Minutes of a meeting of Cockermouth Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Cockermouth on 19 January 2011 at 7.00pm

Members

A Tyson (Mayor)

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

Also present: 1 press representative, 3 officers from Allerdale & 1 police representative

The Mayor wished those present a Happy New Year.

124 To authorise the Mayor to sign as a correct record the minutes of the
meeting held on 16 December 2010.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2010 be signed
as a correct record.

125 Declaration of Interest

Councillor Tyson declared a personal interest in item 7 due to being a member
of the Development Panel.

Councillors Jackson, Newton & Kennon declared a prejudicial interest in planning
application 2/2010/1028 due to their friendship with the applicant. They left the room
whilst the application was being discussed.

Councillor Jackson declared a prejudicial interest in planning application
2/2010/1029 due to living in one of the flats. She left the room whilst the planning
application was being discussed.

Councillors A Smith and C Smith declared a prejudicial interest in planning
application 2/2010/0143 due to living in the property. They left the room whilst the
planning application was being discussed.

126 Mayors Announcements

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

Mayors Coffee morning
Abbeyfield Carol Service
Visit to Cockermouth Hospital with Mechanics Band
Judging of Best Decorated House
Attending Consultation Meeting with MRWS
Lions Charter Lunch
Town Twinning Meeting

127 Attendance by Police

A police representative attended the meeting and reported as follows:-

Crime in All Saints ward had decreased from 39 to 29 offences
Crime in Christchurch had increased from 49 to 62 offences
A traffic operation was run at the beginning of January aimed a educating drivers to the dangers of not wearing a seat belt and using mobile phones whilst driving. A further traffic operation later in the year will concentrate on enforcement of road traffic laws
There had been 5 accidents in the town, all of which were damage only
Complaints had been received regarding anti-social behaviour at the Flower Bridge and the bridge on Rubby Banks Road.

128 Public Participation

There was no public participation at the meeting.

129a Planning Applications

2/2010/0578

Proposed change of use from workshop and storage facility to dwelling

Brash House, Challoner Street, Cockermouth

Amendment- First floor plan and ground floor plan

Recommend Approval

2/2010/1017

Listed building consent to block up two internal doorways

The Honest Lawyer, 2 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/1018

Resubmission of 2/2010/0629. Installation of automatic car wash facility

Mitchells Auction Mart Lakeland Livestock Centre Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/1020

Replace existing single glazed sliding sash windows with double glazed uPVC windows to front elevation and replace two part glazed timber front doors with part glazed uPVC doors

22 Challoner Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2010/1028

External alterations to enable expansion of flat 8A into domestic store to provide bedroom and integral garage

8A High Sand Lane, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2010/1029

Replacement of single glazed timber sash style windows with double glazed sash style timber framed windows and all existing external doors to be replaced with white timber mixed glazed doors

1-40 Derwent Mills, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/1043

Re-construction of garage and minor alterations and improvements to access onto public highway

Fellcroft Windmill Lane, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/1046

Insertion of sliding sash double glazed wooden window

9 Banks Court, Market Place, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/1049

Listed building consent for repair flood damage property and convert first floor tow flats (resubmission to 2/2010/0423)

15b Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/1051

Two storey extension to provide additional accomodation. Proposed boat shed

The Beeches, Simonscales Lane, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/10/9033

Construction of 7 science skills laboratories including a planetarium

Cockermouth School, Castlegate Drive, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0001

Replace existing timber door with composite door

8 Mackreth Row, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2011/0006

Removal of glazing from four window frames and replace with aluminium louvers

British Telecom Plc, Cockermouth Telephone Exchange, South Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

129b Notification of decisions from Allerdale Borough Council and Cumbria
County Council

Agreed - That the decisions be noted.

129c Tree Works

Agreed – That the approval of the work to T1 but refusal of permission for the work
To T2 & T3, 1 Little Mill Close, Lorton Road be noted.

129d Planning Application 2/2010/1028

Recommended – That planning application 2/2010/1028 be refused due to
Being contrary to the conservation area design guide.

