Minutes of a meeting of Cockermouth Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Cockermouth on 20 January 2010 at 7.00pm

Members

S Coates (Mayor)

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

Also present: Police & Dr Leslie Tickner

118 To authorise the Mayor to sign as a correct record the minutes of the
last meeting held on 18 December 2009.

Resolved – That the minutes of the last meeting held on 18 December 2009 be
signed as a correct record.

119 Declaration of Interest

Councillor A Kennon declared a prejudicial interest in item 11in relation to flood relief
grants.

Councillor A Tyson declared a personal interest in relation to item 7 due to being a
member of the development panel and a prejudicial interest in item 12 due to his
involvement with the annual grant programme as a Kirkgate helper and a member of
Solway Arts.

Councillor A Smith declared a personal interest in relation to item 7 due to being a
member of the development panel.

Councillor Jackson declared a prejudicial interest in relation to item 12 due to her
relationship with the caretaker of Victoria Hall.


120 Mayors Announcements

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

These included:-

Mayors Coffee Morning
Visits to Hames Hall, Kirklands, Holmewood and the Hospital
Visit to Victoria Court, Keswick
Receiving a £1,000 cheque from the Greyhound Association
Carols around the tree
Panto
Lunch at the Fitz

121 Attendance by Police

The Community Police informed those present that the portacabins outside the
Police Station were open for front office enquiries. Three males had been arrested
for a spate of caravan burglaries around Cockermouth and enquiries continued.

Road safety had been identified as a problem particularly vehicles parking on the
pedestrian crossings on Main Street and vehicles failing to stop at the red lights
Gallowbarrow. Police had been liaising with builders and local residents to make
them aware of the issues. Separate safer stronger community meetings will be held
monthly to determine priorities. The next meeting was to be held on 28 January
2010 in the Christchurch Rooms on South Street at 1 pm.

Total crime in All Saints had risen from 33 to 37 offences. Total crime in
Christchurch had increased from 42 to 45 offences.

122 Public Participation

No questions or petitions were received from members of the public.

123a Planning Applications

Resolved - That the Council’s observations on the following planning
Applications received to date be forwarded to the Chief Planning Officer:-

2/2009/0755

Demolish existing garage/utility and rebuild two storey extension to side.

19 Towers Lane, Cockermouth

Amendment- ground floor as proposed, front elevation as proposed, block

Recommend Approval

2/2009/0886

Temporary use of land and buildings for car sales and storage (retrospective)

Former Fire Station, 24 Lorton Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Refusal on access grounds.

2/2009/0893

Extension to provide Utility Room, WC and lobby

21 The Parklands, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval.

2/2009/0897

Advertisement consent for 1 no. externally illuminated fascia sign and 1 no.
externally illuminated hanging sign.

Mills Newsagents, 36-38 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2009/0898

Replacement shop front

Mills Newsagents, 36-38 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2009/0901

Siting of steel storage unit together with timber screen fencing

Land at Grassmoor Sports Centre, Strawberry How Road, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0006

Listed building consent to replace existing ground floor suspended wooden floor with
solid concrete floors.

3 & 4 The Croft, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/2010/0011

Siting of 2 no temporary portacabins

Cockermouth Police Station, Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval
2/2010/0014

Listed building consent for the removal of an internal wall and insertion of steel beam

The Toy Shop, 72 Main Street, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

2/10/9001

Erection of security fencing and new entrance gates

Fairfield Infants School, Gallowbarrow, Cockermouth

Recommend Approval

123b Notification of decisions from Allerdale Borough Council and Cumbria County
Council

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

124 Highway Response Team

Agreed – That no issues be raised.

125 Financial Matters

125a Schedule of Payments

Resolved – (a) That the schedule of payments in the sum of £10,810.55 as set out
In the amended expenditure transactions approval list be formally approved for
payment.

(b) That the costs for a heavy duty galvanised metal hexagonal tree seat be
explored.

125b Distribution of Flood Appeal Monies

Resolved – (a) That the draft guidelines be approved.

(b) That the draft application form be endorsed.

(c) That the availability of the funding be widely advertised.

(d) That the applications received within the approved guidelines be delegated to the Town Clerk

125c Cockermouth Swimming Club

Resolved – That a grant of £200 be given to Cockermouth Swimming Club.

