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

Members

A Tyson (Mayor)

I Burns S Coates
A Kennon C M Jackson
D Newton E Nicholson A Smith C Smith S Standage M Wood

Also present: 2 police representatives

Prior to the commencement of the meeting Members stood in silent tribute in
Remembrance of Les Lytollis who sadly passed away on 1st March 2011.

155 To authorise the Mayor to sign as a correct record the minutes of the
meeting held on 16 February 2011.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 February be signed
as a correct record subject to A Smith in the apologies being amended to C Smith.

156 Declaration of Interest

Councillors A Tyson and A Smith declared a personal interest regarding item 7 due
to being members of the development panel. Councillor Nicholson declared a
prejudicial interest in relation to planning application 2/2011/0103.

157 Mayors Announcements

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

Visit by HRH Prince Charles to Town and Mitchells Auction
A Race Night organised by the Mayor of Allerdale
Coffee Morning
Malcolm Wilson Rally and Prize Giving
Funeral of Les Lytollis

158 Attendance by Police

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

Crime had decreased in All Saints from 70 crimes to 57 crimes as compared with the same period last year
Crime had increased in Christchurch ward from 75 crimes to 115 crimes as compared with the same period last year
Work had continued in local schools on a number of subjects including internet safety and anti-bullying
The current community problem highlighted and adopted during February’s safer stronger community meeting was anti-social behaviour and speeding vehicles in Sainsbury’s car park and around the town centre.

159 Public Participation

There was no public participation at the meeting.

160a Planning Applications

2/2011/0089

Proposed extensions and alterations to dwelling, including previously approved side
and rear extension and additional conservatory to rear and revised access
(retrospective)

48 Henry Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0090

Listed building consent for removal of flood damaged suspended timber floor and
replace with insulated concrete floor slab

13 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommended Approval

2/2011/0095

Provision of temporary storage accommodation for goods

Methodist Church, Lorton Street, Cockermouth

Recommend approval subject to permission being granted for a maximum of 12
months.

2/2011/0097

Demolish existing garage and build single storey extension

9 Norwood Drive, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0103

Erection of a single dwelling

Land adjacent to 1 Meadow Grove Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal dwelling out of character with surrounding dwellings.

2/2011/0121

Proposed extension over existing garage and single storey rear extension

14 Challoner Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal – materials to be used on modern single storey extension out
of character.

2/2011/0135

First floor extension

36 Lowscales Drive, Cockermouth

Recommended Approval

2/2011/0138

Listed building consent to install solar panel roof

Challoner House, South Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal – out of character

2/2011/0139

Proposed fitting of two velux windows 114x118

10a Station Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval as long as in keeping with conservation area

2/2011/0144

Listed building consent for new access gates

Castlegate House, Castlegate, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0151

Deferred until next meeting

2/2011/0153

Listed building consent for replacement signage

29 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0166

Advertisement consent for a totem sign

Stan Palmer Honda, Europe Way, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal – signage out of character

160b Notification of decisions from Allerdale Borough Council and Cumbria
County Council

Agreed - That the decisions be noted.

160c Tree Works

Recommended – (a) That further information be requested regarding the pollarding
of two chestnut trees at 41 & 45 Kirkgate.

(b) That the pruning of 5 trees at 27, Strawberry How be recommended for
approval.

160d Tree Works, Bitterbeck Car Park

Agreed – That the approval of the pollarding of 2 sycamores, Bitterbeck Car Park
be noted.

161 Highway Response Team

Town Clerk to report the following:-

3 street lights not working on the lonning leading to Wellington Farm
2 street lights not working on Brigham Road
2 street lights constantly on at Fitz Road for the last 10 days
Main Street street lights constantly on for the last 2 weeks
Overflowing gulley Wakefield Road Car Park
Overflowing gullies Fitz Road and Kirkgate
Lorton Street gulley floods onto pavement
Overflowing gulley on path leading from car park to Harris Park (opposite new street lamp)
Overflowing gulley on Windmill Lane opposite the Laundrette.
Footpath at Strawberry How encroached by grass, can this be widened.
Signage requires cleaning
No salt box on Evening Hill


162 Financial Matters

162a Schedule of Payments

Resolved – (a) That the schedule of payments in the sum of £9,245.78
as set out in the expenditure transactions approval list be formally approved for
payment.

162b Parish Council Elections

Resolved – (a) That it be noted that the minimum amount that will be incurred for
an uncontested election will be £100 per ward.

(b) That poll cards be not sent out in the event of a contested election.

163 Schedule of correspondence, notices and publications

163a Calc Circular

Agreed – That the contents of the March 2011 circular be noted.

163b Concurrent Grant

Resolved - That a detailed breakdown of the 2009/10 concurrent grant monies be
sent to Ian Payne, Strategic Manager - Places as requested.

163c Review of County Council Supported Bus Services

All the County Council’s current contracts have been evaluated following a
£340,000 loss of grant.

Agreed – That the withdrawal of poorly scored bus services be noted.

163d Community Transport

Agreed – That further details of the scheme be obtained.

163e Sport and Physical Activity

Agreed – That various new opportunities in terms of sport and physical activity be
noted.

163f Cockermouth Flood Action Group

Agreed – That content of the second technical and engineering report be noted.

163g Churches Together Walk of Witness – 22 April 2011

Resolved – That permission be given to ‘plant’ a cross in the Memorial Gardens
subject to the hole being filled in once the cross was removed.

163h Cockermouth School

Agreed – That Cockermouth School’s application for academy status be noted.

163i Equality Act

Agreed – That the public sector equality duty set out in section 149 of the Equality
Act 2010 which comes into force on 6 April 2011 be noted.

163j Environmental Information Regulations 2004

Agreed – That the briefing note on how to handle a request for information under
this Act be noted.

163k Employment Law

Agreed – That the content of a briefing note outlining legislative changes for 2011
be noted.

164 Clerks Report

Those present considered the content of the Clerks report.

Resolved – That:-

(a) The content of the report be noted.
(b) That the stop taps in the allotments be fixed and the water turned back on.
(c) That the unsuccessful Community Spaces bid for Phase 2 of the restoration of the Memorial Gardens be noted.
(d) That the receipt of our heritage lottery fund bid and 10 week assessment process for the Mill Race Project be noted.
(e) That the bounty memorabilia be accepted and displayed on the first floor.
(f) That the plaque supplied by the Civic Trust be not displayed near the Kirkgate Tree as the Trust was one of four funding bodies involved in the scheme and there was no reference on the plaque to the other funding bodies. Clerk to offer placing the plaque on a tree in the Memorial Gardens.

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

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

Taste Cumbria
HRH Visit
Superfast broadband
Co-operative Exchange
Events Calendar

Agreed – That the contents of his report be noted.

166 Main Street Public Realm Improvement Scheme

Resolved – That progress to date be noted and that in future the minutes of the
Group be circulated as widely as possible.

167 Installation of a bund in the Memorial Gardens

Resolved – That the alignment of the bund to be installed from Harris Bridge to the
Riverside walkway as part of flood prevention measures be endorsed subject to
minimised tree removal be agreed.

168 Reduction of exterior wall

This matter was not discussed.

169 Review of Condition 5c on Town Water Fishing Permit

Resolved – That condition 5c be amended as follows:-

Worm fishing is allowed on the Derwent in spate conditions (above 4ft) from 1st
July to 31st October. This condition does not apply to the River Cocker.

170 Date of Next Meeting

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

The meeting closed at 9.15 pm