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

Members

S Coates (Mayor)

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

Also present: 1 Police representative, 2 Press representatives & Dr Leslie Tickner

159 To authorise the Mayor to sign as a correct record the minutes of the
last meeting held on 17 February 2010.

Resolved – That the minutes of the last meeting held on 17 February 2010 be
signed as a correct record.

160 Declaration of Interest

Councillor E Nicholson declared a prejudicial interest regarding item 11 and in
particular the contract for the Christmas lights.

Councillor Kennon declared a personal interest in respect of planning application
2/2010/0157 due to the applicant living next door and a personal and prejudicial
interest in respect of planning application 2/2010/0180 due to the applicant being a
relation.

161 Mayors Announcements

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

These included:-

Tour of Town with Police
The opening of Jennings
Rotary Dinner Dance
Meeting the drivers in the Malcolm Wilson Rally in Dovenby
Malcolm Wilson Rally
Visiting Ennerdale School to collect a £270 cheque in aid of his flood relief fund
Opening Wordsworth House

162 Attendance by Police

The Community Police informed those present that after a series of incidents in
February a male was arrested and charges with numerous offences including
burglary, criminal damage, theft, theft from a motor vehicle and vehicle interference.
Crime in All Saints Ward has reduced from 36 to 35 crimes. Crime in Christchurch
ward had decreased significantly from 51 to 34 offences.

PC Wheelhouse has been working with the community payback initiative who have
assisted her in clearing up the cycle path bridge near the fire station. Patrols have
also been stepped up around Lorton Cemetery to tackle the issue of damage and
youths congregating.

Cockermouth now have 4 PCSO’s after 3 new officers joined last week.

The next safer stronger community meeting will be held in Christchurch Rooms on
26 March at 2pm. Road safety issues, traffic congestion and pedestrian safety
around Kirkgate were amongst the main issues raised by members of the public

163 Public Participation

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

164a Planning Applications

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

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.

2/2010/0048

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

Amendment – rear door.

Recommend Refusal – Contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2010/0106

Listed building consent for the replacement of shop frontage

47 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0115 (as amended)

Advertisement consent for 1 no individual letters sign and 1no projecting sign

30 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0133

Listed building consent to replace floor with fully ventilated timber floor

Challoner House, South Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0135

Advertisement consent for new external signage

Hunters 43A Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0140

Replace and repair roof using existing slates, new lead flashing and replace existing roof light. Replace ground floor front window with two sliding sash windows and render front elevation.

38 Challoner Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0142

Listed building consent for new covered shelter within existing rear yard, shelter is to be used for external drinking and smoking area.

The Bush Inn, 53 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0144

New covered shelter with existing rear yard. Shelter is to be used as external drinking and amoking area

The Bush Inn, 53 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0145

Replacement of windows to front elevation to rehau heritage sliding sash

16 Challoner Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal – Contrary to conservation area design guide

2/2010/0148

Replace existing play area with new equipment and facilities

Mayo Kindergarten, 28 Mayo Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0152

Reconstruction of existing utility room

9 Rubby Banks Road, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0153

Erection of rear ground floor extension and first floor extension to side

7 Caldecote Avenue, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0157

Proposed modifications to front elevation including blocking up part of window

17A Waterloo Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval
2/2010/0169

Replacement of 2no existing velux rooflights with 2no dormer windows to room 304

Trout Hotel, Crown Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0170

Listed building consent for replacement of 2no existing velux rooflights with 2no
dormer windows to room 304

Trout Hotel, Crown Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0171

Listed building consent for new external signage and lighting

Hunters, 43A Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0172

Listed building consent for removal of timber flooring and replacement with insulated concrete floor. Removal and re-ordering of non-load bearing timber stud patricians.

Town Hall, Market Street, Cockermouth

This is our own application

2/2010/0180

Single storey extension to the side

1 The Close, Henry Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0181

Advertisement consent for business name and logo on the new shop fron

60 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0183

Renewing shop frontage

37 Station Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0184

Advertisement consent for proposed new fascia and projecting signage and window graphics

37 Station Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0195

Listed building consent to replace windows in west elevation with timber sliding sash.

1 The Croft, South Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0196

Listed building consent to replace existing wooden suspended floors with solid concrete floors.

1 The Croft, South Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0197

Part change of use to allow tea room within existing shop area

Castle Brewery The Maltings, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0198

Replacement windows to rear elevation with Rehau Heritage sliding sash windows in existing openings (Retrospective)

2 Fern Villas, South Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal – Contrary to conservation area design guide.

