Minutes of a meeting of Cockermouth Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Cockermouth on 18 August 2010 at 7.00pm

Members

A Tyson (Mayor)

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

Also present: 2 Police representatives, 1 Press representatives, Dr Leslie Tickner &
Approximately 20 members of the public.

44 To authorise the Mayor to sign as a correct record the minutes of the
meeting held on 18 August 2010

Resolved - That the minutes of the meetings held on 14 July 2010 be
signed as a correct record.

45 Declaration of Interest

Councillor Nicholson declared a personal interest in relation planning application
2/2010/0647 due to being related to the land owners opposite the site.

Councillors A Smith and A Tyson declared a personal interest in item 6 due to being
members of the Development Panel.

46 Mayors Announcements

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

These included:-

" Presenting a certificate to a St. Johns Ambulance Officer
" Broughton Carnival
" Royal Visit
" Main Street Consultation
" Civic Service, Aspatria
" Allotments judging
" Dr Caligari's
" Lodore Swiss
" Winkworths Promotion
" Speakers Club Public Night
" Banquet
" Opening of Hospice at Home Shop in Kings Arcade

47 Attendance by Police

PC Wheelhouse attended the meeting.

Incidents of note included:-

" A successful West Cumbria Run
" A successful Cock Rock Festival
" A successful Banquet Event
" Planning of Taste of Cumbria Event underway
" Serious assault early hours of 1 August
" Crime figures for July were not available due to technical difficulties

48 Public Participation

Sara Field a resident of Grayson Close presented a petition of 177 names made up
of local residents and visitors who were opposed to planning application
2/2010/0647 for the erection of 29 dwellings adjacent to Cockermouth Rugby Club.

The main issues of concern related to:-

" Road Safety Issues
" Reduced Parking for the Rugby Club
" Surface water problems in the Strawberry How area
" Capacity of the foul water sewerage system
" Modern design
" Loss/damage to the natural features of the area
" Worries over loss of leisure land
" Worries over use of existing retaining boundary wall
" None compliance with ALP
" Loss of grass verges and public funded daffodils
" Privacy and loss of light issues

49a Planning Applications

2/2010/0569

Emergency repair work to river retaining wall including new steel shuttering and
hand rail Jennings Brewery, Castle Brewery, Cockermouth

Recommended - Approval

2/2010/0575

Renovation and reinstatement of original shop fronts
Portofino's Bistro & CG's Curiosity Shop, 41-43 Market Place, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0577

Replacement of wooden windows to front and rear with UPVC

12 Graves Mill, Waterloo Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal, contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2010/0578

Proposed change of use from workshop and storage facility to dwelling

Brash House, Challoner Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0581

Renovation and reinstatement of original shop front including widened door way

49 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0582

Listed building consent for renovation and reinstatement of original shop front
including widened door way

49 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0583

Replacement of timber windows with PVCU windows

14 New Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal, contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2010/0584

Single storey extension to rear

5 Culgarth Avenue, Cockermouth
Recommend Approval

2/2010/0586

Installation of one timber framed double glazed top hung window at first floor level
in the external west wall

The Barn, Stricketts Court, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0590

Change of use from B1 office to resource centre for children with learning
disabilities (D1,non residential institution) Building or other operations B1 office
change of use

Unit 18, strawberry How Road, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0591

Replacement sashes with double- glazed units to existing sliding sash windows
front elevation

25 Mountain View, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0596

Replace wooden windows and front door with Rehau heritage sliding windows front
elevation, Rehau casement windows to back and side elevation and a composite
front door.

13 Rubbybanks Road, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal, contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2010/0598

Proposed lean-to conservatory to the rear of the dwelling

3 Meadow Grove, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0603

Replacement of existing shop front following flood damage

Annabelles (previously Al's Toys) 18 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0608

Replacement of existing ground floor windows with wood traditional sliding sash
Windows

21 Challoner Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0609

Replace existing bay window to the front elevation with double glazed traditional
spring hung sliding wooden sash windows. Remove a back door, partially brick and
replace with double glazed traditional spring hung sash window

15 Challoner Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0621

Proposed detached three bedroom house in the rear garden area

58 Slatefell Drive,Cockermouth

Recommended Refusal, backfill.

2/2010/0623

Listed building consent for window stickers to glass on front ground floor windows

69 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal, contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2010/0624

Replace four timber framed single glazed sliding sash windows with heritage style
upvc framed double glazed sliding sash windows

The Bothy, 16 High Sand Lane, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal - contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2010/0629

Installation of automatic car wash facility

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

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0634

Replace wooden casement windows and front door with Rehau Heritage upvc
windows in white and composite front door.

3 The Laurels, Rubby Banks, Cockermouth

Recommend refusal, contrary to conservation area design guide

2/2010/0643

Replace existing timber windows with four UPVC framed double glazing sliding
sash windows

9A -B Station Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal, contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2010/0645

Listed building consent to replace existing shop front, damaged during the floods

Annabelles, 18 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0647

Outline application for the relocation of existing tennis courts and car park and the
construction of 29 dwellings consisting of a mixture of units for rent and for sale on
the open market

Land Adjacent to Cockermouth RUFC, Lorton Road, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal for the following reasons:-

" Outside ALP
" Not included within SHAC
" Traffic/access concerns
" Utilities issues
" Design out of character
Councillor Standage requested that a recorded vote be taken on this issue.

Councillors Standage, Jackson, Coates, Newton, Burns, C Smith, E Nicholson, A
Kennon & M Wood voted against the application. Councillors A Smith and A Tyson
abstained.

2/2010/0667

Refurbishment of factory front and side elevation by addition of new metal cladding,
new entrance canopy and upgraded external works.

