Minutes of a meeting of Cockermouth Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Cockermouth on 15 June 2011 at 7.15pm

Members

C Smith (Mayor)

S Coates L Davies
A Kennon A R Graham P Graham C M Jackson
E Nicholson A Smith C Smith S Standage
Apologies: I Burns

Also present: 1 press representative, 2 police representatives & 1 member of the public.

17 To authorise the Mayor to sign as a correct record the minutes of the Annual
Parish Meeting held on 9 May 2011 and minutes of the Annual Meeting
held on 11 May 2011.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 9 May 2011 &
Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 11 May 2011 be signed as a correct record.

18 Declaration of Interest

Councillors Jackson, C Smith and Standage declared a personal interest
regarding item 7 due to being members of the development panel. Councillor A
Smith declared a personal interest in any item relation to Allerdale Borough Council
due to being the Council Leader.

19 Mayors Announcements

Agreed – That the list of activities attended since the last meeting be noted.

20 Attendance by Police

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

Total crime in All Saints Ward decreased from127 to 76 incidents as compared with the same period last year
Total crime in Christchurch decreased from 63 to 52 incidents as compared with the same period last year
Anti-social behaviour along South Street from the Tithe Barn Public House across to Riverside Car Park including some of the side alleys in between was being tackled by an increase in high visibility police patrols in the area.

Councillor Jackson complained about gangs of youths in cars congregating in
Wakefield Road Car Park and being noisy and littering. Inspector Kelly agreed to look into the matter.

21 Public Participation

There was no public participation at the meeting.

22a Planning Applications

2/2001/0171 (as amended)

Erection of detached house in the end garden (re-submission to 2/2009/0812)

Castlegate House, Castlegate

Recommended – That the application be refused for the following reasons:-

Inappropriate development
Poor access
Flat roof out of character

2/2010/0189 (as amended)

Listed building consent for internal alterations and creation of 2 fire escapes

Globe Hotel, 23 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommended - Approval

2/2011/0241 (as amended)

Installation of two velux windows

10a Station Street, Cockermouth

Recommended - Approval

2/2011/0254 (as amended)

Reconstruction of river wall and reinstatement of associated carriageway, drainage
and fence. Resubmission to 2/2011/0046

Rubbybanks House, Rubbybanks Road, Cockermouth

Recommended - Approval

02/2011/0279

Advertisement consent for the siting of 8 no. car park information signs
(re-submission to 2/2010/0872)

Wilkinson Hardware Store, Lowther Went Shopping Centre, South Street, Cockermouth

Recommended - Approval

2/2011/0284

Proposed front and side single storey extensions

8 Holmewood Avenue, Cockermouth

Recommended - Approval

2/2011/0289

Change of use from doctors’ surgery to residential

Doctors Surgery 24 Fitz Road, Cockermouth

Recommended - Approval

2/2011/0290

Listed building consent to remove the existing tilting fascia to allow restoration and
exposure of original moulded vertical fascia and cornice.

15 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommended – Approval

2/2011/0151 (as amended)

The Development of 63 town houses and 38 apartments (including 25% affordable) and use Class C2 residential accommodation with care

Former highways deport and gas holder site, Sullart Street, Cockermouth

This application was approved by the Development Panel on 14 June 2011.

2/2011/0304

Listed building consent for replacement signage and awning.

Pure Touch, 76, Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommended – Approval

2/2100/0317

New stone clad wall including new access gates.

Bridge House, Gote Road, Cockermouth

Recommended – refusal, material used for wall should be natural stone.

2/2011/0347 & 2/2011/0347 (as amended)

Creation of 2 fire escape exits to side elevation using existing window openings
and roof over part section of internal court yard over ground floor.

Globe Hotel, Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommended - Approval

2/2011/0353

Revised front porch and steps.

41 Dale View, Cockermouth

Recommended - Approval

2/2011/0354

Listed building consent for new stone clad wall including new access gates – re- submission to 2/2010/0921

Bridge End House, Gote Road, Cockermouth

Recommended - Approval

2/2011/0357

Alteration of existing flat and ground floor garage/store to provide a semi detached
dwelling.

Ruddbank, Little Mill Lane, Skinner Street, Cockermouth.

Recommended - Approval

2/2011/0371

Replacement of wooden sash windows with pvcu sash windows to rear.

35 Derwentside Gardens, Cockermouth

Recommended – Approval

23b Tree Works

Recommended – (a) That no objection be raised to the pollarding of a horse
chestnut tree outside 25 Kirkgate, Cockermouth.

(b) That no objection be raised to the felling of a Monterey cypress in the garden
of 59, Kirkgate, Cockermouth.

24c Tree Works

Agreed – (a) That the approval of pollarding works at 41 and 43 Kirkgate be noted.

(b) That the approval of the removal of 3 trees from land at Rubbybanks Cottage
be noted.

25 Highway Response Team

Town Clerk to report the following:-

That the highway sign just past the public toilets be cleaned.

26 Financial Matters

26a Schedule of Payments

Resolved – That the schedule of payments in the sum of £30,468.72 as set
out in the expenditure transactions approval list be formally approved for payment.

26b Bank Mandate

Resolved – That:-

(1) Bank accounts be continued with HSBC Bank plc and that any 2 of the names listed below be authorised to pay all cheques and act on other instructions for payment signed on behalf of the Council.

