Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Mr P McSweeney, Mr P Thornton, Mrs J Willis, Mrs S Sanderson, Mr J Brook and Ms J Fillmore.

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

There were no statements, petitions or questions from members of the public at this meeting.

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

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 made on this occasion.

[Electoral Divisions: Kendal Highgate & Kendal Strickland & Fell]

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

This report requests Local Committee to provide a position on the proposals undergoing consideration on the regeneration of Kendal town centre and its high street offer

Members considered a report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure which outlined the South Lakeland District Council’s application to the government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF). The Highways Network Manager introduced the report and provided background regarding the LUF.

He explained that following a competitive process, localities would be selected from across the UK. These localities had been prioritised for funding by the Government following a qualitative assessment process with Barrow, Copeland and Allerdale all identified as “Category 1” priority locations and South Lakeland identified as “Category 3”. Members heard that this had created an expectation that applications would need to be “exceptional” if they were to be successful.

Since May 2021, and with the close support of Cumbria County Council, South Lakeland District Council has been developing a proposal which could be put forward to the second round of the competition. The development of this scheme had been further supported by the establishment of a “Kendal Town Team”, comprising members of the County, District, Town Council and Kendal Futures.

The application was due before 6 July and centred around two project elements. The first was regeneration of the Town Centre which would comprise the creation of new student accommodation and work-space at the Westmorland Shopping Centre as well as the regeneration of the Market Hall and Market Place. The second aspect of the application was the enhancement of the Riverside Corridor. This would include upgrades to a section of the riverside active travel route between Lowther St and Abbot Hall and would seek to improve connectivity between key assets in the town centre.

The Chair commented in support of taking this opportunity to invest in the Market Hall to better improve the offer to the community. A discussion then took place about the potential increased footfall which would be brought about as a result of linking student accommodation to the shopping centre and how this would likely draw more retailers to the Market Hall.

Following a discussion about the historical significance of the Market Hall, members were given assurances that the effort to improve the offer would also attempt to restore the presence of local produce.

Members stated that in the unfortunate circumstance that the bid was unsuccessful, the future Westmorland and Furness Authority would need to recognise the importance of renovating Kendal Market Hall.

The Lead Officer – Cycling and Walking Team provided more detail regarding the necessary reallocation of space and the review of traffic light signal which would be incorporated into the development of the Riverside Corridor for walking and cycling.

To conclude the Highways Network Manager explained that the deadline for the submission of the application was 6 July and that  the outcome decision is expected by Autumn 2022. If the bid is successful, then funding would need to be fully expended by April 2025.

RESOLVED that,

1) members agree to support, in principle, South Lakeland District Council’s proposed Levelling Up Fund application

2) members agree to delegate the signing of a letter of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

The next meeting will be held on 6 July 2022 10.00am at County Offices, Kendal.

The next meeting will be held on 6 July 2022 10.00am at County Offices, Kendal.