Minutes of a meeting of Cockermouth Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Cockermouth on 22 September 2011 at 7.15pm

Members

C Smith (Mayor)

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

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

65 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 17 August 2011 be signed as a
correct record.

66 Declaration of Interest

Councillors C M Jackson and 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.

67 Mayors Announcements

The Mayor had attended the following events:-

Gardening Awards Evening
CASS

68 Attendance by Police

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

Total crime in All Saints Ward has increased from 52 to 81 incidents
Total crime in Christchurch has decreased from 144 to 118 incidents
There was still an increase in anti-social behaviour
Attendance at Jordan’s Jungle was increasing, 66 kids has attended one session last week.

69 Public Participation

Petition in relation to ‘anti proposals to change in Main Street’

Receipt of this petition was deferred until the next meeting.

Petition in relation to’ the provision of a Skate/cycle park in Cockermouth’

Justin Foster and Adam Morgan requested that the Town Council consider the
provision of a 60m wide and 100m long free ride bike park within the town as the
nearest free ride bike park was over 3 hours away. The petition had been signed by
207 11-16 year olds. Details of what type of materials could be used to build the
park were circulated to those present.

Members requested that further consideration of this item take place at the next
meeting.

70a Planning Applications

2/2011/0462

Proposed 4 bedroom dwelling with detached double garage

Land adjacent to Victoria Road and Kirkbank, Victoria Road, Cockermouth

Amendment- Revised siting to avoid tree canopy

Recommend – Approval

2/2011/0499

Listed building consent for reinstatement of original building name and installation of
two hanging signs

15 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend - Approval

2/2011/0584

Advertisement consent for fascia sign over main entrance and painted/ laminate
800mm x 1800mm board on the side of the property

20 Lorton Street, Cockermouth

Recommend – Refusal, materials not in keeping with conservation area design
guide. Wood preferred.

2/2011/0591

Installation of PV panels to South East elevation

Mitchells Auction Mart Lakeland Livestock Centre, Lakeland Agricultural Business
Centre, Cockermouth

Recommend - Approval

2/2011/0610

Variation of condition 3 of planning application 2/2011/0357 to insert uPVC windows
in the northern elevation

Ruddbank, Skinner Street, Cockermouth

Recommend - Approval

2/2011/0617

Installation of 24 hour ATM cash machine on front elevation in a secure laminate
panel

The Cooperative Bank, 12 Station Street, Cockermouth

Recommend – Refusal, not in keeping.

2/2011/0618

Side and rear single storey extension

16 Beech Lane, Cockermouth

Recommend – Approval

2/2011/0623

Advertisement consent for replacement hanging sign

40 Challoner Street, Cockermouth

Recommend – refusal contrary to conservation area design guide, wooden material
preferred.

2/2011/0636

Retrospective listed building consent for repair works and alterations and proposed
external improvements

Norham House, 71 Main Street Cockermouth

Recommend – refusal, would like sandstone wall re-built and steps in original
position.

2/2011/0650

Proposed supplementary gauging station building and 6 metre high pole to mount
river monitoring camera

Land at Riverside Car park off Cocker Lane, Kirkgate, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

70b Tree Preservation Order No. 7 2011

Agreed – That TPO 7 2011, tree on land at Victoria Road, Cockermouth be noted.

70c New Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries

The Boundary Commission for England published initial proposals for new
constituency boundaries on 13 September, this publication marks the start of
a 12 week period of consultation of their initial proposals. Details of changes to the
North West Region can be viewed in the Town Hall.

Resolved – That individual comments be made directly to the Boundary
Commission in respect of the initial proposals.

70d Planning and Planning Policy move to Allerdale House

Agreed – That the change of address be noted.

70e Local Validation Checklists

Allerdale Borough Council has recently prepared a draft local validation checklist
for planning applications, this criteria is subject to a consultation exercise prior to
its formal adoption, any comments on the local validation criteria must be sent to
Allerdale Borough Council within 8 weeks.

Resolved – That the content of the local validation checklist be noted.

70f Appeal by Lakeland Leisure Ltd, land adjacent to Fitz Park

Agreed – That it be noted that the public inquiry was deferred until next year.

70g Neighbourhood Frontrunners Scheme

Agreed – That the contents of the minutes of the initial meeting of the Front
Runners Steering Group be held on 14 July 2011 be noted.

70h Neighbourhood Frontrunners Scheme

Agreed – That the contents of the minutes of a meeting of the Front Runners
Steering Group held on 4 August 2011 be noted.

70i Application to carry out tree works

Recommended – That no objection be made regarding the felling of a sycamore
tree, land at 30a South Street, Cockermouth.

71 Financial Matters

71a Schedule of Payments

Resolved – That the schedule of payments in the sum of £43,195.96 as set
out in the revised expenditure transactions approval list be formally approved for
payment.

71b Civic Trust Awards

Resolved – That £57.00 be paid towards the application fee for the Civic Trust
Awards in respect of the Shop Fronts Scheme.

72 Schedule of correspondence, notices and publications

72a Retirement Payments

The Government has announced its intention to require all employers to put in
place arrangements for employees to join a pension scheme. This was being
phased in over the period to 2016.

Agreed – That the content of Legal Topic Note LTN 79 be noted.

72b Trees in the Memorial Gardens

Members considered a request from the occupiers of 39, Derwentside Gardens
regarding the removal of two self seeded sycamore trees adjacent to their property.

Resolved - That permission be sought to remove these two self seeded sycamore
trees behind 39, Derwentside Gardens

72c National Planning Policy Framework

Agreed – That the content of Policy Consultation P27 – 11 be noted.

