Minutes of a meeting of Cockermouth Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Cockermouth on 17 February 2010 at 7.00pm

Members

S Coates (Mayor)

I Burns C M Jackson
A Kennon D Newton E Nicholson A Smith C Smith S Standage
Apologies: Councillors L G Lytollis, Tyson & Wood.

Also present: 2 Police representatives, 2 Press representatives & Dr Leslie Tickner

141 To authorise the Mayor to sign as a correct record the minutes of the
last meeting held on 20 January 2010.

Resolved – That the minutes of the last meeting held on 20 January 2010 be
signed as a correct record.

142 Declaration of Interest

Councillors Jackson and Smith declared a personal interest in item 18 due to being
members of Allerdale Borough Council.

143 Mayors Announcements

The Town Mayor gave details of the events he had attended since the last meeting.

These included:-

Young speaker of the Year
Opening of the retail mart on Lorton Street
Opening of the TSB Bank
Opening of the Indigo Indian Restaurant

144 Attendance by Police

The Community Police informed those present that there had been relatively few
arrests and thankfully no incidents of note. Extra staff continued to patrol the town.

Total crime in All Saints ward had decreased from 49 to 27 offences, total crime in
Christchurch had increased from 38 to 42 offences.

145 Public Participation

No questions or petitions were received from members of the public.

146a Planning Applications

Resolved - That the Council’s observations on the following planning
Applications received to date be forwarded to the Chief Planning Officer:-

2/2009/0755
Demolish existing garage/utility and rebuild two storey extension to side
19 Towers Lane, Cockermouth
Amendment – Roof amendment
Recommended Approval.

2/2010/0034
Advertisement consent for replacement fascia sign and additional projecting sign
29 Main Street, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0035
Listed building consent to replace existing shop front and internal solid floors.
29 Main Street, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0036
Outline application for residential development to replace extant planning permission
2/2003/1115
Former Highways Depot, Sullart Street, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0041
Listed building consent to remove existing flood damaged timber floor to half of
ground floor shop and replace with concrete.
Hallmark/ Best Wishes Cards, 28 Main Street, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0042
Replace front elevation wooden windows with REHAU sliding sash. Replace rear
elevation windows with upvc casement and rear door with upvc door.
53 Gote Road, Cockermouth
Recommend Refusal – contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2010/0043
Listed building consent for proposed new shop facade
73 Main Street, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0047
Listed building consent for the reinstatement of flood damaged walls to the garden
and terrace. Rebuilding of unstable garden walls. Provision of security railings to
eastern boundary and minor changes to the internal layout of visitor centre.
Wordsworth House, Main Street, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0048
Replace front elevation windows with REHAU sliding sash. Front door to be replaced
with composite door. Replace rear door and bedroom window with white upvc
casement style.
59 Gote Road, Cockermouth
Recommend Refusal – contrary to conservation area design guide

2/2010/0055
Listed building consent for structural remedial works
80 Main Street, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0062
Installation of four temporary building and minor internal works
Cockermouth Hospital, Isel Road, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0064
Replacement of three wooden windows and wooden door to front and two wooden
windows and one wooden door to rear
37 Derwent Street, Cockermouth
Recommend Refusal contrary to Conservation Area Design Guide.

2/2010/0077
Proposed two storey extension and a single storey extension to dwelling and pitched
roof to garage
5 Dale View, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0080
Rear infill single storey extension to provided enlarged kitchen and additional shower
room.
70 Brigham Road, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2009/0740
Demolition of existing radio mast and replacement with new latticed mast on new
concrete base.
Reservoir site, Towers Lane, Cockermouth
Amendment: Mast details
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0090

Replacement of shop frontage
47 Main Street, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0092

Listed building consent for the formation of two structural openings
4 Main Street, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0094
Demolition of the existing garage and utility areas and rebuilding of a 2 storey
extension to the side of the property and a single storey extension to the rear.
15 Sunscales Avenue, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0099
Replacement of existing wooden single glazed windows on front elevation with pvcu
double glazed sliding sash.
1 Croft Terrace, Cockermouth
Recommend Refusal contrary to conservation area design guide

2/2010/0109
Proposed change of use from Clooneys Cocktail Bar and Restaurant to 2 No
bedroom flats.
7-8 Old Kings Arm Lane, Cockermouth
Recommend Refusal due to loss of valuable retail space and lack of car parking.
osH

146b Notification of decisions from Allerdale Borough Council and Cumbria County
Council

Agreed - That the various notifications of planning decisions as received from the Borough Council and County Council be noted.

146c Applications for Tree Works

Resolved – That no objections be raised in respect of tree works proposals at
Wordsworth Court, Kirkgate House and land between Waterloo Bridge and Cocker
bridge.

147 Highway Response Team

Agreed – That no issues be raised.

148 Financial Matters

148a Schedule of Payments

Resolved – (a) That the schedule of payments in the sum of £9117.07 as set out
In the amended expenditure transactions approval list be formally approved for
payment.

148b Internal Auditor’s Report

Resolved – That the content of the report be noted.

148c Cockermouth Area Partnership

Resolved – That assets in the sum £6640.45 be received with thanks.

148d Air Ambulance

Resolved – That a donation of £200 be given to the Great North Air Ambulance.

148e Youth Competition

Youths between the ages of 16 and 20 in member cities of the Association of
Towns Awarded the Europe Prize will take part in a competition entitled ‘How
should Europe Look in 25 years’

Resolved – That a non-cash prize up to the value of £50 be offered.

