To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs F Robson and Mr A Toole.

The Chair announced that this would be the last meeting that Mr Brooks, Area Highways and Transport Officer (Carlisle)  would attend as he would shortly be retiring from the County Council.  The Chair thanked Mr Brooks for his excellent work during the year that he had spent supporting the Local Committee and the improved method he had introduced for the Committee’s Highways reporting. The Chair and other Members wished Mr Brooks a long and happy retirement.

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.

Mrs E Mallinson and Mr J Mallinson both declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda item 6 (Highways and Transport Working Group)`as they lived on Windsor Way.

Mrs E Mallinson declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda item 9 (Area 0-19 grants) due to her husband’s connection with Carlisle Youth Zone.  Mr J Mallinson also declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda item 9 (Area 0-19 grants) due to his connections with Carlisle Youth Zone.

The following members declared a personal interest in Agenda item 12 (Area Grants Fund) in relation to the Tullie House grant request due to being Members of the Carlisle City Council:-  Mr T Allison, Mr R Betton, Mrs H Bradley, Mr H McDevitt; Mrs E Mallinson; Mr J Mallinson; Mr R Watson and Mr C Weber.

Mr R Watson declared a personal interest in Agenda item 11 (St Aiden’s Community First programme) as the scheme was in his Electoral Division.

Mr NH Marriner declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 13 (Forum Granst over 25% of Budget)  due to being a Trustee of Eden Rivers Trust.

Mrs E Mallinson declared a personal interest in Agenda item 14 (Appointment to Henry Lonsdale Trust) due to her husband being a member of the Trust.

Mr J Mallinson and Mr I Stockdale both declared a personal interest in Agenda item 14  (Appointment to Henry Lonsdale Trust) being members of the Trust.

The following Members declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda item 15 (Debt Rescue and Money Advice Credit Union support) due to being members of the Carlisle and District Credit Union:-  Mrs H Bradley, Mrs E Mallinson and Mr J Mallinson.

(A personal interest in Agenda item 12  declared at the meeting by Mr S F Young in relation to the grant application for Carlisle and District Music and Drama festival was subsequently withdrawn)

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.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Local Committee held on 21 December 2012 (copy enclosed)

RESOLVED,    that the minutes of the meeting held on 21 December be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the following amendments to Minute 83 – Disclosures of interest

                           1^st paragraph - Insert full stop after (0-19 Youth Services Grant applications) and insert ‘Mrs H Bradley declared a personal interest due to being a Governor of St Margaret Mary’s School’ .

                           2^ND paragraph – the last line be amended to read ‘due to being a Governor of two of the schools involved’.

No questions or petitions have been received at the time of circulating this agenda.

No questions or petitions had been received under public participation.

[Electoral Divisions: All Carlisle]

To consider a report by the Assistant Director: Highways and Transport (copy enclosed).

The Chair of the Highways and Transportation Working Group submitted a report giving details of the meeting of the Highways and Transportation Working Group held on 6^th January 2012 and presenting Working Group recommendations to the Local Committee for approval.  The Chair and other members welcomed the new format for reporting recommendations of the Working Group

Each of the recommendations were considered:

(1)    Carlisle City Claimed Rights funding Bid 2012 13.

Mr S F Young commented that it was important for the referral to Cabinet made by the Committee at its meeting on 21 December regarding the Carlisle City Claimed Rights funding Bid 2012/13 to be submitted to Cabinet as soon as possible and that he would be seeking to included this in the Cabinet agenda for February 2012.

RESOLVED,to note at this point that with the possibility of a reduction in future budgets that no decision is being made until the budget is made available by  Cabinet in February 2012.

(2)    Crosby on Eden speeding and parking issues

RESOLVED,that the contents of the report be noted  and a further report be  brought to the Group for consideration when proposals to address the speeding issue are drawn up and an assessment of the impact of the work of the school has been carried out and is complete.

(3)    Gateway Features C2042 Burgh by Sands

RESOLVED,

                        (i)      to advertise the 30mph speed limit on the unrestricted length of the C2042 at Burgh by Sands as part of next year’s Speed Limit Review and provided that there are no unresolved responses in relation to this proposal, to introduce the order as advertised having taken into consideration the matters contained in Section 122(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 which are more specifically referred to at paragraph 7.2 of this Report;

                        (ii)     to agree that the engineering elements of this work are met from this years Local Safety Scheme allocation of the Local Safety element of the devolved Capital budget.

(4)    U1210 Hynam Bridge  Proposed 26T Weight Restriction Results of Formal Consultation

A member suggested that signing in the village of Castle Carrock should be considered to give HGV drivers earlier warning of  this weight restriction.  Officers advised this arrangement would not be effective in preventing over weight vehicles from passing across this structure as it would by necessity need to permit access by heavy vehicles, to properties on the unrestricted lengths of this road, beyond the sign location. As a minor alternative officers undertook to consider  the provision of a No Through Road sign in the village at a place where large vehicles could perhaps more easily turn around.