72d Nationally Significant Wastewater Transfer

Agreed – That the content of NALC’s policy consultation paper concerning
Government proposals to enable proposed major wastewater transfer and storage
infrastructure projects to undergo the same planning application process as other
major infrastructure projects be noted.

72e Service 58

At the time that a revised timetable was introduced last year, it was agreed that the
timetable would be reviewed again in six months. This review has now taken
place.

Agreed – That the new timetable introduced on 5 September 2011 be noted.

72f Coal Authority Mine Entry Disclosure & Inspection Programme

Agreed – That the inspection of 1950 mine entries within the Allerdale area over
the next two years be noted.

72g Implementation of Coastal Access in Cumbria

Work has started on creating the England Coast Path – a new National Trail
around all of England’s open coast. Once the rights are in force, it will mean that
for the first time people will have the right of access around all of England’s open
coast including ‘spreading room’ where they can rest, relax or admire the view. For
the past few months, Natural England’s Cumbria Coastal Access Team have been
engaging with a wide range of partners to inform them of plans to open up a 30km
stretch between Allonby and Whitehaven.

Agreed – That progress of this scheme be noted.

72h Cumbria Registration Service Modernisation

The Registration Service in Cumbria is about to enter a period of unprecedented
change from October onwards as it modernises its structures and services. The
aim is to create a more accessible and customer focused service. Changes
include a single registration District for Cumbria, on line appointment booking and
a centralised system for certificate issue that is available 24/7.

Agreed – That the plans to modernise the service be noted.

72i Business Rates Retention

Business rates are collected by local authorities from businesses in their areas like
shops, offices, warehouses and factories but they are currently paid into a central
pool to be redistributed as part of formula grant. The Government wants to
change the current system by enabling Councils to keep a share of the growth in
business rates in their area. This will make Councils more financially independent
and give them a strong incentive to promote local growth. Changes will be made
at the next spending review from 2015 – 2016.

Members expressed concern this move would be detrimental to Rural Areas like
Cumbria.

Agreed – That the Guide be noted.

72j The Bribery Act 2010

Agreed – That the implications on local councils following the introduction of The
Bribery Act 2010 which came into force on 1 July 2011 be noted.

72k Adult Day Services

Cumbria County Council want to develop proposals for day services and day
opportunities that will benefit current and future service users both for the
immediate and long term future. Views were requested prior to 23 September
2011.

Agreed – That the consultation document be noted.

72l Calc Circular

Agreed – That the contents of the calc circular for September 2011 be noted.

72m Pollarding of trees between St Helens Street and Melbreak Avenue

Those present considered the content of a letter from the occupier of 43 St. Helens
Street regarding the large trees on grass land behind her house.

Agreed – That the letter be forwarded on to Allerdale Borough Council.

72n 400th Anniversary of King James Bible

Agreed – That arrangements for KJV Day be noted.

73 Clerks Report

Those present considered the content of the Clerks report.

Resolved – (a) That the content of the report be noted.
(b) That it be noted that Eileen Armstrong will retire on 4 October 2011
(c) That Arriya Varty, the current relief cleaner, be employed on a permanent basis as of the 4 October 2011
(d) That the urgent repair of the safety surfacing in the Memorial Gardens Play area at a cost of £85.00 be authorised.
(e) That Councillor A Smith contacts Karen Henson regarding the Titans use of Tarn Close Sports Ground.
(f) That it be noted that the road closure for switch on day will now cost £1250 instead of £100 as a county road closure has to be obtained.
(g) That the Town Clerk contacts Ian Thorneycroft regarding the provision of an emergency exit.
(h) That a temporary events notice be obtained for switch on day.
(i) That it be noted that full payment had been received in respect of recent damage to one of the flower poles on the Main Street.

74 Town Centre Flood Recovery Co-ordinator

Agreed – That the content of Dr Tickners report be noted.

75 Flood Prevention Survey

Agreed – That the survey be distributed one per household as soon as
practicable and collected on the 1st October 2011.

76 Front Runners Scheme

Resolved – That County Councillor Eric Nicholson be appointed onto the Group.

77 Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places

Resolved – That concern be expressed regarding access to Grassmoor Sports
Centre.

78 Meeting dates for 2012

Resolved – That the meeting dates for 2012 be agreed.

79 Judicial Review

Agreed – That it be noted C J R Lasper was refused permission to
apply for Judicial Review by Judge Pelling QC as his case was considered to be
totally without merit.

80 Made in Cumbria Markets

Resolved – That the Town Clerk contacts Cath Howard at Allerdale Borough
Council regarding siting the 2 or 3 stalls on the pavement in Market Place to
avoid the need for a road closure.

81 Membership of the Cockermouth Main Street Improvement Group

Agreed – That it be noted that Councillor C M Jackson had been appointed on to
the Cockermouth Main Street Improvement Project Steering Group in March
2011 and that the appointment duration will be until the scheme is completed
and the defect liability period has expired.

82 Play Areas on Harris Park Extension, Isel Road, Towers Lane & Greyrigg
Avenue

Resolved – That the Clerk be requested to explore the costs related to the Town
Council taking over responsibility of these areas and consider alternative uses.

Resolved – That -

Under the public bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, the public be removed for the
following item of business due to the threat of further legal action being taken.

83 Memorial Gardens

Resolved – (a) That the suggested response be sent to Mr Lasper in respect of
both of his letters dated 15 August 2011.

(b) That Councillors be kept informed of Counsel’s advice regarding Mr Lasper’s third letter dated 15 September 2011.

The meeting closed at 9.20 pm