Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Mr W Clark, Mrs S Sanderson, Mr WJ Wearing, Mrs B Gray, Mr P Thornton and Dr A Jarvis.

There were no questions, petitions or statements at the time of despatch of Agenda

There was no public participation received for this meeting.

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

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 at the meeting

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Local Committee held on 24 January 2023 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED that,    the minutes of the meetings held on 21 January 2023 be confirmed as circulated

[Electoral Divisions: All South Lakeland]

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

This report provides information and offers recommendations to the Local Committee for approval from meetings of the Strategic Planning Working Group and the Children and Young Peoples Working Group. It also updates the Local Committee on previously agreed activity supported with the latest financial statement.

A report was considered from the Assistant Director - Customer and Community Services regarding Area Planning in South Lakeland. The report provided service information and offered recommendations to South Lakeland Local Committee for approval from the meetings of the following working groups: Strategic Planning Working Group held on 21 February 2023 and the Children and Young People’s Working Group held on 27 February 2023. The report also provided Local Committee with an update on activity against agreed priorities and provided an overview of the current budget position.

The Area Manager presented the report.  She drew members’ attention to Borderlands Ulverston and that this would move across to Westmorland & Furness Council for endorsement.  She also drew members’ attention to the DWP Household Support Fund which had recently been received for over £30K.  The team worked with the community and this has supported  11 community groups and activities to ensure they can continue or begin their excellent work.  The Area Manager noted that the Sandgate Hydrotherapy Pool had finished the year with a balanced budget.  She also brought to members’ attention the end of term report which detailed the support provided by and to local communities in South Lakeland.  The Area Manager paid tribute to the Area Team and all their hard work over the past years and thanked the members for their unwavering dedication to the communities of South Lakeland and all their support to her and the Area Team.

A number of members expressed their personal thanks to individual officers and wished them well for the future.

The Local Member for Ulverston East noted the Borderlands Ulverston and remarked that the recommendation report had been amended by the Ulverston Town Team to ensure local needs were met.

The Chair paid tribute to the Community Team and noted that working in partnership had been a consistent feature of this Local Committee, with the recognition that the council cannot bring about change alone, it is a wider partnership effort. Sharing of resources, both of time and funding, has created greater outcomes for the South Lakeland communities. This is the lasting legacy of this Local Committee, which the new Westmorland & Furness Council has the opportunity to build upon.  The Local Committee had continually worked together to look at the South Lakeland area as a whole, ensuring that resources are targeted to the right areas at the right times, while also maintaining a fair distribution across the geography.

RESOLVED that,

1          Members noted the budget update for 2022-23 including the commitments and expenditure to date, Appendix A of the report.

2          Members noted the work of the Strategic Planning Working Group as set out in the minutes at Appendix B of the report.

3          Members noted the final position for the Environment Fund and Contain Outbreak Management Fund schemes as outlined in Appendix C.

4          Members noted the work of the Children & Young People’s Working Group as set out in the minutes at Appendix D.

[Electoral Divisions: All South Lakeland]

To consider a report by the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure

This report provides details of the Local Committee’s Highways Revenue and Capital and Non-Devolved Capital Budgets.

A report was considered from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure regarding the 2022/23 Highways Devolved Revenue and Capital Update Report.  The report presented the Highways Devolved Revenue and Devolved Capital and Non-Devolved Capital Budget finance reports and updated members as to current progress on those budget lines as detailed in the appendices attached to the report.

The Local Area Network Manager South Lakeland presented the report and drew out the key messages for members.

The Chair queried the work that would take place post Vesting Day.

The Local Area Network Manager South Lakeland noted that work would continue and there was a programme of work for 3 months as the new Authority commenced.

A number of members expressed their personal thanks to individual officers and wished them well for the future.

To consider a report by the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure

This report presents the minutes of the meeting of the Highways and Transportation Working Group held on 9 February 2023 and brings forward recommendations for consideration by the Local Committee.

A report was considered from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure regarding the Highways and Transportation Working Group meeting held on 9 February 2023. The report provided the notes and included recommendations for consideration by the Local Committee.

The Chair of the Highways and Transportation Working Group presented the report and moved the recommendations as set out in the report. He commented on the flood works and development management reports and the way they ensured the infrastructure would be in place.  The recommendations were agreed by assent of the Committee.

A number of members expressed their personal thanks to individual officers and wished them well for the future.

RESOLVED that,

1             Local Committee noted the Minutes of the Working Group meeting of 9 February 2023 which are attached as Appendix 1 to the report

2             Local Committee agreed that tubes to be laid in Arnside during May and/or June for the purpose of data collection and that this is communicated to Arnside Parish Council due to the Parish Council’s concerns regarding cyclists that was presented to the Local Committee on 24th November 2022

3             Local Committee noted the details provided in appendices 1, 2 and 3 of the Working Group report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure (attached as appendix 2 of the report) which gave a Flood and Development Management Update and the Local Committee noted that there are no additional comments in the Appendices to bring to the attention of Local Members. Any significant comments, changes and/or amendments will be highlighted in subsequent and future reports to the Highway and Transportation Working Group.

The Local Member for Kendal Highgate noted that there was no update from Kendal BID.  He remarked that the Brewery Arts Centre had funding challenges but had kept their head above water

The Chair noted that the Lancaster Canal had received money from Cumbria County Council and South Lakeland District Council and that the section between Stainton and Crooklands would have the tow path surface improved.

The Local Member for Low Furness commented on the Pupil Referral Unit and the struggle and difficulty to ensure things are done and hoped that Westmorland & Furness Council would provide a member for the Board.

The Local Member for Ulverston East noted that Veterans Breakfast Clubs were now started and this had led to new projects.

Mrs Evans presented her report as the Committee’s Children’s Champion. She remarked that it was important to have this item on the agenda for the Local Committee and hoped this would continue for the Locality Board.  Mrs Evans noted that the Corporate Parenting Board was meeting 22 March 2023 and thanked the officers involved and the children who had developed “Our Promise”.  She paid tribute to the young people in our care and our care leavers for their hard work and their resilience.

This is the last meeting of the County Council Local Committee for South Lakeland.

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

The Vice Chair paid tribute and proposed a vote of thanks to the Chair and noted the very good job that the Chair had done.  The Local Committee supported the Vice Chair’s comments.

The Chair noted that his time as Chair of the South Lakeland Local Committee as his most enjoyable time as a County Councillor.