To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Mrs B Cannon and Mr E Martin. Ms K Turner of the Legal department had also sent apologies.

The Area Support Manager announced that the Community Flood Recovery Team in Allerdale had been nominated as one of the three “Teams of the Year” in the County Council Excellence Awards.  Members of the Community Team were in attendance at the meeting and individual members of the Committee paid tribute to the exceptional work that the team had carried out in helping people affected by the floods in Allerdale.  Members agreed that this had been a well deserved nomination for the Team’s outstanding work which had helped many people effected by flooding to get back into their homes for Christmas.

It was noted that Ms H Snodden, Community Involvement Worker,  would shortly be leaving the County Council for another job.  Members spoke of the outstanding contribution that Ms Snodden had made to the community  particularly, in St Michael’s ward and the Maryport wards.  On behalf of the Committee, the Chair presented Ms Snodden with a bouquet of flowers and all members wished her well for the future.

To disclose any personal and prejudicial interests relating to any item on the agenda.

NB   The following is a summary of what constitutes a personal interest and a personal and prejudicial interest.  Please seek advice or refer to the Code of Conduct (paragraph 8) for full definitions.

Personal Interests

You have a personal interest if the issue being discussed in the meeting affects the well-being or finances of you, your family or your close associates more than most other people who live in the Electoral Division affected by the issue.

Personal interests are also things that relate to an interest you must register.

N.B. If the personal interest arises because of your membership of another public body, you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

A personal interest should be declared as follows:

I have a personal interest in agenda item […] regarding the report on […] because I am […].

Personal and Prejudicial Interests

If you have a personal interest in a matter you will also have a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public, with knowledge of the relevant facts, would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice your judgement of the public interest.  If you have a personal and prejudicial interest you must withdraw from the meeting room for that item, unless you are there to make representations and the public have the same opportunity to do so

NB You only have a prejudicial interest if the matter

• affects your financial position or that of your family, close associate, employer etc or it
• relates to a regulatory matter

A personal and prejudicial interest should be declared as follows:

I have a personal and prejudicial interest in agenda item […] regarding the report on […] because I am […].

Advice on this can be sought from staff in Legal and Democratic Services.  Members are requested to seek advice, wherever possible, before the meeting starts.

Mr A Markley declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 (Public Participation – Lack of Provision for Blue Badge Holders Outside Keswick Church) due to being a blue badge holder.

Mr A Barry and Mr D Fairbairn declared a personal interest in minute 94 of agenda item 7 (Highways and Transport Working Group – Land at the Southern End of the Temporary Military Footbridge in Workington) due to being members of Allerdale Borough Council. 

Mr M Johnson declared a personal and prejudicial interest in relation to agenda item 7 (Highways and Transport Working Group), item 8 (Better Highways) and item 9(1) (Highways Budget) due to being an employee of Amey.

During the course of the meeting the following interests were declared:-

 Mr D Fairbairn declared a personal and prejudicial interest in agenda item 6 in respect to the reference to Age UK West Cumbria due to being a member of the organisation.

Mr K Little declared a personal interest in agenda item 12 (Money Advice Contract) due to being a trustee of the Credit Union.

Mr G Humes declared a personal interest in agenda item 13 (Appointment of Governors) due to being a relative of a nominee governor.

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 item on the Agenda.

Mr Kenneth Foot attended the meeting to express the concerns of the Keswick Congregational Church regarding the lack of access afforded to blue badge holders for the purpose of attending services of worship and other occasional spiritual meetings at the church within the hours 10.30 am–4.30 pm.

Mr Foot raised a number of supporting points in relation to his proposal including:-

·               that he had been advised by County Council officers that only people who could claim an exemption to the prohibition from entering a pedestrian zone were those in receipt of the higher rate of mobility allowance that blue badge holders were not exempt.  The mobility allowance was given to those who were aged under 65 but attendance allowance appeared to be the equivalent benefit for those aged 65 and over who are suffering from the same or similar disabilities.  He felt this was a discriminatory process. 

·               the church had spent over £8,500 on provision of facilities for the ambulatory disabled but now these individuals were being denied easy access to the premises because of the traffic order.