Sheila Brown
Samuel Standage
Christine Margaret Jackson
Stephen Tom Hobson Coates
Phillip James Graham
Andrew Graham
Alan Smith
Len Davies
Eric William Nicholson
Alan Kennon
Julie Mary Laidlow
Christine May Smith
I Burns

(2) That the bank be authorised to deliver any item held on behalf of the Council by the Bank in safe keeping against the written receipt or instruction of any 2 of those listed above.
(3) That the bank accepts that any 2 of those listed above be fully empowered to act on behalf of the Council in any other transaction with the bank.
(4) That Sheila Brown be fully empowered on behalf of the Council to enter into at any time and agreements for or relating to electronic banking services of any kind whatsoever and to delegate the operation of the Services as set out in the terms and conditions governing the services and the Council acknowledges that the bank shall be entitled to act upon all instructions received in respect of the Services until notified otherwise in writing by the Council.
(5) That the Council agrees that any debt incurred to the bank under this authority shall in the absence of written agreement with the bank to the contrary be repayable upon demand.
(6) That the Town Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer is authorised to supply the banks as and when necessary with lists of persons authorised to sign, give receipts and act on behalf of the Council, and that the bank may rely upon such lists.
(7) That these resolutions be communicated to the bank and remain in force until changed by a resolution of the Council and a copy, certified by the Chief Executive and the Proper Officer is received by the bank.
(8) That the Council accepts the account(s) and banking relationship with the Bank will be governed by and subject to the Business Banking Terms and Conditions (a copy of which has been provided) as amended from time to time together with any terms and conditions in respect of specific products and services requested by the Council from time to time.

26c Kirkgate Centre

Resolved – That the report on activities undertaken last year be noted.

26d Internal Audit – Annual Report

Resolved – That the content of the annual report by our internal auditor be noted.

26e Accounts for the Year ended 31 March 2011

Resolved – That the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2011 be agreed and accepted subject to audit.

26f Audit Return

Resolved – (a) That Section 1 of the annual return relating to the Statement of
accounts be formally certified and the accounts approved and duly signed by the
Clerk/RFO and the Chairman.

(b) That Section 2 of the Annual Return relating to the annual governance
statement be also formally approved and signed by the Chairman and Clerk.

(c) That it be noted that Section 4 of the Annual Return has been duly completed by
our internal auditor.

(d) That it be noted that the required notice concerning the appointment of date for
the exercise of electors rights had been displayed between 31 May – 27 June 2011.

(e) That it be noted that the Clerk would send the documentation required by the
external auditor as soon as practicable prior to the 1 July 2011.

27 Schedule of correspondence, notices and publications

27a Application Form to hold an Event on the Memorial Gardens

Resolved – That permission be granted to Cockermouth Carnival Committee to
use the Memorial Gardens after the Carnival procession through town on Saturday
18 June 2011 until 6 pm.

27b Cumbria County Council – Local News and Views

Agreed – That the content of the May circular be noted.

27c Cockermouth Heritage Shop Fronts Scheme

Agreed – That it be noted that the Cockermouth Heritage Shop Fronts Scheme
received a commended accolade in this year’s Market Town Awards.

27d Closing Order

Agreed – That no objection be raised to the closing of Market Place between
8.00am and 5.00pm on Saturday 25 June 2011 for Cockermouth Midsummer
Festival.

27e Closing Order

Agreed – That the approval of the closing order for the Carnival be noted.

27f Cockermouth & District Civic Trust

Agreed – That the contents of the May Newsletter be noted.

27g Community Organisers Programme

Resolved – That Kate Parry be invited to the next meeting of the Town Council to
discuss how this new scheme will work.

27h Flood Action Group

Resolved – That an informal meeting be held with the Flood Action Group on 6 July 2011 at 7.15pm in the Town Hall to discuss options to raise £200k for flooding improvement works.

27i Service 217

Agreed – That the contents of the letter from Dean Parish Council regarding
Service 217 be noted.

27j Calc Circular

Agreed – That the contents of the May circular be noted.

27k Closing Order

Agreed – That the approval of the closing order for the Midsummer Festival on
Saturday 25 June 2011 be noted.

27l Proposed Changes to the Library Service

Agreed – That the dates and times of the community events being held across
Cumbria be noted.

27m Public Participation at Development Panel

Resolved – That the changes to the public participation scheme be noted.
(b) That a letter of complaint be sent to Allerdale Borough Council regarding the fact that only 3 objectors will be permitted to speak on each application.

28 Clerks Report

Those present considered the content of the Clerks report.

Resolved – (a) That the content of the report be noted.

(b) That the bunting be taken down on Saturday 9 July 2011 at 9.00am. Helpers to meet outside Greggs on the Main Street.

(c) That following our successful funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the restoration of part of the Mill Race, it be agreed to waive financial standing order 11 to authorise without competition the appointment of North Pennines Archaeology to undertake the works for the following reasons:-

The specialist nature of the work
They are on the approved list of contractors held by Cumbria County Council
They have exceptional experience in this range of work and in particular working with communities
They wrote the HLF proposals for the Mill Race Project which was approved by HLF.
Their works are fully funded by HLF
Works need to commence as soon as possible to utilise the summer months

(d) That it be noted that a pre-start meeting with WREN and CWMET will be held on 24 June 2011 in the Town Hall at 1.00pm.

29 Main Street Improvement Group

Agreed – That the notes of the Main Street Improvement Group held on 18
May 2011 be noted.

30 Report from Christmas Lights Contractor

Resolved – (a) That the content of the contractors report be noted.

(b) That Mr Nicholson liaises with the Rotary regarding erection of a tree opposite the crib.

31 Tree Felling at Strawberry Howe

Councillor Nicholson expressed concern that 4 healthy trees had been felled.

Resolved – That the Town Clerk writes to Allerdale Borough Council informing
them of this fact and request their comments.
32. Town Centre Flood Recovery Co-ordinator

Resolved – (a) That the content of Dr Tickner’s report be noted.

33 Next Meeting

Agreed – That the date of the next meeting be noted.

The meeting closed at 8.45 pm