Minutes of a meeting of Cockermouth Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Cockermouth on Wednesday 16 September 2009 at 7.00pm


Members


S Coates (Mayor)


C M Jackson A Kennon

L G Lytollis D Newton E Nicholson A Smith

C Smith S Standage A Tyson M Wood

Apologies: Councillor I Burns


Also present: 1 press representative and 1 police representative.


62 To authorise the Mayor to sign as a correct record the minutes of the special

meeting held on 12 August 2009 and last meeting held on 19 August 2009.


Resolved – That the minutes of the special meeting held on 12 August 2009 and last

meeting held on 19 August 2009 be signed as a correct record.


63 Declaration of Interest


Councillors A Tyson and A Smith declared a personal interest with regard to item 6a

due being members of the development panel.


Councillor M Jackson declared a personal interest with regard to planning application

2/2009/0584.

64 Mayors Announcements


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


These included:-



Members of the Town Council agreed that Gloria Edwards from the Museum Group

could use photographs of plaques in the Town Hall relating to World War II and

photographs of town council members during the war years could be used in her new

book about life in Cockermouth and Moota during the war years.



65 Attendance by Police


The Community Police informed those present that a 15 year old male had been

arrested for criminal damage after running over the roof of a motor vehicle parked in

the Riverside Car Park. A male was also arrested in Market Place for a serious

assault. Investigations continue into the exposure incidents in the Derwent Mills

area. An elderly male suffered from a medical condition whilst driving along Main

Street causing him to collide with 3 parked cars, he later died in hospital. The Main

Street had a lane closed for over half an hour whilst officers investigated the

collision.


The total crime in All Saints had increased by 21.9% (39 offences) and in

Christchurch crime increased by 37.7% (53-73 offences)


Resolved – (a) That the Clerk formally reports the damage to the seating in Market

Place.


(b) That the Clerk contacts Allerdale Borough Council with regard to the parking

problems being experienced in Market Place.

66 Public Participation


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


67a Planning Applications


Resolved - That the Council’s observations on the following planning

Applications received to date be forwarded to the Chief Planning Officer:-


2/2009/0579


Proposed two storey extension

4 Newlands Road, Cockermouth


RECOMMEND – APPROVAL


2/2009/0584


Single storey extension to provide ground floor bedroom accommodation


51 Fitz Road, Cockermouth


RECOMMEND REFUSAL DUE TO UNNEIGHBOURLINESS,

OVERDEVELOPMENT & MASSING


2/2009/0585


Conversion of attic space to provide additional storage and study area.


17 Wordsworth Terrace, Cockermouth


RECOMMEND APPROVAL


2/2009/0590


Advertisement consent for 5 fascia boards (retrospective) and proposed fascia

Board


Elm Tree House, Crown Street, Cockermouth


RECOMMEND REFUSAL – SIGNAGE OUT OF KEEPING WITH THE

CONSERVATION AREA


2/2009/0596


Single storey extension to kitchen


12 Lorton Road, Cockermouth


RECOMMEND APPROVAL


2/2009/0599


Proposed single storey lounge/utility extension


79 Windmill Lane, Cockermouth


RECOMMEND APPROVAL


2/2009/0609


Replace existing windows to front, rear and side elevation of house with pvc-u

double glazed sliding sash windows.


8 Rubbybanks Road, Cockermouth


RECOMMEND REFUSAL NOT IN KEEPING WITH THE CONSERVATION AREA


2/2009/0610


Change of use to beauty salon from, class A1 use


39b Market Place, Cockermouth


RECOMMEND APPROVAL


2/2009/0626


Replacement of 10 no. timber lodges with 8 no. caravans


Wyndham Hall Wyndham Caravan Park, Cockermouth


RECOMMEND APPROVAL


2/2009/0633


Change of use of ground floor accommodation from public house to residential from

1 no two storey dwelling.


The Grey Goat Inn, 17 St Helens Street, Cockermouth


RECOMMEND APPROVAL


2/2009/0635


Listed building consent for the change of use of the ground floor accommodation from

public house to residential to form 1 no two storey dwelling.