RESOLVED, that

                        (i)      the Objection received be overruled and the erection of an authorised  sign allowing a Weak Bridge Weight Restriction to be enforceable at this location be approved;

                        (ii)     the County of Cumbria (U1210 Hynam Bridge, near Castle Carrock) (Prohibition of Heavy Commercial Vehicles Over 26 Tonnes Maximum Gross  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107.

[Electoral Divisions: All Carlisle]

To consider a report by the Corporate Director – Resources (copy enclosed).

This report presents the actual expenditure and commitments recorded against the Local Committee’s Communities Budgets as at 31 November 2011.

The Committee considered a report by the Corporate Director – Resources which  presented the actual expenditure and commitments recoded against the Local Committee’s Communities Budget as at 31^st  December 2011.

The Area Support Manager drew attention to the expenditure and commitments against the 0-19 Services budget line and the Neighbourhood Forums budget line which both showed unallocated balances. It was being flagged up centrally that Local Committees may not be able to utilise these budgets due a lack of time.  Members were alerted to the need to convey the message that funds were still available from the Local Committee Neighbourhood Forum budgets despite changes in the grant processes.

Some suggestions were then put forward as to how the public might be alerted to the continuing availability of Neighbourhood Forum grants through better information on the Web-site,  Parish newsletter etc and how the system itself could be improved so that applications could be dealt with more quickly.

RESOLVED,that

                        (1)    the budget allocations for 2011-12 and the commitments and expenditure recorded to date be noted;

                        (2)    the unallocated resources in the Communities Revenue budgets of £388,589 be noted;

                        (3)    the projected spend to budget for the Local Member Capital schemes budget be noted.

[Electoral Divisions: All Carlisle]

To consider a report by the Corporate Director – Resources (copy enclosed).

This report presents the actual expenditure and commitments recorded against the Local Committee’s Highways Revenue and Capital Budgets as at 31 December 2011.

A report by the Corporate Director -  Resources was submitted which set out the actual expenditure and commitments recoded against the Local Committee’s Highways Revenue and Capital Budgets as at 31^st December 2011.

RESOLVED,    that

                           (1)       the budget allocations for 2011-12 and the commitments and expenditure recorded to date be noted;

                           (2)       the Highways Revenue budget projected overspend of £7,594 against budget be noted;

                           (3)       the Highways Capital budget projected underspend of £23,593 against budget be noted;

                           (4)       the Winter Damage Budget is currently projecting an overspend position at the end of the financial year of £6,903 be noted.

[Electoral Divisions: All Carlisle]

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

This report outlines the request for grant funding from Carlisle Youth Zone outreach project and Beaumont Parish Hall – Children’s Play Area

Mr J Mallinson and Mrs E Mallinson left the meeting for this item having previously declared a personal and prejudicial interest. Mr T Allison took the Chair for this item.

A report by the Chief Executive set out a requests for grant funding from the following organisations: Carlisle Youth Zone outreach project; Beaumont Parish Hall – Children’s Play Area and Carlisle Youth Council.

It was noted that reports updating Members on the progress of Youth Zones and on Transport pilots to assist travel for young people in rural areas would be included on the agenda for the Committee’s  March meeting.

RESOLVED,    that the following grants be awarded from the  Area 0 – 19 Youth Grants Budget:-

                           (1)    A grant of £2,500 to Carlisle Youth Zone to enable the delivery of a pilot rural outreach project in the Stanwix & Irthington Electoral Division;

                           (2)    A grant of £5,000 to Beaumont Parish Hall Committee to contribute towards the cost of purchasing and installing new playground equipment;

                           (3)    A grant of £3,935 to Carlisle Youth Council to purchase computer equipment and cover the training and operating costs budget for 2012.

[Electoral Divisions: All Carlisle]

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

This report presents recommendations for further projects against the 2010/11 programme for Local Capital Schemes in the Carlisle area.

The Committee considered a report by the Chief Executive  presenting 5 projects to be funded from the Electoral Division Local Member Schemes budget.  The projects included had all been sufficiently worked up to enable Local Committee to consider spending decisions.

RESOLVED,    that

                           (1)       the Local Member Scheme for Brampton & Gilsland Electoral Division of £500.00 to provide IT equipment for Burtholme Parish Council be approved;

                           (2)       the Local Member Scheme for Longtown & Bewcastle Electoral Division of £500.00 to contribute towards the cost of commemorative items and a celebration event to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee within the parishes of Solport & Stapleton be approved;

                           (3)       the Local Member Scheme for Longtown & Bewcastle Electoral Division of £162.00 to fund the purchase of a grit bin to be placed in Briar Lea Court, Longtown be approved;

                           (4)       the Local Member Scheme for Dalston & Cummersdale Electoral Division of £790.00 to fund woodland thinning at the Cummersdale Copse be approved;

                           (5)       the Local Member Scheme for Wetheral Electoral Division of £1,500.00 to fund the development of office space at Down a Gate Community Centre to host Wetheral Parish Council be approved.