·              the nearest place the blue badge holders could get access to the church from a car was a car park 150 yards away.

Mr Foot emphasised that he was not asking for a dispensation for actual parking for blue badge holders, merely for cars to be able to bring a disabled passenger to the church and drop them off and then return at a pre-agreed time for immediate departure. 

The Chairman gave the following response :- 

The Town centre & Lake road was pedestrianised several years ago, with vehicle access only permitted during certain hours,  and  limited to delivery vehicles and residents with off road parking facilities, which had resulted in a very pleasant area for pedestrians to use.   Additional disabled parking facilities were provided at Derwent Close. To allow the disabled vehicles access to the Church on Lake Road would require an amendment to the present traffic regulation order,  and whilst we could amend the order to allow access specifically for the Church it would probably result in many other requests which would reduce the effectiveness of the pedestrianised area.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2010 (enclosed).

(1)       The minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2010 were submitted.  These were agreed as a correct record subject to the addition to minute 60:-

                     Mr A Markley declared a personal interest in relation to agenda item 12 (Joint Liaison Group Meeting).

(2)       On minute 67 -  Minutes of Children and Young People Working Group, the Chair requested that a substantial report be made to the January meeting of the Local Committee from the Working Group which would should include an update on the Youth Work Contract.

(3)       On minute 70 – The Allerdale Project,  Members referred to the discussion at the last meeting regarding progression of the establishment of locality boards/steering groups by the Borough Council and also a new Allerdale Strategic Partnership.  Members continued to have concerns about the progression by the Borough Council of a new strategic partnership as there had been no request from the Borough for representation or involvement from the County Council.

            The Chair felt that this should be discussed further at the seminar to be held for members on 12 January on the shaping and development of the Allerdale project.

[Electoral Divisions: All Allerdale]

To consider a report by the Area Support Manager (copy enclosed).

This report updates the Committee on action arising from previous meetings.

(Mr M Johnson left the meeting for this item having declared a personal and prejudicial interest earlier in the meeting).

Members considered a progress report by the Area Support Manager. The following points were raised:-

(1)       Stainburn Roundabout

The local Member for Harrington, Clifton and Stainburn stated that due to lack of progress made on the Gateway feature she now wished to take this matter forward in person and asked the Cabinet Member for Economy and Highways to supply her with the relevant contacts. 

(2)       Ravensfield Care Home

(Mr D Fairbairn declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item due to being a member of Age UK and left the meeting at this point).

It was noted that the concerns raised at the last meeting by the Committee regarding the closure of Ravensfield had been relayed by the local Member for Keswick.  The Cabinet decision had, however, been to close Ravensfield.

RESOLVED,  that the report be noted

[Electoral Divisions –  All Allerdale ]

To consider the minutes of the Highways and Transport Working Group held on 29 November 2010 (copy enclosed)

Attention is drawn to:- 

Minute  87  - Area Engineer’s report

Minute 88   - LTP3  - Implementation Plan

Minute 90- Local Committee Devolved Budgets 2010/11 - Revised NPRN Programme

Minute 91(1)    - Local Committee Devolved Budgets 2011/12 - NPRN Programme

Minute 91(2)    - Local Committee Devolved Budgets 2011/12 - APM Programme

(Mr M Johnson left the meeting for this item having declared a personal and prejudicial interest earlier in the meeting).

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting of the Allerdale Highways and Transport Working Group held on 29 November 2010.

(1)       Minute 87 – Area Engineer’s Report

A sum of £10,000 was being suggested to allow the continued support of the joint funding for the cycleway network in West Cumbria.  Members felt that the contribution presented good value for money for the level of day to day maintenance being undertaken by Sustrans.  The Area Engineer commented that in due course this spending sum could be reviewed if Members wished.  The Local Member for Bowness, Thursby and Caldbeck asked the Area Engineer to supply details of which cycleways in Allerdale came under the agreement with Sustrans.