The Grey Goat Inn, 17 St Helens Street, Cockermouth


RECOMMEND APPROVAL


2/2009/0636


Replacement of 2 No. front and 2 No. rear sash windows


24 Challoner Street, Cockermouth


RECOMMEND APPROVAL


2/2009/0642


Listed building consent for external light to front doorway


26 South Street, Cockermouth


RECOMMEND APPROVAL


67b 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.


67c Tree works at Land at Rope Walk Cottage, Kirkgate


Agreed – That the approval of works to cut back of branches from a sycamore

tree, land at Rope Walk Cottage, Kirkgate be noted.


68 Highways Matters

68a Highway Response Team


Agreed – That the Clerk investigates the progress made to date in relation to the

stopping up order for Church Walk


69 Financial Matters


69a Schedule of Payments


Resolved – (a) That the schedule of payments in the sum of £16,961.49 as set out

In the amended expenditure transactions approval list be formally approved for

payment.


(b) That prior to the payment of the insurance renewal the Clerk ensures that the

Town Hall is re-valued.

70 Schedule of correspondence, notices and publications


70a Cumbria Pensions Forum


The County Council were seeking nominations to serve as a member of the

Cumbria Pensions Forum. The period of appointment would end in May 2013.


Resolved – That no nomination be made.

70b Cumbria Association of Local Councils


Agreed – That the next meeting scheduled to be held on 24 September 2009 in

Bothel Village Hall be noted.

70c Cockermouth Rural Safety Group


Agreed – That the next meeting scheduled to be held on 10 September 2009 in the

Eco Centre, Cockermouth School be noted.


70d Local Government Pension Scheme


This discussion document sets out initial suggestions for stakeholders to consider as

a feasible and balanced response to the current stock market impacts on the LGPS

fund liabilities likely to be identified in the forthcoming 2010 valuation exercise and

the requirement on each LGPS administering authority to produce and maintain a

Funding Strategy Statement. In addition, and alongside the introduction of the new

LGPS a realignment of the employee member pension contribution tariff and

particularly the proportion of pensionable pay being contributed by higher paid

members towards their pension benefits will also be considered.


Resolved – That no comment be made.


70e Issue 13 Recycle for Cumbria


Agreed – That the contents of issue 13 be noted.


70f Cockermouth Community Ventures Project, Health Impact Assessment


Resolved – That Councillor Wood attends the workshop on behalf of the Town

Council.

70g Calc Circular


Agreed – That the content of the circular be noted.

70h More powers for Town and Parish Councils


Steve Shaw, National Co-Ordinator of Local Works – promoting the Sustainable

Communities Act was urging the town council to write to their MP and ask them to

‘Please sign Early Day Motion No. 1545 in support of the Sustainable Communities

Act Amendment Bill.


Resolved – That no action be taken.


71 Riversmeet


Rick Cross did not attend the meeting.


72 Clerks Report


Those present considered the content of the Clerks report.


Resolved – (a) That the results of the Mystery Shopper exercise be noted.


(b) That the Kirkgate Tree Scheme be progressed.


(c) That K Goodger be authorised to attend the 3 day first aid in October 2009

and that she also be recompensed for her mileage.


(d) That the £27.00 unpaid debt be pursued in court.


(e) That signage be purchased with regard to the play area opening times.


(f) That SPM electrics be requested to remove the wiring in the boiler room left after

the removal of the water tank.


73 Locality Working


Anne Wilson, Partnerships Officer, Allerdale Borough Council submitted a report

which outlined the following:-



Members discussed the matter at length however it was -


Resolved – That a special meeting of the town council be arranged and that further information be sought from Mrs Wilson, the Partnerships Officer.


74 Annual Risk Management Assessment


Resolved – That the contents of the annual risk management assessment be

approved.


75 Review of Fees and Charges and Annual Staff Salaries/Conditions


Resolved – (a) That the proposed fees and charges for 2011 be agreed.


(b) That the annual staff salaries/conditions review be noted.

76 Date of the next Meeting


Agreed – That the date of the next meeting be noted.

The meeting closed at 8.30pm