Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Mr T Markley, Mr A Kennon and Lord R Liddle.

Members are invited to disclose any disclosable pecuniary interest they have in any item on the agenda which comprises:-

1          Details of any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for       profit or gain.

2          Details of any payment or provision of any other financial benefit (other than from the authority) made or provided within the relevant period in respect of any expenses incurred by you in carrying out duties as a member, or towards your election expenses.  (This includes any payment or financial benefit from a trade union within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

3          Details of any contract which is made between you (or a body in which you have a beneficial interest) and the authority

(a)       Under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be executed; and

            (b)       Which has not been fully discharged.

4          Details of any beneficial interest in land which is within the area of the authority. 

5          Details of any licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy land in the area of the authority for a month or longer. 

6          Details of any tenancy where (to your knowledge)

            (a)       The landlord is the authority; and

(b)       The tenant is a body in which you have a beneficial                                         interest.

7          Details of any beneficial interest in securities of a body where

(a)       That body (to your knowledge) has a place of business or land in the          area of the authority; and

(b)       Either –

(i)      The total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one        hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body; or

(ii)     If that share capital of that body is of more than one class, the total nominal value of the shares of any one class in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that class.

In addition, you must also disclose other non-pecuniary interests set out in the Code of Conduct where these have not already been registered.

Note

A “disclosable pecuniary interest” is an interest of a councillor or their partner (which means spouse or civil partner, a person with whom they are living as husband or wife, or a person with whom they are living as if they are civil partners).

There were no declarations of interest made on this occasion.  

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda.

RESOLVED that,                 the press and public be not excluded from the meeting during consideration of any items of business.

There were no petitions, statements or questions received at the time of publication.

There were no petitions, statements or questions received on this occasion.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Allerdale Local Committee held on 15 November 2021.

RESOLVED that,                 the minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 November 2021 be agreed as an accurate and complete record.

To consider a report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure that includes the minutes of the last meeting of the Allerdale Highways Working Group.

Members considered a report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure which included the minutes of the Highways Working Group meeting held on 8 December 2021 together with the recommendations to Local Committee relating to the proposed Devolved Highways Revenue Budget Allerdale 2022/23.

The Traffic Management Team Leader talked members through the minutes and then drew their attention to the Devolved Highways Revenue Budget  allocation of £1,233,693 and reminded members that the budget allocations were still subject to a Council decision that would be taken in February. 

RESOLVED that,    

1)    Local Committee notes the minutes of the meeting of the HWG held on the 8^th December 2021 which are attached as Appendix 1 to this report.

2)    Local Committee agree the proposed Devolved Highways Revenue Budget for Allerdale 2022/23, as set out in the report attached as Appendix 2, subject to Council confirmation of the devolved highways budget allocations for 2022/23.

To consider a report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure.

Members considered a report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure which provided details of the Place Plan for Wigton and sought endorsement from Local Committee to submit the document to the Borderlands Partnership.

Members were reminded that the Borderlands Partnership Board had approved the £50m Borderlands Place Programme, subject to final approval from Government. This included £18m for Cumbria across six towns.  Release of the funding for each of the individual towns within the programme was subject to approval of a Place Plan and then a subsequent Borderlands Town Investment Plan (BTIP).

The Area Manager explained that through the consultation process a range of project ideas and interventions had been received and the Plan had shortlisted these ideas into project concepts that would be taken forward for further development into business cases. Members noted that it would not be feasible for every one of the projects to be delivered through Borderlands and instead consideration would go into finding the most effective delivery model for each project.

Members heard that, if agreed, the projects prioritised for Borderlands funding would then be included within the BTIP and be submitted to the Borderlands Partnership.

RESOLVED that,                 members endorse the Wigton Place Plan and its submission to the Borderlands Partnership, with delegation to be given to the Executive Director, Chair, Vice-Chair and Local Member for Wigton to agree the final designed version.

To consider a report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure.

Members considered a report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure which provided a summary of Workington Town Deal business cases for improvements to Townscape and Connectivity within Workington and the Creation of a Clean Energy and Logistics Hub at the Port of Workington and Oldside.

The Programme Lead - Infrastructure Planning explained that with the Local Committees approval the schemes  would be submitted to an appraisal and assurance process led by Allerdale Borough Council who were acting as the accountable body. Members heard that of these projects, the County Council would have a lead delivery role in the projects relating to the Port of Workington and town centre connectivity and as such had led the development of business cases for these projects.

