Real Ale in Cockermouth

Town Council Minutes December 2009

Minutes of a meeting of Cockermouth Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Cockermouth on Thursday 18 December 2009 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

106 To authorise the Mayor to sign as a correct record the minutes of the
last meeting held on 25 November 2009.

Resolved – That the minutes of the last meeting held on 25 November 2009 be
signed as a correct record.

107 Declaration of Interest

None declared.

108 Mayors Announcements

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

These included:-

Rotary Dinner
Round Table Beer Festival
Credit Union Opening
Switch on of Christmas Lights in Market Place
Window Dressing Competition
Castlegate Singers
Abbeyfield
Lunch/tour with representatives from Marvejols

109 Attendance by Police

The Community Police informed those present that the Police will continue to
reassure the community and prevent and detect crime. Up to seven extra officers
and two PCSO’s will work under Sergeant Gill Atkinson on flood recovery issues.

Total crime in All Saints had risen from 30 to 33 offences. Total crime in
Christchurch had increased from 39 to 60 offences.

Members were pleased to be informed that CCTV was to be upgraded in the Town.

Members congratulated the Police Team for their continued good work.

110 Public Participation

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

111a Planning Applications

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

2/2009/0812

Erection of new detached low level house
Castlegate House , Castlegate, Cockermouth
Recommend – Refusal due to there being insufficient access/egress.

2/2009/0821

Listed building consent for the proposed conversion of the existing rear premises to
create 3 additional bedrooms and demolition of yard store
Allerdale Court Hotel, 18-20 Market Place, Cockermouth

Recommend – Approval.

2/2009/0823

Outline application for erection of two semi detached dwellings
Builders Yard, Tweedmill Lane Cockermouth
Recommend - Approval

2/2009/0824
Proposed loft conversion including two dormer windows and three velux roof lights
25 Crown Street, Cockermouth
Recommend Refusal – contrary to conservation area design guide.

2/2009/0827
Kitchen and day room extension and extension to form additional bedroom
6 Coniston Drive, Cockermouth
Recommend – Approval.

2/2009/0845
Demolish existing lean-to conservatory and build a sunroom
10 Caldecote Avenue, Cockermouth
Recommend – Approval.

111b 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.

111c Tree Works

Agreed – That it be noted that approval had already been given regarding the re-pollarding of 4 lime trees, land at Mitchells, Station Road.

111d Notifications of decisions regarding tree works

Agreed – That it be noted that approval had been given regarding the removal of a sycamore tree, land at the River Cocker and re-pollarding of 4 lime trees, land at Mitchells, Station Road.

112 Highways Matters

112a Highway Response Team

Councillor Nicholson gave those present an update on highway works currently
being undertaken in the Town. The Main Street was now open and had been
painted with double yellow lines. It was hoped that eventually the whole of the Main
Street would be upgraded/resurfaced.

113 Financial Matters

113a Schedule of Payments

Resolved – (a) That the schedule of payments in the sum of £14,269.48 as set out
In the amended expenditure transactions approval list be formally approved for
payment.

113b Revenue Expenditure/Setting of Precept

Members considered the budget and precept submitted by the Clerk.

Resolved – (a) That a precept of £182,838 (3.6% increase) be unanimously
agreed.

(b) That the festival be completely re-vamped.

113c PPI Grant Agreement

Agreed – That the reservation of £1000 of grant aid be noted.

113d Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

Resolved – That due to a £500 grant being given earlier in the year, no further grant
to be given this year.

113e Flood Appeal Monies

Members discussed how the flood appeal monies received to date should be divided
and distributed.

Resolved – (a) That the £10,000 generously donated by benefactor who stipulated
that the money should be used to help those in the Waterloo Street area of the town
be distributed as soon as practicable.

(b) That councillors Jackson, Nicholson and C Smith discuss meet in January to
discuss the application process for the remaining grant.

114 Schedule of correspondence, notices and publications

114a Shop Fronts

A very productive meeting had been held with the Civic Trust, local architects,
Churches Together and Town Council on the subject of shop fronts. Allerdale
Borough Council had agreed that £50,000 of the Governments flood grant would be
used to assist shop keepers to install improved shop fronts.

An exhibition was to be prepared and the Conservation Officer had been instructed
to assemble information regarding the number of properties affected and broad cost
for each upgrade.

The Princes Trust Foundation were also very supportive the scheme.

114b Calc Circular

The main points of interest were as follows:-

Local Councils could make donations to the flood relief fund under S137 1972 Act
The expenditure limit of S137 would remain at £6.15 per elector for 2010/11
Calc had kindly included a twinning request from Quincey sous Senart in this edition

Resolved – That the contents be noted.

114c PARCS Activities

Numbers of children taking place in activities were lower this year than previous
years due in the main to the inclement weather. Cockermouth continued to be one
of the busiest sites.

The Allerdale Sport Development Unit had no budget next year due to savings
having to be found from within the Council. They hoped that the Town Council
would continue to support provision locally. Session costs remained at £90 per two
hour session.

Resolved – That the Town Council would continue to fund activity locally.

114d Big Lottery Funding

The Grants Officer from the Big Lottery was able to provide £2,000.00 to fund an
activity or event to promote the play area and encourage greater use of it.

Resolved – That subject to funding being awarded a barbeque and sports day be
held in the Memorial Gardens on a date to be decided in June 2010.

114e Allerdale Local Development Framework

Allerdale Borough Council have been working on their strategic objectives, options
for future growth and the spatial options for the distribution of that growth and were
beginning a period of informal consultation.

Resolved – (a) That the Cockermouth Local Priority Issues listed on page 2 be
amended as follows:-

First bullet point to be amended to read rented housing
Second bullet point to be amended to remove any reference to car homes
Last bullet point to be amended to read flood and flood defences

(b) That the Cockermouth Conservation Area Design Guide be adopted as policy.

114f Emergency Traffic Regulation Notice A5086 Gote Bridge

In order to preserve the safety of the travelling public and allow repairs to a
collapsed bridge, CCC intends to prohibit the passage of vehicular traffic for a
period of 21 days from 27 November 2009.

Agreed – That the emergency traffic regulation notice be noted.

115 Clerks Report

Those present considered the content of the Clerks report.

Resolved – (a) That the donation of 10,000 Euros from our twin town of Marvejols
be accepted with thanks.

(b) That the increase as of 1 December 2009 of the bed night rate at the youth
hostel from £1.25 per bed per night to £1.43 per bed per night be noted.

(c) That the appointment of Hayward Associates to assist in the scheduling of
works required in the Town Hall basement be endorsed.

(d) That the contents of the fire risk assessment be noted and that a schedule of works be drawn up.

(f) That it be noted that Forget me Not Florist was the winner of the Grand Window Competition and that both Shills and County Fruit Store receive highly commended certificates.

(g) That it be noted that the Mayors Coffee morning on Saturday 19 December will be relocated to Christchurch.

(h) That the best decorated window competition be cancelled this year.

116 Town Centre Manager

Allerdale Borough Council has successfully been awarded £40k towards the
appointment of a Cockermouth Town Council Recovery Manager for one year. The
post will provide a focused support mechanism for the traders in the town and will not
duplicate the work of the flood recovery committee whose role it is to filter the needs
of the community. The post holder will be employed by the Town Council and will be
based in the Town Hall. Interviews have been scheduled for 13 January 2010.

Resolved – That a Town Centre Recovery Manager be employed by Cockermouth
Town Council for a 1 year term based in the Town Hall.

117 Date of next meeting

Resolved- That the next meeting be held on Wednesday 20 January 2010.

The meeting closed at 8.55pm