126 Schedule of correspondence, notices and publications

126a SCOPE

Agreed – That the dates of SCOPE’s countrywide house to house collections for
2010 and 2011 be noted.

126b Georgian Fair

Agreed – That the letter of thanks for the £200 donation be received.

126c European Prize Scholarship Fund

Agreed – That the letter of thanks for the £400 donation be received.

126d Cumbria Fair Trade Network

Agreed – That the invitation to the AGM on 23 January 2010 be noted.

126e Cumbria Association of Local Councils

Agreed – That the minutes of the joint meeting held on 4 November 2009 be noted.

126f Service 58: Maryport

Agreed – That the changes to early morning journeys due to the extra traffic on the
A594 be noted.

126g Georgian Fair

Resolved – That permission be given to use the Memorial Gardens for sedan chair
Racing, Cumberland Wrestling and other activities.

126h Overhead Wires Project Newsletter

Agreed – That the contents of the Winter 2009 newsletter.

126i Youth Capital Strategy

Agreed – That the contents of the youth capital strategy be noted.

126j Derwent Owners Association

Agreed – That the minutes of the Derwent Owners Association meeting held on 4
December 2009 be noted.

127 Clerks Report

Those present considered the content of the Clerks report.

(a)That the agreement of the caretaker of Victoria Hall to take voluntary leave without pay with re-instatement when the hall re-opens be noted.

(b)That the costs of an ATM machine for the Tourist Information Centre be investigated.

(c)That Priority Signs be given permission to continue to advertising in the Memorial Gardens.

(d)That the contract for the Christmas lights be revised as instructed.

(e)That the sports day/BBQ be organised as part of the festival arrangements.

(f) That due to the unprecedented workload following recent flooding, the Clerk be paid for two weeks of her remaining leave.

(g)That the offer of a £5 per month payment from our debtor be accepted.

128 Solway Arts

Members discussed whether or not to give the £1390 allocated in the 2010/2011
budget to Solway Arts. This allocation was usually spent on festival events or the
winter programme.

The Clerk was currently undertaking a radical review of current festival
arrangements.

Councillor Jackson proposed that the £1390 budget allocation be given to the
Kirkgate Centre due to the fact that they were based locally and had a good track
record. This was seconded by Councillor Standage. All those present were in
agreement.

Resolved - That the £1390 allocated in the 2010/11 budget for Solway Arts be
re-allocated to the Kirkgate Centre. This was conditional upon the Kirkgate Centre
seeking matching funding and detailing at the end of each financial year upon how
the money was spent in Cockermouth.

129 Cockermouth Town Centre Recovery Manager

Doctor Leslie Tickner, the newly appointed Cockermouth Town Centre Recovery
Manager introduced himself to those present. He briefly outlined his qualifications
and work experience. Dr Tickner played a lead role following the Carlisle Floods in
2005.

Members welcomed him to Cockermouth and wished him well in his new role.

Disappointment was however expressed by Members that Allerdale Borough Council
and not Cockermouth Town Council would be his employing body.

130 Gritting of Roads and Footpaths

Councillor A Smith advised those present of the numerous calls he had received
during the recent icy spell about Cumbria County Council not gritting the roads and
pavements in the town. Motorways and A roads had been given first priority. This
decision had led to lost bus services, non-collection of refuse and old people being
marooned in their own homes for several days. Grit bins were empty and not
replenished and it had been impossible to get a response from the Highways Hotline.

Councillor Nicholson agreed that lessons had to be learned by the County Council,
However, in their defence no main road in Cumbria had been blocked and no Council
could afford to grit every street and housing estate as the cost would be phenomenal.

He suggested that subject to an assurance from Cumbria County Council regarding
the supply of grit, the Town Council should consider the purchase of a towable
grit/salt spreader. He was prepared to sponsor a vehicle and store the grit on behalf
of the Town Council.

This type of arrangement was already in place in other parts of the Borough e.g.
Silloth.

Members thanked him for his generous offer.

Resolved – That subject to an assurance from Cumbria County Council regarding the
supply of grit, the Town Council purchase a towable grit/salt speader at a cost of
approximately £4,300.

140 Date of next meeting

Resolved- That the next meeting be held on Wednesday 17 February 2010.

The meeting closed at 9.05pm