The Programme Lead - Infrastructure Planning highlighted the £4.5m of funding which would be sought to remediate 5.75 hectares of land at Oldside and a further 2.74 hectares at the Port.

With relation to the Townscape and Connectivity elements of the Town Investment Plan, the Lead Officer - Economic Programmes identified a number of key issues that would be addressed within the centre of Workington to help it realise its potential as a key retail and visitor centre on the west coast.  This included:-

·         Murray Road – The creation of a gateway to retail centre at Oxford St junction, improvements to pedestrian areas and more green space.

·         Central way – The creation of gateway to retail centre, improvements to pedestrian and cycling areas and improved links between Murray Road and Washington Square

·         Wayfinding – The improvement of signs at key vantage points along Station Road.

RESOLVED that,                 Local Committee support the submission of business cases for Town Centre Townscape and Connectivity and Port of Workington Clean Energy and Logistics Hub to the Workington Town Deal.       

To consider a report from the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services.

Members considered a report from the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services which provided an update on activity across Allerdale and any recent developments including projects associated with additional internal and external funding.

The Area Manager explained that a new provider, Oviva had been commissioned to deliver a new community weight management programme.  Members heard that this would be a digital offer with a Coach to support each person and that the referral and self-referral process would be promoted to County Council staff and it would be encouraged that partner organisations do the same for their teams.

Members then heard that a second round of consultation on the emerging Priority Cycling Network and Walking Network that were included as part of the Workington Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) would run from the 4 to 27 February. The Area Manager explained that the consultation could be completed online or by hand, with printed copies being available in key locations in Workington. Members were encouraged to participate whether or not they represented divisions in the Workington area.

RESOLVED that,                 members note the contents of the report.

To consider a report from the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services.

Members considered a report from the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services which presented grant applications in excess of £5,000 for consideration and approval.

The Area Manager talked members through the applications featured in the report. Members heard that Embleton Parish Council had applied for funding to upgrade and improve the playpark area through providing a safer more robust surface in the area around the set of swings. They would also like to add a multi-trainer/cross rider which would expand and enhance the facilities to include equipment for adults. The total cost of the project was £13,657 and the organisation was applying to local committee for £2,500 of the General Provision funding and a further £2,500 from the 0-19 fund.

The Cumbria Youth Alliance Dreamscheme project were applying to Local Committee for £4,800 from the 0-19 fund. The funding would enable groups of young people to carry out social action projects in their community under specialist instruction. The project would have 10 groups of between 10-20 young people participating in the project with a minimum of 100 young people participating.

The Cumbria Youth Alliance were also requesting a grant to support an entirely separate project in Allerdale called the ‘Friday Night Project’. The ‘Friday Night Project’ consists of a group of 8 agencies all working together to provide high quality access to youth work facilities for young people in Allerdale on a Friday Night.

Cumbria Youth Alliance would ensure providers offer targeted sessions to address current issues including a focus on reducing anti-social behaviour and developing mental strength to address the effects of COVID-19. Members heard that the total cost of the project was £52,000 and the organisation were applying to local committee Universal Youth fund for £20,000.

In relation to the ‘Friday Night Project’, the Local Member for Maryport South stated the importance of projects like this to combating anti-social behaviour in areas like Maryport. The Local Member expressed his concern regarding the recent railway station vandalism and explained the significance of working with the Cumbria Youth Alliance to intervene. The Area Manager confirmed that she would look into specific schemes for roll out in Maryport.

RESOLVED that,    

1)    members note the contents of the report.

2)    members agree that an amount of £5,000 is allocated equally from 0-19 and General Provisions to Embleton Parish Council towards upgrading and enhancing a play area. 

3)    members agree that an amount of £4,800 is allocated from the 0-19 fund to Cumbria Youth Alliance towards their Dreamscheme, social action project lead by young people.

4)      members agree that an amount of £20,000 is allocated from Universal Youth Fund to Cumbria Youth Alliance towards a programme of Friday night youth provision with service providers. 

To receive updates from Allerdale’s Local Committee Champions

The Armed Forces Champion provided an update to members on ongoing work to ensure veterans were included and represented as a part of projects across Cumbria.

Members showed their appreciation on behalf of their communities for work by the Local Member for Harrington in ensuring the erection of a monument to Workington’s historic steel works.  

To consider any verbal reports from members serving on Outside Bodies.

There were no verbal reports on this occasion.

The next meeting will be held on 4 March 2022 at 10am at West Cumbria House.

The next meeting of the Allerdale Local Committee is due to take place on 3 March 2022 in the Annex building, West Cumbria House.