[Electoral Divisions: All Carlisle]

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

The St Aidans Electoral Division in Carlisle has been included within a new Cabinet Office programme entitled ‘Community First’. The main objectives of the programme are set out in the report nad proposals for the establishment of a Community First panel.

The Committee considered a report by the Chief Executive which advised that the St Aidans Electoral Division in Carlisle has been included within a new Cabinet Office programme entitled ‘Community First’ The development of a Community First Panel in St Aidans would allow the development of a community led programme along similar lines as the ‘Harraby Together We Can’ project and would create the opportunity for the development of a Community Plan in an Urban area similar to a Parish Plan in Rural areas.

The development of a Community First Panel in St Aidans would allow the local community to access additional Neighbourhood Grants of up to £33,910 over the next four years.  The funding would need to be allocated to projects within the Electoral Division that the Community First Panel considered would fulfil a local need and would also benefit the area. This funding would be held centrally by the Community Development Foundation. 

The Area Support Manager explained that the initial £5,000 funding, proposed from the Local Committee’s budget, would provide start up funding to enable the Community First Panel to address immediate priorities and then work towards longer term objectives. 

With regard to the use of the funding for the commissioning of a benchmarking study,  a member suggested that consultants, not be engaged for this as there were staff working in in-house resources that could be utilised.  As to whether a more deprived Ward should have been selected for the project, it was clarified that the St Aidans Electoral Division had been selected by Central Government against a set criteria. 

RESOLVED,    that

                           (1)    Carlisle Local Committee support the establishment of a Community First panel in St Aidans E.D;

                           (2)    a start up fund of £5000 be agreed from Carlisle Local Committee general provision budget to support this project. This funding will allow the project to engage in initial promotion, cover print and administration costs, and room hire charges.;

                           (3)    the ‘benchmarking’ study be carried out with assistance from the County Council to give the project a baseline and gather ‘You said, We did’ type background evidence. This study will also identify general community goals at an early opportunity.

[Electoral Divisions:  Carlisle Wide]

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

This report outlines the request for grant funding for a number of organisations. .

A report by the Chief Executive was considered which outlined the request for grant funding from the Committee’s Area Grants Budget for a number of organisations.

In considering the report, alternative amounts were proposed for grant in respect of some of the applications and it was:-

RESOLVED,       the following grants be awarded from the Area Grants Budget,

                              (1)    Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery Trust – nil

                              (2)    Carlisle & District Music & Drama Festival £810

                              (3)    Cumbria Wheelchair Sports Club £388

                              (4)    Cumbria Deaf Vision £709

                              (5)    British Red Cross £330

[Electoral Divisions: Castle and Stanwix and Irthington]

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

This report is to confirm recommendations for funding from a specific Neighbourhood Forum budget where the recommendation is over 25% of that Forum budget.

A report by the Chief Executive sought approval of a number of recommendations for funding from Divisional Neighbourhood Forums’ budgets as the recommendation in each case had been over 25% of that Forum budget.

RESOLVED,    that the following grants from the Divisional Neighbourhood Forum budgets be endorsed and approved;

                           (1)       A grant of £1500.00 to Rainbow Soft Play from the Castle Division Forum Budget;

                           (2)       A grant of £1500.00 to Eden Rivers Trust from the Castle Division Forum Budget;

                           (3)       A grant of £2,500 to Carlisle Youth Zone from the Stanwix & Irthington Division Forum Budget.

[Electoral Divisions: All Carlisle]

To consider a report by the Corporate Director - Resources (copy enclosed).

Following the recent resignation of a County Council appointee from the Henry Lonsdale Trust it is necessary to appoint a new Trustee of the Charity.

A report by the Corporate Director – Resources advised that following the recent resignation of a County Council appointee from the Henry Lonsdale Trust it was necessary to nominate a new Trustee of the Charity.

RESOLVED,    that Councillor Mr J Bell be nominated to the Henry Lonsdale Trust (to expire in May 2003) to fill the vacancy that has arisen and bring the number of County Council appointed representatives back to the full complement of four.

[Electoral Divisions: All Carlisle]

To consider a report by the Chief Executive(copy enclosed). A short presentation will also be given by the Team Leader, Carlisle Trading Standards on illegal money lending.  

