Minutes of a meeting of Cockermouth Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Cockermouth on 16 February 2011 at 7.00pm

Members

A Tyson (Mayor)

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

Also present: 1 press representative & 2 police representatives

137 To authorise the Mayor to sign as a correct record the minutes of the
meeting held on 19 January 2010.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2010 be signed
as a correct record.

138 Declaration of Interest

Councillors A Tyson and A Smith declared a personal interest regarding item 7 due
to being members of the development panel.

139 Mayors Announcements

The Town Mayor had attended the following events since his last report:-

Cinderella, Kirkgate Centre
Young Speaker of the Year

140 Attendance by Police

Inspector Dennis Kelly and PCSO Phiippa Meunzberg attended the meeting.

Inspector Kelly explained in depth the Change Programme and the affect that the
£18.5 million savings would have on Policing Services in our area.

The main issues arising from the policing report were as follows:-

A number of arrests were made for various offences with offenders receiving fixed penalty notices for disorder as well as cautions
Anti-social behaviour was highlighted as the current community problem at December’s safer and stronger community meeting

141 Public Participation

There was no public participation at the meeting.

142a Planning Applications

2/2010/0542

Outline consent for a residential development for 221 dwellings including 79 affordable
dwellings and associated access and landscaping

Land Adjacent to Fitz Park, Low Road, Cockermouth

This application was refused prior to the meeting by the Development Panel

2/2010/0999

Erection of fascia sign

52 Main Street, Cockermouth

Amendment- Amended sign details

Recommend Approval

2/2010/1000

Listed building consent for erection of a fascia sign

52 Main Street, Cockermouth

Amendment- Amended sign details

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0020

Refurbishment of existing with minor alterations

34 Challoner Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0024

To replace existing wooden sash windows with white spectus UPVC sash windows

21 Waterloo Street, Cockermouth

Councillor Kennon informed those present that this application had already been refused
by Allerdale Borough Council.

2/2011/0026

Replace 4 rear windows with UPVC casement style windows

29 (above Oxfam) Station Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal – contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2011/0027

Proposed rear extension and installation of pitched roof over existing garage

6 Willow Lane, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0030

Repair flood damaged property and convert first floor into tow flats (Re-submission to 2/2010/0422)

15B Main Street, Cockermouth

This application had already been granted approval by Allerdale Borough Council.

2/2011/0031

Listed building consent for the installation of ‘cintec’ grouted anchors to stabilise the gable
wall

23 Market Place, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0032

Removal of existing rear windows and replacement with UPVC

35 Derwentside Gardens, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval
2/2011/0038

Replacement of wooden windows, doors and fascia boards with UPVC

24 Dale View, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0046

Reconstruction of part of the river wall and reinstatement of the associated carriageway, drainage and fence.

Rubby Banks House, Rubby Banks Road, Cockermouth

02/2011/0055

Listed building consent for the renovation and re-instatement of shop frontage (re-submission 2/2010/0833)

31 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0057

New shop frontage

68 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0791- APP/G0908/D/11/2144021

Replace all wooden sash windows with Rehau Hertitage sliding sash, 8 Croft Terrace

Agreed – That the appeal be noted.

2/2011/0062

Erection of dual pitched garage

67 Kirkgate, Cockermouth

Recommend - Approval

2/2010/0067

Advertisement consent for the replacement of an existing sign with a hanging sign

100 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend - Approval

2/2010/0068

Listed building consent for the replacement of a failed beam and associated works to front
elevation

49 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend - Approval

2/11/9001

Retrospective application for retention of 2 single storey modular buildings providing 4 classrooms

Cockermouth School, Castlegate Drive, Cockermouth

Recommend - Approval

APP/G0908/D/11/2144016

Proposed development- Remove wooden windows and black door and replace with Rehau
Heritage sliding sash to front of property and casement uPVC back door and windows, 7,
Croft Terrace.

Agreed – That the appeal be noted.

142b Notification of decisions from Allerdale Borough Council and Cumbria
County Council

Agreed - That the decisions be noted.

142c Tree Preservation Order No 7 2010

Agreed – That the approval of TPO No 7 2010, land at the Parklands be noted.

142d Tree Work, Bitterbeck Car Park

Recommended – That the pollarding of 2 sycamores, Bitterbeck Car Park be
supported.

143 Highway Response Team

Members discussed large number of potholes on various roads within the Town.
Councillor Nicholson assured those present that 9 teams were dedicated to filling
them in within the Allerdale area. He also stated that the poles for the speed
indication device had been ordered and should be received by the end of March
2011.

144 Financial Matters

144a Schedule of Payments

Resolved – (a) That the amended schedule of payments in the sum of ££19,341.07
as set out in the expenditure transactions approval list be formally approved for
payment.

144b Cockermouth Swimming Club

Resolved – That a grant of £200 be given to Cockermouth Swimming Club.

144c Effectiveness of Internal Audit

Resolved – That Mrs J Airey be retained as the Council’s internal auditor.

144d Great North Air Ambulance Service

Agreed – That the letter of thanks be noted.