RESOLVED,   

                           (1)    to approve the continued support of the West Cumbria Cycleway Partnership by making a contribution from the Highways Revenue Budget of £10,000 from unallocated balances/other;

                           (2)    to approve a payment of £32,000 from the Highway Revenue Budget (unallocated balance/other) to Allerdale Borough Council for the provision of a Residents Parking Permit Service throughout the Allerdale area for the current 2010/11 year.

(2)       LTP3 – Implementation Plan

   There was some concern that the Wigton relief road had not been included in the list of major schemes in Table IP4. It was felt that this could have been an error and members emphasised the importance of the scheme in the programme.

RESOLVED,    that

                           (1)    the implementation plan process and proposals for scheme delivery as set out in the report be endorsed;

(2)          the following amendments as proposed by the Working   Group for the Priority Transport Improvement Programme for Allerdale be supported:-. 

Table IP2

A48 Flimby to Maryport Cyclelink remove the scheme as this had been completed

A30 Fleming Square, Maryport remove the scheme as it is a Borough Council responsibility

A52 – shared footway/cycleway from Maryport to Aspatria the footway element be removed from the scheme and this be a cycleway from Maryport to Aspatria only. 

Proposed addition to the list - Climber lane at Bothel for HGVs

TableIP4    

Wigton relief road to be included in the list of major schemes

MS10 – A66 improvements should also include a roundabout at Brigham/Broughton.

.(3)      Minute 90 – Revised NPRN Programme 2010/11- utilising unallocated balances

RESOLVED,    to utilise the unallocated balances of £159,000 from 2009/10 and, unallocated balances of £467,509, Pre Surface Dressing Patching of £303,000, Minor Structural Maintenance balance of £173,290 and an overall unallocated balance of £157,210, as at 30^th September 2010, in the current NPRN 2010/11 Budget year, to enable the expanded final programme of works, as set out in the report (for copy see minute book),  to be continued until March 2011.

(4)       Minute 91 (1) - Provisional NPRN Programme 2011/12

The Area Engineer reported that if a larger sum became available than anticipated for this programme then alternative proposals would be presented to a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

As the Assistant Director - Highways and Transport was not present at the meeting to submit reports on Better Highways it was

RESOLVED         that  the reports on the Better Highways proposed changes to Local Committee Budget Arrangements and Better Highways Monitoring report be deferred until the next meeting   

(1)       Highways Budget

Mr M Johnson left the meeting at this point for having earlier declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the item.

Members considered a report by the Corporate Director – Resources on the actual expenditure and commitments recorded against the Local Committee’s Highways Revenue and Capital budgets as at 31 October 2010.

It was noted that there was a projected underspend in the revenue budget of £16, 925. The Area Engineer expected that this funding would not be required as Better Highways would cover the outstanding work. Some of the underspend would be ‘soaked up’ following the decisions made by the Committee earlier in the meeting

Members discussed energy costs for lighting columns and ways that these costs might be reduced.  The Area Engineer advised that there were a number of proposals for reducing the costs and working more economically but  a central policy would need to be in agreed if new systems were to be introduced.

RESOLVED,    that

                           (1)       the budget allocations for 2010-11 and the expenditure recorded to date be noted;

                           (2)       it be noted that the Revenue budget currently has a projected underspend balance of £16,925;

                           (3)       it be noted that the NPRN budget is showing a projected unallocated balance of £146,411;

                           (4)       it be noted that  the APM is showing a projected overspend balance of £767.

(2)       Communities Budget

Mr M Johnson re-joined the meeting at this point

A report by the Corporate Director – Resources on the actual expenditure and commitments recorded against the Local Committee’s Communities Budget as at 31 October 2010 was considered.

The Committee was alerted to the need for any unspent funds to be allocated before the end of March 2011 as unallocated balances could not be carried forward. Particular attention needed to be given to Community Support and Community Grants and to School Crossing patrols where vacancies had led to the underspend.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Combined Grants Panel to consider requests for funding had already been arranged.

There was also an unallocated balance of £87,877 against the Early Years and Children’s Activities budget line (pre-school grants, nursery and playgroups). Members asked if the Portfolio holder for Children’s Services could liaise with Children’s Services staff to ensure that the Committee receive proposals for spending these funds.

