Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Cockermouth Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Cockermouth on Wednesday 11 May 2011 at 7 pm

Present: Councillor A Tyson (Mayor)
Councillor I Burns
Councillor S Coates
Councillor L Davies
Councillor A Graham
Councillor P Graham
Councillor J Laidlow
Councillor E Nicholson
Councillor A Smith
Councillor C Smith

Apologies:- Councillors' Standage, Jackson & Kennon

Also Present:- 1 member of the Press, 2 Police Representatives & 21 members of the public.

1 Election of Town Mayor/Chairman

The Mayor invited nominations for the position of Town Mayor/Chairman for 2011/12. Only one nomination was received and seconded and on being put to the vote it was unanimously

Resolved - That Councillor C Smith be elected Town Mayor/Chairman in 2011/12.

Councillor Tyson then handed over the Chain of Office to Councillor C Smith.

The new Mayor then read out and signed her Declaration of Acceptance of Office and took over the Chair. Her husband Alan had agreed to be her consort. The outgoing Mayoress then duly handed over the Mayoress's chain. The Mayor thanked Councillor Tyson and Gillian Sharp for all their hard work during the past year.

2 Election of Deputy Town Mayor/Vice Chairman

The Mayor invited nominations for the position of Deputy Mayor/Vice Chairman. Only one nomination was received and seconded and on being put to the vote it was unanimously

Resolved - That Councillor I Burns be elected as the Deputy Town Mayor/Vice Chairman of the Council for 2011/12.

The Town Mayor then presented the Deputy Mayor's badge to the Vice Chairman.

3 Declaration of Interest

Councillor A Smith declared a personal interest in any item relating to Allerdale Borough Council.

4 Minutes

Resolved - That the Mayor be authorised to sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of Cockermouth Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Cockermouth on 21 April 2011.

5 Election of Committees/Sub Groups

Resolved - (a) That all 12 councillors be appointed to serve on the following committees, sub groups and panels for 2011/12 as follows:-

" Town Twinning and Town Advisory Committee
" The Special Events Sub Group

(b) That the Christmas Illuminations Panel comprise of 11 councillors excluding Councillor Nicholson.

6 Police Report

The Community Police Officer informed those present that a number of arrests were made for various offences with offenders receiving fixed penalty notices for disorder as well as cautions. The police had used their powers to direct persons to leave the town centre for up to 48 hours in a bid to tackle anti social behavior. Members were interested to note that a youth café was to be formed in Brew and Browse commencing on the 3 June 2011.

7 Public Participation

No members of the public wished to speak in accordance with the public participation scheme.

8 Planning Matters

8a Planning Applications

Resolved - That the Councils observations on the following planning applications to date be forwarded to the Head of Planning Services:-

2/2011/0144

Access gates

Castlegate House, Castlegate, Cockermouth

Recommend - Approval

2/2011/0189

Listed building consent for internal alterations and creation of 2 fire escape exits

Amendment- External door details, proposed elevations, proposed basement and
ground floor plans and description change

Globe Hotel, 23 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend - Approval

2/2011/0247

Listed building consent for replacement signage and restoration works

19 Market Place, Cockermouth

Recommend - Approval

2/2011/0254

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

Rubby Banks House, Rubby Banks Road, Cockermouth

Recommended - Approval

2/2011/0255

Reconstruction of river wall and reinstatement of land, drainage and fence

Rubby Banks House, Rubby Banks Road, Cockermouth

Recommend - Approval

2/2011/0256

Proposed rear extension and raised patio

10 Bellbrigg Lonning, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0273

Replace wooden door with a composite UPVC door

3 The Laurels, Rubby Banks, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal - contrary to conservation area policy

8b Planning Decision Notices

Agreed - That the various notifications of planning decisions as received from the Borough Council and County Council be noted.

8c Tree Works

Resolved - That no objections be raised to the pollarding of a horse chestnut at 41/43
Kirkgate subject to the works being carried out by a specialist.

9 Highway Matters

9a Urban Area Highway Response Team

Resolved - That the following be reported:-
" potholes along St Helens Street, Windmill Lane, Sullart Street
" Hole in pavement on Slatefell Drive
" Sunken road drain on Sullart Street near Wordsworth Court
" Large hole in road at Horseman Street

10 Financial Matters

10a Payments

Resolved - That the schedule of payments in the sum of £47,956.13 as set out in the expenditure transactions approval list be formally approved for payment.

10b Precept

Agreed - That the receipt of £91,805.00 half yearly precept be noted.

10f Insurance

Members considered the content of the renewal summary and cost of renewal.

Resolved - That cover be renewed at a cost of £5540.01.

11 Schedule of correspondence, notices and publications

11a Steps leading from Greenway

Resolved - That a letter of thanks be sent to Ben Dyson for reporting the problem and
giving up his time to willingly help in the clearing the accumulated material on the
steps.

11b Memorial Gardens

Resolved - That permission be granted to Cockermouth Festivals Group to hold a live
music event as part of the Midsummer Festival on Saturday 25 June 2011 between 1pm
- 6pm.

11c Memorial Gardens

Resolved - That permission be granted to Cockermouth Festivals Group to hold a
solstice picnic on Tuesday 21 June 2011 between 5.30pm and 10.30pm.

11d Cockermouth Spring Fair

Resolved - That the granting of the closing order for the Spring Fair on 30 May 2011 be
noted.

11e The Children's Carnival

Resolved - That no objection be raised in respect of the closing order for the Children's
Carnival on Saturday 18 June 2011.

11f Decision Notices

Agreed - That it be noted that Allerdale Borough Council will no longer be supplying
Town and Parish Councils copy decision notices and corresponding officers' reports as
of 3 May 2011. These would now be available on line.

11g Old Lampposts sited in Pinfold Close

The Civic Trust would like 6 old lampposts sited in Pinfold Close off St Helens Street and
one similar lamppost at Fold Brow (if they are to be taken out) incorporated into either
the new town streetscape or Memorial Gardens.

Resolved - That this matter be discussed further once Helen Brownlie, the
conservation officer has contacted Cumbria County Council to ascertain their
intentions.

11h CALC

Agreed - That the minutes of the AGM held on 7 April 2011 be noted.

11i Broadband Bulletin

Agreed - That it be noted that the first meeting of the Accessible Cumbria Partnership
took place on 9 May 2011 and that we will shortly have a better understanding of
Cumbria County Council's next steps.

11j Derwent Owners Association

Agreed - That the minutes of their AGM held on 18 April 2011 be noted.

11k Mayor's Charities

Agreed - That the letter of thanks from the Friends of Chernobyl's in respect of their
£600.00 cheque be noted.

12 Clerks Report

Members considered the content of the Clerk's report.

Resolved - (a) That Arriya Varty be employed as our relief cleaner.

(b) That the approval of our 50k heritage lottery fund to restore the Mill Race be noted.

(c) That permission be given to site a container on Tarn Close Sports Ground subject to the necessary permissions being obtained and painting the container green.

13 Declaration of Acceptance of Office

Resolved - That Councillor Standage be allowed to sign his declaration of acceptance of
office at or before our 15 June 2011 meeting.

14 Date of next Meeting

Resolved - That Town Council meetings be held in Victoria Hall at 7.15pm during Councillor C Smith's term of office as Mayor.

Resolved -

That under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, the public be removed for the following items of business due the possibility of legal action being taken and tender prices being discussed.

15 Memorial Gardens

Resolved - That a further legal opinion be sought.

16 Memorial Gardens

Resolved - That the tender for phase 1 (as amended) be awarded to ISS Waterers in the
sum of £60,759.96.

The meeting closed at 8.30 pm