164b 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.

164c Applications for Tree Works

Resolved – That no objections be raised in respect of removal of a mature ash tree
undermined during the November 2009 floods situated in the Memorial Gardens.

164d Appeal by Hearthstone Homes

Agreed – That the submission of an appeal against the refusal to grant planning
permission for the erection of a single dwelling house, land at Strawberry How be
noted.

164e Site at Former Fire Station

Agreed – That the submission of an appeal by J Edgar and Son against an
enforcement notice relating to a breach of planning control be noted.

164f Approval for Tree Works

Agreed – (a) That approval to pollard 5 limes, land off Kirkgate House be noted.

(b) That approval to crown reduce and removal lower branches of several trees,
land at Wordsworth Court be noted.

(c) That approval to fell various trees, land between Waterloo Bridge and Cocker
Bridge be noted.

165 Highway Response Team

Agreed – That potholes on Parkside Avenue and Lamplugh/Brigham Road be
reported.

166 Financial Matters

166a Schedule of Payments

Resolved – (a) That the schedule of payments in the sum of £11,507.24 as set out
In the amended expenditure transactions approval list be formally approved for
payment.

166b Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment

Resolved – That a financial donation of £250 be made to enable the Regimental
Museum move to larger premises in accordance with the Council’s grant policy
Monies to be taken from next year’s grant allocation.

167 Schedule of correspondence, notices and publications

167a CALC Circular

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

167b Training Sessions

Agreed – That the training and advice sessions offered by CALC over the next
few months be noted and that the Clerk arranges for Councillor Tyson to attend the
new or aspiring chairman course on 20th May in Bothel Village Hall at a cost of
£25.00.

167c Derwent Owners Association

Resolved – (a) That the minutes of their AGM held on 19 March 2010 be noted.

(b) That the voting form be returned showing acceptance of all the proposals.

167d West Cumbrian Run

A ten mile road running race was due to be held on July 18th 2010 from
Cockermouth to Workington in memory of Bill Barker. It was likely that a road
closure order would be enforced on race day between 7.00am and 10 am.

Agreed – (a) That the details provided by organisers Big-Q Events Ltd be noted.

(b) That Big Q Events Limited be allowed to use the Memorial Gardens during the event.

167e Recycle for Cumbria

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

167f Cumbria in Bloom

Those present considered whether or not to enter this year’s competition.

The structure of the competition had changed significantly over the last few years
more emphasis was being placed on planning future improvements, involving the
community and having a year round programme. Members felt that it was no
longer just about making the Town look as attractive as possible.

Non-entry in the competition would not affect the usual activities undertaken in the
town e.g. provision of flower baskets, various planting, allotment competition etc.

Resolved – That the Town Council no longer enters Cumbria in Bloom.

167g Chamber of Trade

The Chamber of Trade expressed their disappointment that the Town Council had
felt unable to contribute £1000 towards their action plan.

The action plan assumed a£936.00 cost to be paid to the tourist information centre
by the Chamber of Trade for use of the Tourist Information Centre as a manned
telephone information point.

In addition the Chamber of Trade was planning to arrange for two possibly three
computers to be supplied free of charge so that access to their updated web page
could be accessed. The computers could also be used for public internet use.

In light of the above, the Chamber of Trade were requesting that the support from
Tourist Information Centre staff be provided without cost.

Resolved – (a) That staffing of the telephone information point be provided by the
Town Council without cost for one year.

(b) That the Town Clerk monitors usage.

168 Clerks Report

Those present considered the content of the Clerks report.

Resolved – (a) That EW & PA Nicholson Limited be awarded the tender for the
Christmas Lights in the sum of £12,650.00.

(b) That the £57.00 owed to the Town Council be written off.

(c) That the £2,500 grant monies due from the NDA for Gote Road allotments be
spent on skips and top soil and the provision of a, new entrance gate, upgrading
the pathway and renewing fencing adjacent to the pathway near plots 21a, 21b, 22a & 22b.

(d) That the £2000 budgetary provision in respect of pitch improvement works be
carried over to May 2010.

169 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

Members were pleased to note that the gulley running the length of Rubbybanks Road would be cleared of flood debris this weekend.

Agreed – That the contents of the briefing note be noted.

The meeting closed at 8.45 pm