for spending S106 (Developers Contributions) Monies allocated Michael Airey - 07809 243448 for Public Open Spaces, Play Areas and Public Art. We have already received the The number of Councillors per money from RBWM and have put together a small committee to identify suitable Ward is representative of head of projects. In addition we expect to sign an agreement shortly with RBWM to take on population on the Electoral Roll for the decision making on some specific types of Planning Applications. each area. Chris Graham - Chairman Bray Parish Council Do you know where this is? Parish Office Christmas Opening Hours Our Christmas opening hours will be - last day Christmas Eve 24th December at 12.30 pm - re-opening on Thursday 2nd January, 2014 at 9.30 am. Newsletter Deliverers - needed please Thank you once again to our fantastic Team of volunteer deliverers Answer on the back page. who bring this Newsletter to you a couple of times a year. Bray Ward RBWM Councillors This helps us to keep our costs (and therefore your Council Tax) down. But we are struggling to recruit replacements for those who have given David Burbage 01628 796322 their time over the years and “retired” or moved on in the past year. David Coppinger 07866 493272 Leo Walters 01628 627927 If you feel you would like to “do your bit”, providing a Service to the local Commu- nity and join the Team, please contact the Clerk at the Parish Office. Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan Update Fifield Inn is now a Delivered along with this Newsletter is a flyer produced by the Community Asset BPNP Communications Group which gives you an update on the Steering Groups progress towards a Draft Neighbourhood Plan. The Fifield Inn has now been listed The key timescales we are working to are: as a Community Asset by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, following an ap- Dec 2013 Complete Draft of Bray NP plication from Bray Parish Council. Spring 2014 Consultation on Draft of Bray NP This means that, if at some time in the future, Summer 2014 Submit amended Draft of NP to RBWM the Owners (Green King) wish to cease oper- Autumn 2014 Independent Examination of Bray NP ating the site as a pub and they wish to sell it, then the listing of the pub as a Community Late 2014/Early 2015 Parish Referendum on Asset will mean that the community will have Bray NP (adoption by simple majority) to be approached first to see if they have the Chris Graham, Steering Group Chairman, ability to purchase the property and continue Bray Parish Neighbourhood Plan to operate it as a public house. C H R I S T M A S B A Z A A R S There will be Christmas Bazaars at the Holyport War Memorial Hall on Saturday 14th December and Sunday 15th December. Looking after our Assets In the last Parish Newsletter, a number of future projects were listed and the Land Management Working Group (LMWG) can report progress as follows: - The tree maintenance (see photo) and new dog bin at Aysgarth Park have been completed. The Parish Cemetery wall on the A308 has been repaired and 250 bricks have been replaced (see photo). The wall has been pointed using traditional lime mortar which is currently very noticeable. As this mortar weathers, it will tone down and blend in with the original. Following a survey, an order has been placed with RBWM for a new bus shelter for Reeve Road Work is progressing to identify a suitable site for the new Notice Board in Oakley Green. The tree work on Bray Green has been completed. The majority of the large dead tree has been removed making it safe (See photo). The remaining stump will be removed when the surrounding trees have filled the space. In addition to the projects mentioned above, work is in progress on the following: - Repairs to a Tarmac path on Aysgarth Park Repair of lighting column in Bray Car park Consultation with local residents regarding the possible relocation of the bus stop at the junction of Holyport Road and the A308 Improving the land at the entrance to Manor Grove, Fifield. Now that the wall has been repaired, further work is planned on the trees Dead Tree on Bray Green at the entrance to the Parish Cemetery The recent bad weather was relatively kind to the Parish trees but we did lose a sizable willow adjacent to Holy- port pond. Regular tree maintenance in the Parish will continue with work planned this autumn for Aysgarth Park, Lonsdale Way, St Michael’s churchyard and Holyport Green. Land Management Working Group Repaired Cemetery Wall on A308 Tree Work at Aysgarth Park Manor Grove Entrance Site Flood Warden Required Not willing to talk to the Police? A vacancy has occurred due to the resignation of our previous Flood Warden, Gerry Bett. Thanks go to Gerry, an ex-Parish CRIMESTOPPERS are completely Councillor for carrying out this important Role over the past few independent. Call anonymously years. The Flood Warden responsibilities are important but not onerous and with information about crime and include: updating the Flood Warning Sign on Bray Village Hall as advised by you could receive a reward. the Environment Agency: passing on flood warning information and representing Bray Parish Council at meetings on Flooding as and when CRIMESTOPPERS required. 0800 555 111 Further details can be obtained by contacting the Clerk, Janice Eden Bagley on 01628 777997 or by email [email protected] Strategic Direction Workshop The Workshop was devised to provide all Councillors with an opportunity to have their say in how they would like Bray Parish Council to be in 3 year’s time. In other words, to create a “Shared Vision”. The Workshop Agenda was created by Grenville Annetts who also facilitated the evening with the assistance of Ken Elvin and Mark Smith-Lyons. Interestingly, there was a common theme throughout the evening which was Communication and the need to do it in a more focussed way and to do it more effectively. There were some things that we thought we did well: Planning and Financial Management. Equally there were some things where we thought we could improve: Communications – and this was communication with Resi- dents, RBWM, contractors and partners – and Working as a Team. The general output from the evening’s work was very positive and a number of Actions were agreed at the ses- sion. However, if we are to keep the momentum up, then it will be necessary to arrange at least one follow up session, possibly in January 2014, to focus on agreeing more detailed Actions. The Notes from the session will be available on our website when they have been agreed. Chris Graham - Chairman Bray Parish Council Bray Village Hall is having an evening of Christmas songs and carols for all on Friday December 6th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are £10 and include mince pies and mulled wine. Proceeds will go towards the Hall Restoration Fund. A survey has revealed structural work and decorations are required and a programme of work will commence next Easter. Total cost is estimated to be £16,000.