145 Schedule of correspondence, notices and publications

145a Electoral Review of Cumbria

Agreed – That it be noted that the Commission will not be consulting on division
boundaries until such time as it has taken a decision on Council size.

145b Buckingham Palace Garden Parties

Resolved - That Councillor Tyson be nominated to attend one of the Buckingham
Palace Garden Parties.

145c National Blood Service

The National Blood Service is currently trying to recruit more blood donors in
Cockermouth and were asking if they could attend some of our festivals and
events.

Resolved – That the National Blood Service be asked if they wanted to have a stall
at either our Fun Day or Switch on Day.

145d Review of Car Parking in the Borough

Agreed – That the review of car parking in the Borough by Overview and Scrutiny
be noted.

145e Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAS)

GNAS were writing to all Mayor Elects within the North of England to ask if they
would consider GNAS as their charity of the Year.

Agreed – That the letter be received.

145f Strategic Housing Market Assessment Consultation (SHMA)

The preparation of a SHMA for each Housing Market Area is a requirement of
National Government Planning Advice. The production of 20 Cumbria SHMAs will
provide a crucial evidence base to support the future delivery of new housing and
economic development in Cumbria. Members were being asked to comment upon
the information contained within the consultation document.

Resolved – That content of the Allerdale SHMA be endorsed.

145g Cumbria Choice

Agreed – That the content of issue 5 of Cumbria Choice be noted.

145h The Jennings River Ride

Agreed – That details of this event scheduled to be hed on 18 September 2011 be
noted.

145i CALC

Agreed – That the content of the February edition of the Calc Circular be noted.

145j Sale of Public Forests

Agreed – That Eddie Martins letter to Jim Plaice MP objecting to the sale of public
forests in Cumbria be noted and that a letter of objection be sent on behalf of the
Town Council.

145k Cockermouth Flood Action Group

Agreed – That the content of Technical and Engineering report No 1 be noted.

145i Malcolm Wilson Rally

Agreed – That the closing order for the Rally scheduled to be held on 5 March 2011
be noted.

145j Cocker Bridge – Access Walkway

Agreed – That the installation of a new access walkway and steps at Cocker Bridge
on the A66 Trunk Road just south of Cockermouth be noted. Works to commence
on 21st February 2011.

145k Survey of Councils serving Key Service Centres

CALC is arranging an interview survey with town and parish councils in Key Service
Centres to obtain up to date information about the services and projects councils
are delivering currently and their aspirations for the future, including any interest
they might have in taking on or sharing the delivery of services with principal
authorities.

Resolved – That the Town Clerk and Mayor take part in the survey.

146 Clerks Report

Those present considered the content of the Clerks report.

Resolved – That:-

(a) The content of the report be noted.
(b) That it be noted that the Town Clerk will take over the bookings/invoicing of lettings in Victoria Hall.
(c) That K Read and her assistant be accommodated within the Town Hall.
(d) That works to install a lift/stair chair be deferred until the next financial year.
(e) That the grant offer of £10,000 from CWMET be noted.
(f) That no works be progressed to the woodland near Tarn Close Sports Pitch.

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

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

Business returns
Main Street Improvments
Millers Bridge Lighting
Taste Cumbria
Future Community and Business Resilience
Civil Contingencies Conference 2011
Cockermouth Market

Agreed – That the contents of his report be noted.

148 Parking in Market Place

Police to monitor parking problems on Market Place.

148 George VI Bell

Resolved – That the Town Council takes possession of the George Bell offered
by the family of the late Joyce Hartley.

149 2011 Midsummer Festival

Resolved – That progress to date in the organisation of the Midsummer Festival be
noted.

150 Hire Agreement for the Memorial Gardens

Resolved – That the application form to hold an event on Council land and hire
agreement be adopted.

151 Installation of a bund in the Memorial Gardens

This item was deferred due to the plan not being forthcoming. Issue to be
considered at the next meeting.

152 Review of Town Council Competitions

Resolved – (a) That the Gardening Competition, Grand Shop Window Competition,
Family Window Spotting Competition be retained.

(b) That the Best Decorated House Competition ceases.

(c) That the Old Folks Tour of the Lights be undertaken on the 11 December 2011 and that all the retirement homes in the area be given advance warning of the date to encourage maximum attendance. Tour to be reviewed if number attending this year is low.

153 Date of the Meeting

Agreed – That the next meeting be held on Wednesday 16 March 2011.

Resolved – That under the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, the public
be removed for the following item of business due to the commercially sensitive
information contained within the returned tender documentation

154 Tenders for guttering repairs, roof repairs, window repairs and various
Works related to the external painting of the Town Hall

Resolved –

(a) That Stobbarts be awarded the tender for the work being the lowest
compliant tender and one that represents good value for money.

(b) That the specification of item 2/1J be amended and a more gentle approach using a mixture of hot air and paint stripping followed by non abrasive soda blasting be adopted to avoid damage.

(c) That Hayward Associates take responsibility for the negotiations together with the post contract control and agreement of the final account etc at a fee to be agreed that is no greater than 8% of the contract sum.

The meeting closed at 9.35pm