RESOLVED,    that

                           (1)       the budget allocations for 2010-11 and the commitments and expenditure recorded to date be noted;

                           (2)       the unallocated resources in the Communities Revenue budgets of £180,023 be noted;

                           (3)       the unallocated resources in the Local member Capital budgets of £131,775 be noted.

[Electoral Divisions: Solway Coast; St John’s Workington: Seaton]

To consider a report by the Chief Executive (copy enclosed).

This report, seeking to commit elements of the Local Capital Scheme budget, includes Members’ proposals that have been sufficiently worked up, to enable Local Committee to consider spending decisions.

A report by the Chief Executive was presented which detailed proposals from members for minor capital schemes in their Electoral Division, to be funded from the Committee’s Local Capital Schemes budget 2009/10.

RESOLVED,    that

                           (1)       in respect of the Solway Coast Electoral Division; Members agree to a capital grant of £3,000 to Silloth Parish Council, for the construction of a storage extension to the youth club premises;

                           (2)       in respect of Workington: St. John’s Electoral Division; Members agree a capital contribution of up to £12,000 to enable the County Council  to procure a right of way footway improvement scheme, between St. Michael’s Rd and Bank Rd, Workington;

 (3)     in respect of Seaton Electoral Division; Members agree:-

(i)         a capital grant to Camerton Parish Council, of up to £3,500 towards the actual cost of a parish countryside footpath improvement, in the area of Camerton Brickworks;

                                       (ii)        a capital contribution of up to £3,000 to enable CCC Rights of Way team to design and deliver a footpath right of way improvement scheme to FP262031 linking Seaton & Barepot; and of benefit to Seaton Electoral Division residents but physically within St. Michael’s Electoral Division..

[Electoral Divisions – All Allerdale ]

To consider a report by the Chief Executive (copy enclosed).

This report addresses the outcomes under the County Council’s ‘Better’ theme.

A report by the Chief Executive was submitted which addressed various outcomes under the County Council’s ‘Better’ theme.  The report mainly covered the ‘Better’ theme, that is, how the Council works internally and with its partners to deliver high quality services which respond to different needs and achieve value for money.  It also contained community engagement performance information monitoring, specifically issues raised, engagement activity and allocation of Forum Grants.

RESOLVED,    that the report be noted. 

[Electoral Divisions: All Allerdale]

To consider a report by the Chief Executive (copy enclosed).

This report provides Members with an update on the contract monitoring and performance of the countywide money advice service and details what has been delivered locally.   

A report by the Chief Executive provided Members with an update on the contract monitoring and performance of the countywide money advice service, commissioned by Cumbria County Council, and also gave details of what services had been delivered locally. Client profile data and feedback from client questionnaires was also provided in the report.

The Bureau Manager was in attendance at the meeting and  reported that the  performance of the contract was exceeding expectations and around 200 people had been offered help and advice.  Members noted that there was some inaccuracy around the figures for the Clients seen with a new enquiry (Ward basis) for Wigton and Wharrels and asked that these figures be checked.   

Members were pleased with the work being carried out by the service and thanked the Bureau Manager and his staff for providing a much needed service.

RESOLVED,    that Members note the report.

[Electoral Divisions: All Allerdale]

To consider a report by the Corporate Director – Adult Services (copy enclosed)

This report seeks approval of nominations of Cumbria County Council Governors of Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools.

The Committee considered a report by the Corporate Director – Children’s Services seeking approval of nominated County Council Governors of nursery, primary and secondary schools.

Members noted that a number of vacancies for governors existed and accepted that it was often difficult finding individuals who wished to take on the role of governor. It was agreed that a way forward might be to hold  ‘taster session’ for interested people to attend and learn more about the role of school governor.  It was pointed out however that such sessions had not been well attended in the past. 

RESOLVED,    that the following appointment be made:-

                           School                                                     Representative

                           Ashfield Infant                                          Mrs C Humes

                                                                                             35 Clifton Court

                                                                                             Workington  CA14 3HR

The next meeting will be held on Monday 31 January 2010 at 10:00 at Wigton Community Offices, Wigton.

Monday  31 January at  10.00am at Wigton Market Hall and Community Centre, Church Road, Wigton