(Mr J Mallinson and Mrs H M Bradley left the room for this item having declared a personal and prejudicial interest

The Committee received a presentation from  Mr T Denny, .a Regional Liaise Officer for the England Illegal Money Lending Team. Mr Denny covered areas of the North West,  and worked in partnership with Cumbria Trading Standards with a remit to prosecute loan sharks and to support victims.

The presentation covered loan shark practices; partnership working with Trading Standards in Cumbria; activities and future actions which included closer working with Credit Unions.  Achievements nationally had included:-   

• Identification of over 2000 illegal money lenders
• Writing of £38.8 million worth of illegal debts
• More than 200 prosecutions, leading to custodial  sentences in excess of 128 years (plus an indefinite sentence)
• Helping over 18,000 victims of loan sharks
• Over £1.5 million in cash seized.

5 wards had been identified in Cumbria, including the ward of Upperby in Carlisle,  where specific problems had been identified with illegal money lending - but these were not necessarily the only areas where there were problems.

The Committee found the presentation very informative,  particularly the identification of areas that had the most serious problems. The Committee wished to do as much as possible to prevent illegal money lending and ensure people were aware of the help available. The Chair thanked Mr Denny for his presentation and for the ongoing work which was crucial.

The Committee then considered the report which outlined the discussions of the Task and Finish Group established by the Committee to review the funding opportunities and projects supported by the Local Committee through the Debt Rescue and Money Advice (DRAMA) funding for 2011/12.

As a result of its work, the Task and Finish Group were recommending further investment of £8,500 be made available to the Carlisle and District Credit Union to fund the updating of the web site and enhancement to enable members to check account balances, transfer funds, make direct payments of loans, download forms and access a loan calculator.

The report also listed other issues discussed by the Task and Finish Group and which could be progressed in the future.  Some Members considered the promotion of Credit Unions in rural areas to be a priority.

RESOLVED,       that

                              (1)    the work and considerations of the Task and Finish Group be noted;

                              (2)    an allocation of £8,500 be approved for Carlisle and District Credit Union to enable the development and enhancement of the web site as detailed in the report;

                              (3)    it be noted that officers have agreed to progress other ideas discussed by the Task and Finish Group as listed in paragraph 4.7 of the report.

[Electoral Divisions: All Carlisle]

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

This report provides information for Local Committee on the delivery of the Money Advice Contract in the Carlisle area.

Members considered a report by the Chief Executive which provided information for Local Committee on the delivery of the Money Advice Contract in the Carlisle and district area.  The paper gave information on numbers/types of cases dealt with by Carlisle Citizens Advice Bureau for the last reporting period and feedback from client questionnaires from October 21010 to September 2011.

Ms Lesley-Anne Walsh and Mr B Parkinson of the Carlisle Citizens Advice Bureau were in attendance and spoke about the typical cases being dealt with by the debt surgery at Carlisle Citizens Advice Bureau.

The figures in the report for the numbers of clients by Ward with a new enquiry were discussed in particular levels in Upperby (2.68%) which were felt to be surprisingly low when compared with other areas eg Stanwix rural (2.34%).

The Chair thanked the representatives from the Carlisle Citizens Advice Bureau for attending and for the valuable work they were undertaking in providing money advice. He also passed his best wishes to their colleague who had recently been taken ill.

RESOLVED,       that the report be noted.

[Electoral Divisions: All Carlisle]

To consider a schedule by the Corporate Director – Children’s Services (copy enclosed).

A schedule of recommendations for local authority governor appointments to schools in Carlisle.   

The Committee considered a schedule of LEA vacancies on school governing bodies.

The Committee were also notified of a vacancy at Crosby on Eden Primary.

RESOLVED,       that the following appointments be made:-

                              School                                         Representative

                              Inglewood Junior School            Mr S Ruddick

                                                                                    44 Highwood Road

                                                                                    Harraby

                                                                                    Carlisle

[Electoral Divisions: All Carlisle]

The Area Support Manager will provide a verbal update on the current position.

The Assistant Director supporting the Local Committee and Area Support Manager gave a verbal update on the mechanisms being developed locally to take the Area Plan and Area Planning processes forward. This had included regular officer meetings, a recent seminar  and the introduction of regular dialogue sessions with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Local Committee.

The Seminar on 7 March to be held for Local Committee members would focus on developing the Area Plan for Carlisle.

A member proposed that a representative from the Committee’s Labour members also be involved in the dialogue sessions with the Chair and Vice-Chair,  who could also represent urban areas.

RESOLVED,       that the report be noted and a nomination be sought from the Committee’s Labour Members to be involved in the Area Plan dialogue sessions with the Chair, Vice-Chair and officers.

To note/discuss the Forward Plan of items for meetings of the Local Committee for Carlisle until July 2011 (copy enclosed).

The Committee noted the current Forward Plan of business for meetings of the Local Committee for Carlisle until July 2011.