Minutes of a meeting of Cockermouth Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Cockermouth on 19 October 2011 at 7.15pm

Members

C Smith (Mayor)

I Burns S Coates
L Davies P Graham
A Kennon A R Graham J Laidlow
A Smith
Apologies: E Nicholson, S Standage & M Jackson

Also present: 1 press representative, 1 police representative & 4 members of the
public.

84 To authorise the Mayor to sign as a correct record the minutes of the last
meeting

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2011 be signed
as a correct record.

85 Declaration of Interest

L Davies 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.
86 Mayors Announcements

The Mayor had attended the following events:-

Mayor for the Day at Allerdale House
Welcome Home Parade through Workington for the troops

87 Attendance by Police

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

Total crime in All Saints Ward has increased from 49 to 72 incidents
Total crime in Christchurch has decreased from 147 to 100 incidents
The last Safer Stronger Community Meeting will take place on 18 October 2011, future meetings have been cancelled due to poor attendance.

88 Public Participation

There was no public participation.

89a Planning Applications

2/2011/0663

Change of use from office space to a community resource centre and new access
ramp and door.

2 Market Place, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0678

Replacement of windows and external doors

30,32,34,36 & 38 Derwent Street, Cockermouth

Recommended Approval

2/2011/0677

Replacement of windows and external doors

1,3,9 & 10 Flats 5,6,7 & 8 Stricketts Court, Cockermouth

Recommended Approval

2/2011/0679

Replacement of windows and external doors

12,14,16 & 18 Sullart Street, Cockermouth

Recommended Approval

2/2011/0681

Replacement of windows and external doors

10,12,14 & 16 Fletcher Street Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0699

Listed building consent for the replacement and repair of existing shop front
including replacement of fascia sign

7 Market Place, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0706

Advertisement consent for proposed retractable awning

60 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0727

Change of use from doctors surgery to 3No. residential units including single storey
extension to unit 3, erection of detached garage and sub division of garden space.

South Street Surgery, South Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval. The Town Council would like to see a Section 106 applied
to this property restricting occupancy to local occupancy and an affordable rent.

2/2011/0735

Installation of double driveway and erection of retaining wall

1 Meadow Grove Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2011/0740

Listed building consent for change of use from doctors surgery to 3 No. residential
units including single storey extension to unit 3, erection of detached garage and sub
division of garden space.

South Street Surgery, South Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval. The Town Council would like to see a Section 106 applied
to this property restricting occupancy to local occupancy and an affordable rent.

2/2011/0742

Listed building consent for awning

73 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

90 Highway Matters

Resolved – That the following issues be reported:-

Street lights 4 & 5 Market Place out
Two street lights are out on Bitterbeck Car Park

91 Financial Matters

91a Schedule of Payments

Resolved – That the schedule of payments in the sum of £12,431.67 as set
out in the revised expenditure transactions approval list be formally approved for
payment.

91b Auditors Report

Agreed – That the satisfactory completion of internal checks for the period 1st April
2011 to 30 September 2011 be noted.

92 Schedule of correspondence, notices and publications

92a Town Guide Working Group

Agreed – That the minutes of the Cockermouth Town Guide Working Group held
on 2 September 2011 be noted.

92b Derwent Owners Association

Agreed – That the minutes of Derwent Owners Association Meeting held on 12
September 2011 be noted.

92c Trees in the Memorial Gardens

Members considered the contents of a letter from the occupier of 7 Riverside
Terrace regarding the height and positioning of trees at the back of her property.

Resolved – (a) That tree works on the Memorial Gardens be not carried out on a
piecemeal basis.

(b) That a survey of the whole of the woodland be undertaken in the next financial
year once the bund has been created.

92d Europe Prize Scholarship Fund

Resolved – That consideration of this issue be deferred until next April.

92e Charitable Golf Tournament

Agreed – That the letter of thanks be noted.

92f Calc Circular

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

92g MRWS E-Bulletin No 7

Agreed – That the contents of the September 2011 bulletin be noted.

92h Parcs Summer Activities 2011

The Sports and Development Officer gave details of the sessions held during the
summer, 19 sessions were held with the busiest sites being Vulcan Park,
Cockermouth and Maryport.

Resolved – That attendance figures for the three Cockermouth sessions be
obtained and that better publicity be requested to encourage greater attendance.

92i Local Government Pension Scheme

Agreed – That the content of the update be noted.

92j The Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data
Transparency

Agreed – That the obligations contained within the code be noted.

92k Fire Risk Assessment, Town Hall, Cockermouth

Agreed – That the findings of the review be noted.

92l Localism Bill – A further update

Agreed – That the update be noted.