James Walkers and Co Ltd, Gote Brow, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0668

Replacement of existing shop front

Fagans, 51 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0669

Listed building consent to replace existing shop front

Fagans, 51 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0670

Proposed porch to front elevation of house

23 Challoner Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0676

Replacement of flood damaged timber windows and patio doors with PVCU units to
the same design

1,2,3,4 &13 Graves Mill Waterloo Street, Cockermouth

Recommend refusal contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2010/0682

Listed building consent to replace front and rear roof lights with conservation type
roof lights

17 Gote Road, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0685

Alteration of existing double doors to single door and window

9 Waterloo Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0689

Removal of condition 3 of planning permission ref 2/2010/0402 to allow
unrestricted occupancy of existing dwelling and rearrangement of parking provision
for existing guest house

The Garden House, Lorton Road, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0694

Replacement of three ground-floor windows to front elevation with timber sliding
sash double glazed windows and replacement of two side elevation windows (part-
retrospective)

3 Waterloo Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0698

Proposed side and rear extension

64 Windmill Lane, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0701

Change of use of hair dressing salon to retailer of sports injury treatment products
and physiotherapy clinic

5 Market Place, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

Resolved - That the Head of Planning be invited to a special meeting to discuss
the use of rehau heritage upvc windows in the conservation area

49b Notification of decisions from Allerdale Borough Council and Cumbria
County Council

Agreed - That the decisions be noted.

49c Tree Works

Resolved - (a) That no objection be raised to the felling of a conifer at Hillside.

(b) That the felling of 4 trees at Strawberry How be refused.

49d Tree Preservation Order No 7 2010

Agreed - That the introduction of TPO No 7/2010 and revocation of TPO No
1/2010 be noted.

50 Highway Response Team

Resolved - (a) That United Utilities be contacted and asked to re-instate the
cobbles near the Kirkgate Tree and remove the tarmac.

(b) That the Highway Steward be asked to look into the following:-

" hole opposite Aldi on the lane to Fitz Mill. Work commenced prior to the floods and appears to have been abandoned.
" The poor condition of the fence opposite Aldi
" Gullies require cleaning at several locations including Station Street/Station Road, top of Kirkgate, Brigham Road and Cocker Lane

51 Financial Matters

51a Schedule of Payments

Resolved - (a) That the schedule of payments in the sum of £64,495.02 as set out
In the expenditure transactions approval list be formally approved for
payment.

51b Financial Budget Comparison

Resolved - That the financial budget comparison as at 31 July 2010 be noted.

51c Annual Audit Return

BDO, our external auditor had requested further information to conclude our audit.

Resolved - (a) That boxes 3, 6 and 7 on the Annual Return be amended so that
vat is not included.

(b) That the additional information requested in BDO's letter of 12 July 2010 be
forwarded as soon as practicable.

52 Schedule of correspondence, notices and publications

52a Closing Order

Agreed - That the closing order for the Jennings Charity Open Day on 11
September, 2010 be noted.

52b Cockermouth Show

Those present considered the contents of a letter from the Chairman of
Cockermouth and District Agricultural Society regarding their displeasure that the
banquet was held in the Town on show day. They further complained that the
Farmers Market also often clashed with their event.

The Lakes Alive Event was agreed back in February with a running time of 18.00 -
22.00 so as not to impact on the Agricultural Show which effectively begins to run
down around 16.00, some four hours earlier. This was the only date available for
the event and it was considered too good an opportunity to miss.

It was the view of the Town Council that the Lakes Alive Banquet actually increased
the number of visitors attending the Agricultural Show.

Resolved - That a letter in response be sent by the Town Clerk.

52c Cumbria Landscape Character Guidance and Toolkit

Agreed - That the consultation draft be noted and no further comment made.

52d Calc Circular

Agreed - That the contents of the July/August edition be noted.

52e Traffic Problems, Kirkgate

Members considered the contents of a letter from Mrs Whittell regarding traffic
problems in Kirkgate.

Agreed - That the letter be received.

52f The Cockermouth Project

The Cockermouth project devised by Michael Baron involved placing
commemorative poems on boards in as many commercial windows in the town as
possible on the 19th November 2010.

Agreed - That the project be supported and that is possible a poster be displayed in
the Tourist Information Centre.

52g Chernobyl Children

Agreed - That the letter of thanks regarding their visit to the Town Hall be noted.

52h Community Strategy

Resolved - That the content of the draft refresh of Cumbria County Council's
Community Strategy be noted and no additional comment made.

53 Clerks Report

Those present considered the content of the Clerks report.

Resolved - (a) That the content of the report be noted.

(b) That Day Services temporary re-location into Victoria Hall be noted.

(c) That access arrangements with Electricity North West be formalised via a wayleave.

(d) That Priority Sites be allowed to display their 'to let' sign in the Memorial Gardens for a further 6 months.

(e) That Smeatons be engaged to provide evidence of a market rent for the basement of the Town Hall.

(f) That a minor works contract in the sum of £112,090.22 be signed with Brown and Armstrong in respect of proposed works in the basement of the Town Hall.

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

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

" Shop Fronts Initiative
" Shop Signs
" Food and Drink
" Main Street Improvements
" Millers Bridge
" Shop Art
" Investment
" Gote Road


The BBC were interested hosting the Children in Need Regional event on 19 November in Cockermouth. Members supported this idea but felt that this event should not be combined with the lights switch on.

Dr Tickner informed those present that to date 157 businesses were now trading in their original locations, only 11 had relocated. Work continues in 44 premises and only 5 are still awaiting instruction.

Members thanked Councillor Jackson for obtaining the funding for the banquet on 31st July 2010. Everyone had thoroughly enjoyed a fabulous evening of family entertainment and dining.

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

55 Date of Next Meeting

Agreed - That the next meeting be held on 15 September 2010.

The meeting closed at 9.20pm