Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair of the Local Committee for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED,     that Mr K Hamilton be appointed Chair of the Local Committee for the ensuing year.

Mr Hamilton thereupon took the Chair.

To elect a Vice?Chair of the Local Committee for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED,     that Mr W McEwan be appointed Vice?Chair of the Local Committee for the ensuing year.

An apology for absence was received from Mr S Wielkopolski.

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).

Mr B Shirley declared a personal interest in agenda item 8(2) – Barrow Highways Sub?Group - Safer Schools – School Streets Initiative (minute 8 refers) as his child was a pupil at Askam Village School and he was Vice-Chair of the Governing Body.

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

There were no questions, statements or petitions relating to the business of the Committee on this occasion.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10 March 2021 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED,    that the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2021be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

[Electoral Divisions: All Barrow]

To consider a report by the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure (copy enclosed).

This report gives recommendations for approval by Barrow Local Committee from the Highways Advisory Sub-Group meetings held on 9 April and 11 June 2021.

The Committee considered a report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure which gave details of the discussions and recommendations of the Highways Advisory Sub-Group (HASG) for the Barrow area which met on 9 April and 11 June 2021.

(1)       Minutes

With reference to Minute 3 of the meeting held on 11 June 2021 – Update from Cumbria Police Authority members were informed that the meeting to discuss the traffic congestion concerns at Hollywood Park had taken place.  The Local Area Highways Network Manager explained that following correspondence with the Land Agent for the Park they had informed him that ‘the landlords were currently looking at solutions and options’.  It was agreed that designs which had been drafted for the area by the Authority would be made available to the Land Agent and that a further meeting would be convened when further information had been received.

During the course of discussion the local Member for Walney North informed members that a notice had recently been erected at the entrance to Hollywood Park directing vehicles to an alternative access point.  It was agreed the Local Area Highways Network Manager would investigate this matter further.

With reference to Minute 4 of the Meeting held on 11 June 2021 – Update from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service the local Member for Hindpool confirmed that a site visit had been undertaken to the area at the rear of the Cross Keys Public House and emphasised the concerns raised at the Sub?Group meeting highlighting the need for investment.  During the course of discussion it was suggested that consideration be given to the introduction of a restriction to allow 15 minutes waiting for vehicles in the area. 

Members asked that this matter be considered in consultation with representatives from Barrow Borough Council and that the Traffic Manager Team Leader (Barrow) bring a report for consideration to the next meeting of Barrow Highways Sub?Group on 12 October 2021.

RESOLVED,    that the minutes of the meetings held on 9 April and 11 June 2021 be noted.

(2)       Safer Schools – School Streets Initiative

The Chair of the Local Committee informed members that due to the timescale for the submission of information to be included in the School Streets Initiative pilot he had been asked to agree a school in the Barrow area.  He explained that, taking into consideration the criteria, he had recommended Ormsgill Nursery and Primary School as first choice with Askam Village School as the reserved option.

A discussion took place regarding this matter and members raised their concerns and disappointment at the way in which this matter had been dealt with by officers.  The local members for Dalton North and Hindpool, whilst acknowledging the situation in which the Chair had been placed, expressed their disagreement with the proposed schools.

The local Member for Dalton North explained to the Committee that he had previously been informed that Askam Village School had been identified as the pilot school and that a significant amount  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

[Electoral Divisions: All Barrow]

To consider a report by the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services (copy enclosed).

This report provides Local Committee with an update on its work and agreed activity since the last meeting of the Committee.  It also includes a financial statement in support of the work of the Local Committee for Members’ information.

The Committee considered a report from the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services which detailed information from across the Community teams including Community Development, Libraries and Archives; it provided an update on work and agreed activity since the last meeting of the Committee.

The Library Customer Manager gave a positive verbal update to members informing them of the progress with regards to refurbishment of the Library which included a sensory room, children’s area, IT area and local studies space.  It was explained that staff were working differently in supporting customers, highlighting that through recent funding a number of colleagues had received training which had provided them with the skills to undertake one to one IT training.

The Committee was informed that work was also being undertaken with the Health and Wellbeing Coaches who had provided training to enable staff to be able to identify customers who required additional support and signpost them to appropriate services.

The local Member for Ormsgill congratulated the work which had been undertaken to provide the new successful Library in his Division.

Members expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Area Manager (Barrow), Library Customer Manager and all Library colleagues for the work and support which they had provided to make the Library a fantastic venue.

The Committee received an update from the Children’s Trust Board who continued to meet regularly and had recently established working groups to specifically consider vulnerable children, early help and prevention, universal services and neighbourhood approach.  During the course of discussion the importance of early help and prevention was emphasised.

Members received an update on the Dalton Borderlands Place Programme  and noted that the community consultation had been very positive.  It was explained that further information would be available at the next meeting of Barrow Local Committee.

Members noted that in in relation to the £200,000 funding stream relating to outdoor spaces two separate workshops had been held to consider potential schemes.  It was explained that a number of proposals had been put forward and were considered at an Informal Local Committee meeting of 18 June.  The Committee was informed that the proposed shortlist of schemes which they wished to see progressed using the funding were Westfield Trail, Biggar Bank, Old Monks Trail, Mill Brow – Abbey Road to Park Road Roundabout, installation/replacement benches and Heritage and Cultural Information (detailed further in the report).

The Committee was informed that Barrow Borough Council had confirmed they wished to establish a process, such as a Poverty Truth Commission, to identify and remediate financial inequalities with particular reference to the existing vulnerable residents and the potential for a large cohort of newly vulnerable residents, due to secondary impacts of the outbreak.  It was explained the Borough Council had already identified much of the funding for this work and Local Committee was asked to consider funding £10,000 towards the Scheme over two years.

Members had agreed that as this aligned directly with Local Committees priorities, in particular the priority of “improving health  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Local Committee Chairs and Leadership meetings held on 29 January and 27 April 2021 (copies enclosed). 

RESOLVED,   that the minutes of the Local Committee Chairs and Leadership meetings held on 29 January 2021 and 27 April 2021 be noted.

There were no reports from members serving on Outside Bodies on this occasion.

The next scheduled meeting will take place on Friday 17 September 2021 at 10.30 am at a venue to be agreed.

RESOLVED,    that the next scheduled meeting will take place on Friday 17 September 2021 at 10.30 am at a venue to be agreed.

Members suggested that the Library be used as a venue for future meetings.