Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all members and officers to the last meeting of Barrow Local Committee in the life of Cumbria County Council.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr M Dooz, Mr D English, Ms M Pearce and Mr B Shirley.

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 disclosures of interest made on this occasion.

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 16 January 2023 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED,    that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2023 be 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 meeting held on 14 February 2023.

The Committee considered a report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure which gave details of the discussion and recommendations of the Highways Advisory Sub-Group for the Barrow area which met on 14 February 2023.

The local Member for Hindpool, on behalf of the local Member for Dalton South, raised safety concerns regarding the number of parked and speeding vehicles on Coronation Drive and suggested that this be referred to the CRASH Group.  It was agreed that the Local Area Highways Network Manager would investigate this matter and report back direct.

The Chair of the Local Committee informed members that he had emphasised the importance of the Barrow Highways Sub?Group to the appropriate Westmorland and Furness Portfolio Holder and requested that this continue into the new Authority.

The Chair of the Sub?Group, on behalf of the Local Committee, highlighted the positive work which had been undertaken and expressed thanks and appreciation to the Local Area Highways Network Manager, Highways Network Engineer and all Highways staff for their positive contributions and outstanding work. 

During the course of the discussion the valuable contributions at the Sub?Group meetings from representatives of Stagecoach, Cumbria Police and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service was highlighted and it was agreed to send individual letters expressing thanks and appreciation.

RESOLVED,   that the minutes be noted.

[Electoral Divisions: All Barrow]

To consider a report by the Assistant Director – 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.

Members received a detailed and positive report from the Assistant Director – Customer and Community Services which provided information from across the Community teams including Community Development, Archives and libraries, and provided an update on work and agreed activity since the last meeting of the Committee.

The Committee was informed that the Team continued to work to support area planning activity and priority areas of work including the cost-of-living crisis, Barrow Town Deal and Borderlands.

The local Member for Walney South asked for any updates regarding the planning application for the Earnse Bay Outdoor Centre.  The Vice?Chair of the Local Committee advised that a response was still awaited from the Secretary of State.

The Committee received a detailed update on the Dalton Borderlands Place Programme and was advised that the Project Initiation Documents (PIDs) had been received and reviewed by Ekosgen consultants who had been liaising individually with project leads to undertake a clarification process to ensure all relevant information was considered.  It was explained that the PIDs were submitted for consideration at the 2 March meeting of the Dalton Town Team where members of the Group had discussed the proposals and put forward their suggestions. 

Members were advised that the Borderlands programme would move across to the new Westmorland and Furness Authority.  The Committee was informed that the next steps would be for the consultants’ recommendations to be presented for approval to submit to the Borderlands Partnership and facilitate the process for schemes to move to the next stage of developing project level business cases.

The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, thanked Adele Mitchell, Programme and Project Officer, for her invaluable support to the Project.

Members were informed that the Community Prosperity Partnership was bringing together third-sector organisations who were supporting the communities in the Barrow Borough area to work collaboratively.  It was explained that this was focusing on the cost of living with three main key themes as part of its work – warm spots, food and fuel and emergency referrals.

The Committee was advised that the Partnership was keen to ensure the work it undertook was more sustainable and maximise funding through various sources.  Members were informed that many of the warm spots set up by community groups and volunteers were building up relationships and trust with residents; engaging and connecting residents, meeting needs and reducing social isolation noting that the partnership wished to see the provision of warm welcome spots all year round to enable those connections to continue.

Members were informed that organisations within the Partnership were starting to work together understanding each of their core offer and how they could all add value to each other’s organisations, services, and residents.  Officers explained that each organisation did not have to provide everything to each resident; there was a need for them all to be connected to support meeting the need of the individual resident using the right front door approach.

The Committee was advised that the Partnership was developing a collaborative project and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

[Electoral Divisions: All Barrow]

To consider a report by the Assistant Director – Customer and Community Services (copy to follow).

The Committee received an End of Year report highlighting the achievements performed by Cumbria County Council’s Barrow Local Committee Community Development Team during the period 2017?2022.

Members were advised that Barrow Local Committee had led and supported a wide range of work across the Barrow Borough area over the current Council cycle.  It was explained that through the area working approach, use of local knowledge and partnership working, it had been possible to target resources to support and empower communities, help bring in investment and drive change.

The report highlighted some of the work and activity that had been carried out over the past five years, including a range of successes, challenges and learning. 

The Area Support Manager highlighted the many challenges, including a pandemic, which required the whole Borough community to come together and members expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Community Development Team, third sector organisations and fellow councillors for their continued dedication.

The Committee was advised of a number of successful projects which included the refurbishment of Barrow Library, Tour of Britain, Harri Bus, Egerton Court and the development of the health and wellbeing partnership.

The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, congratulated the Area Support Manager on her new role in Westmorland and Furness and wished her well for the future.  The current Community Team and past members of the Team were thanked for their outstanding hard work and dedication together with the Senior Democratic Services Officer, Local Area Highways Network Manager and his Team. 

The Chair thanked fellow County Councillors for their continued support for both himself and the dedication and commitment shown to improve the outcomes for local residents as well as the whole Borough through the constructive input to the many local projects and initiatives to benefit the local communities spread across the Borough over the last five years and wished everyone well for the future.

The Committee expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Chair of the Local Committee who had provided strong leadership during his term of office which had resulted in positive outcomes.

RESOLVED,   that

                          (1)          the report be noted;

                          (2)          details of any additional information for inclusion in the Year End report be sent to Tracey Ingham.

There were no updates from members serving on outside bodies on this occasion.

To note this is the last meeting of the Local Committee in the life of Cumbria County Council.

It was noted that this was the last meeting of the Local Committee in the life of Cumbria County Council.