93 Clerks Report

Those present considered the content of the Clerks report.

Agreed - That the content of the report be noted.

94 Town Centre Flood Recovery Co-ordinator

A comprehensive list of works with repair options for Market Place were currently
being prioritised. All parties are keen to progress this as quickly as possible.

In an attempt to rejuvenate the market a decision was made to leave the road open
and to site the stalls on the widest section of the footway, barriers were placed
along the kerb line to protect shoppers. The general view was that keeping the road
open proved to be more beneficial to the local businesses and to the market traders.

Taste Cumbria took place on 24th and 25th September 2011. Over 60 attractions
and stalls took part. It is too early to analyse the economic impact of this years
festival however a debriefing meeting will be held within the next 2 weeks to discuss
what went well and address what did not go so well.

Agreed – That the content of Dr Tickner’s report be noted.

95 Flood Prevention Consultation

The Town Council, Cockermouth Flood Action Group, Environment Agency and
other key partners are working closely to look at ways to raise the community
funding required to attract Central Government Funding.

Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 enables local councils to spend a
limited amount (i.e. £6.64 per elector) for purposes which they have no other
specific statutory expenditure. The Council must first be satisfied that there is a
direct benefit to the area or part of the area, or to some or to all of the inhabitants.

The Council must secondly ensure that the direct benefit accruing to its area or
residents is commensurate with the expenditure incurred.

The Town Council agreed in principle to raise £40,000.00 per year for the next 3
years (if still required) via the precept if a majority of council tax payers in
Cockermouth supported this idea.

Subsequently, a copy of the consultation was hand delivered to 4153 properties in
Cockermouth and the responses collected by a representative of the Town Council.

The results of the consultation were as follows:-

Yes 1,394
No 448
Spoils 17

This represented a return of 44.76%.

The Mayor thanked everyone who had taken the time to complete the form.

Members noted that the Executive Committee of Cockermouth and District
Chamber of Trade had agreed on 12 October 2011 that:-

‘The Cockermouth and District Chamber of Trade Executive Committee fully
supports the construction of the proposed flood defence scheme for Cockermouth
and will be recommending to its members that they contribute to the scheme over
the next 3 years by pledging financial support utilising a formula based on the
relevant rateable values within a timeframe agreed with the Environment Agency.
The Executive Committee further proposes to approach all other non chamber
businesses in order to seek their financial support based on a similar formula.

Members were pleased that this complex financial jigsaw was now coming
together.

It was unanimously resolved that expenditure of £40,000 per year for the next 3
years (if required) be raised via Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 to
assist in financing the £300,000 community contribution required to fund flood
prevention works in Cockermouth.

96 Provision of a free ride park in Cockermouth

Those present discussed the provision of a free ride Park in Cockermouth.

Resolved – That a site meeting take place to discuss potential sites involving the
two youths who presented their petition.

97 Installation of a new lift and internal alterations in the Town Hall

Members considered the quote from Red Raven regarding the fees involved in the
survey, viability of installation of a lift to all 3 floors and an amended ground floor
layout including exhibition area.

Resolved – That Red Raven be appointed to carry out the works and that the works
be financed from £2,000 of under spend in budget 2/10.

98 Cockermouth Market Place Neighbourhood Development Order (NDO)

Cockermouth Town Council with assistance from Allerdale Borough Council has
been working on the production and adoption of an NDO to remove the
requirement for planning permission for changes of use between existing
commercial units which have a ‘shop frontage’ to cafes, restaurants, bars or public
houses.

The aspiration for the Market Place is to promote it as an area of leisure, arts and
culture at the centre of which would be a vibrant and attractive cafe culture.

Resolved – That the draft Neighbourhood Development Order for Cockermouth
Market Place be supported and forwarded to the next consultation stage.

99 The Future Maintenance of four play areas in Cockermouth

Allerdale Borough Council would like the Town Council to consider taking over the
inspection and maintenance regime of play equipment and safety surfacing at
Harris Park Extension, Greyrigg Avenue, Towers Lane and Isel Road in
Cockermouth.

Resolved – (a) That the Town Council agrees to take over the responsibility of the
inspection and maintenance regime of the equipment and safety surfacing on Harris
Park Extension, Greyrigg Avenue, Towers Lane and Isel Road subject to all the
equipment being replaced.

(b) That maintenance be effective from 1st April 2012 allowing us time to raise the
costs of inspection, maintenance via the precept.

(c) That councillors A Kennon and P Graham attend a 1 day training course to
Qualify them to carry out a weekly inspection using an authorised checklist.

(d) That a cost be sought from ISS Waterers regarding the introduction of a
Quarterly maintenance regime.


The meeting closed at 8.48 pm