130 Highway Response Team

Members discussed the number of potholes in the roads around the Town.

131 Financial Matters

131a Schedule of Payments

Resolved – (a) That the schedule of payments in the sum of £35,777.34 as set out
in the expenditure transactions approval list be formally approved for
payment.

131b Great North Air Ambulance

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

132 Schedule of correspondence, notices and publications

132a Robin Rigg West Cumbria Fund

Agreed – That the £47,500 of grants available to communities undertaking
activities that contribute to reducing the effects of climate change and benefit the
local community be noted.

132b The Localism Bill

Agreed – That the briefing summarising the main points of the Bill be noted.

132c Local News and Views

Agreed – That the contents of the second edition be noted.

132d Better Highways

Agreed – That the contents of the December 2010 circular be noted.

132e Proposals to charge motorists for on street parking

Agreed – That the letter of objection from Mr and Mrs Smale be noted.

132f Proposals to charge motorists for on street parking

Agreed – That the letter of objection from Mr N M Smale be noted.

132g Great Poppy Party Weekend

The Royal British Legion were encouraging individuals and groups to hold a
poppy party over the weekend of the 10-12 June 2011 in celebration of the
Royal British Legion’s 90th Birthday.

Agreed – That the letter be noted.

132h Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge Project

Allerdale Borough Council have been approached by Fields in Trust to nominate
playing fields for protection under the above project to celebrate the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic Games.

Resolved – That the inclusion of the playing field on Harris Park Extension, Cockermouth for protection under the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge Project be supported.

132i BTCV

BTCV were looking for potential environmental projects within our area.

Agreed – That the Town Clerk discusses the thinning out of vegetation at Tarn
Close Sports Pitch with BCTV.

132j Footpath/Cycleway Fitz Roundabout

Resolved – That a map of the footway be requested and the matter discussed
again at the next meeting.

133 Clerks Report

Those present considered the content of the Clerks report.

Capita had decided to consider the new French drain as a highways drain and for
the drain to remain in the ownership of Cumbria County Council. A licence
agreement would be drawn up with the Flood Action Group or the contractor
installing the drain and re-instating the allotments to enter on to the site and do
the works. The tenancy of those allotments affected by the drain needed to be
altered so that CCC had reasonable access across their allotments to manage
and maintain the drain in future.

Resolved – That:-

(a) The content of the report be noted.
(b) That the temporary location of the Regional Manager of the John Muir Trust and his assistant in the bar area on the first floor be ratified and the income of £45 per week noted.
(c) That quotes be sought in relation to the installation of a lift to all floors.
(d) That it be noted that the transfer of all the community copying equipment to the Kirkgate Centre be noted.
(e) That the transformation of the former cash office into office accommodation be noted.
(f) That the sliding door and locks to the store in the Memorial Garden be strengthened at a cost of £150.00 to prevent further vandalism.

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

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

Investment
Main Street Improvements
Millers Bridge Lighting
Taste Cumbria

As of the 4 January 2011, the 200th business has re-opened. Only 25 businesses
remain closed!

The number of available vacant business premises in the centre of Cockermouth
now stands at only 14 and work continues with the relevant officers and agencies
to find suitable locations for the 14 potential business start ups in the Town. Five
new businesses have been found locations in the past 3 months are now trading.

Agreed – That the contents of his report be noted.

135 Neighbourhood Planning Vanguards Scheme

One of the main proposals in the Localism Bill involved the re-shaping of the
planning system to allow communities to have a greater role in the decisions which
directly affect them. Two initiatives were proposed, the production of
neighbourhood development plans and/or Local Development Orders. The
Government wish to trial these ideas in a number of pilot areas and have asked for
bids from communities which are interested in becoming part of the trial.

A grant of up to £20,000.00 would be available to support each of the chosen pilot
areas to support the work.

Resolved – (a) That the Town Council supports Cockermouth being put forward to
prepare a Local Development Order to cover the Town Centre.
(b) That the Mayor and Town Clerk review the bid prior to submission.

136 Date of the Meeting

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

The meeting closed at 8.55pm