149e Town Marketing Plan

Cockermouth Chamber of Trade were seeking £1000 financial support towards
the production of a £24,000 Town Marketing Plan. The aim of the plan was to
rebuild pre-flood levels of trade.

Resolved – That no financial support be given.

150 Schedule of correspondence, notices and publications

150a CALC Circular

Agreed – That the content of the February 2010 circular be noted.

150b Royal Garden Party

Resolved – That Stephen Coates be nominated as one of the four town council
representatives to attend the Royal Garden Party on 22 June 2010.

150c Training Sessions

Agreed – That the training and advice sessions offered by CALC over the next few
weeks be noted.

150d LakeDistrict National Park Local Development Framework

Agreed – That the submission of the core strategy development plan document to
the Secretary of State be noted.

150e Closing Order

Agreed – That the content of the closing order for the Malcolm Wilson Rally be
noted.

150f Army Cadet Force Tree Planting Scheme

Resolved – (a) That Allerdale Borough Council be approached regarding planting
the tree pack in Harris Park.

(b) That Councillor Coates be present at the tree planting session.

150g General Meeting of the Allerdale Association of Local Councils

Agreed – That the next meeting scheduled for 30 March 2010 in Bothel Village Hall
be noted.

150h Centre Parcs

Agreed – That the termination of the contract promoting Centre Parcs Day Visitors
due to the introduction of a flexible pricing policy be noted.

150i Flood Defence Works

Resolved – That the Environment Agency be allowed to conduct site investigation
works on a communal area of Gote Road allotments.

150j Cockermouth Shop Front Heritage Grant Scheme

Resolved – That councillor Alan Kennon be nominated to represent the town council
on the Cockermouth Shopfront Heritage Grant Panel.

150k Pedestrian way, rear of Station Street

Those present considered the content of a letter from Pitman Massage Therapy
regarding the deterioration of the pedestrian way at the rear of Station Street.

Resolved - That

151 Clerks Report

Those present considered the content of the Clerks report.

Resolved – (a) That the receipt of a rate rebate of £278.35 in respect of Victoria
Hall be noted.

(b) That the £262.15 cost incurred in respect of air fares and car parking for the trip to Mulheim de Ruhr between 6-8 May 2010 be agreed.

(c) That Councillors Burns & Standage attend the Director Assembly meeting in Marvejols between 24-26 September. Visit to be unofficial.

(d) That the Environment Agency be granted access to the Memorial Gardens to remove gravel from Gote Bridge to Harris Bridge for 8 weeks from 22/2/2010.

(e) That a hexagonal fully galvanised, dipped and powder coated seat be purchased for around the Kirkgate Tree.

(f) That the submission of a listing building application and building notice application in respect of the installation of a solid concrete floor be agreed and the building notice fee of £69.00 be authorised.

(f) That Day Services be allowed use of the Mayor’s Parlour and associated kitchen and toilet facilities on terms to be agreed with the Town Clerk.

(g) That the Town Council agrees to pay the anticipated shortfall of £200-£250 in relation to the Poet Laureates visit on 24 March 2010.

(h) That the £5,543.24 flood donation from Marvejols be gratefully received and
distributed.

152 Cittaslow

Members discussed the 18 responses received in respect of the letter and
Questionnaire distributed to over 200 local businesses.

Resolved - That due to the disappointing response and concerns over town council
resources to maintain, develop and exploit membership of Cittaslow, the Chamber of
Trade be approached regarding their participation.

153 Councillor Lytollis

Councillor Lytollis had been unable to attend a Town Council meeting since the 16
September 2009. His home had been badly damaged by recent flooding and he was
currently living in alternative accommodation outside Cockermouth.

Resolved – That his absence due to recent flooding be authorised by the Council.

154 Briefing Note from the Cockermouth Town Centre Flood Recovery
Co-ordinator

Dr Tickner was currently working on several work strands, these included:-

Shop Front Group
Main Street Improvement Group
Creation of a town wide events calendar
Developing a long term marketing campaign aligned with events
Creation of a business recovery action plan
Assisting with the co-ordinated return of traders to Main Street

Resolved – That Councillor M Jackson be nominated to represent the Town Council
on the Main Street Improvement Group.

155 Cockermouth Festival

Those present considered proposals for a refreshed festival in conjunction with
Harriet Smithson and the Kirkgate Centre. It was hoped that an early summer
festival for all the family with a programme of nationally renowned artists performing
in venues throughout the town in participatory events would bring the community
together.

Resolved – (a) That the revised format be agreed.

(b) That the castle visits, art exhibition and craft demonstrations continue during the
exhibition period.

(c) That the leaflet be no longer produced and circulated and that discussions are undertaken with the Cockermouth Town Centre Flood Recovery Co-Ordinator regarding marketing Festival Events.

156 General Conditions under which Allotment Gardens are Let

Members considered draft revisions to the current conditions.

Resolved – That the revisions be agreed and brought into force on 1 April 2010.

157 Effectiveness of our Internal Audit

Resolved – That it be agreed that Mrs J Airey continue to act as our internal auditor.
158 Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA)

The SHLAA provides planners with information regarding potential housing land
across the borough considered developable and deliverable. Members were
pleased to note that infrastructure will be put in place to enable the needs for
housing, particularly for affordable housing, for wider employment opportunities and
for the mitigation of the risk of flooding whilst protecting the environment.

Agreed – That the content of the SHLAA be noted.

The meeting closed at 8.50pm