Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

An apology for absence was received from Mr FI Morgan.

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.

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 declarations of interest made in any items on the agenda today.

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 of business on the agenda.

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

There were no question, petitions or statements to the committee on this occasion.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 November 2017 (copy enclosed)

RESOLVED that,     the minutes of the previous meeting held on Tuesday 14 November 2017 be agreed as a true and accurate record and signed by the Chair.

[Electoral Divisions: All Copeland]

To consider a report from the Corporate Director – Economy and Highways (copy enclosed)

This report presents the Highways Devolved Budget Finance report combined with the Highways Programme Progress report.

The Local Committee considered a report from the Corporate Director – Economy and Highways which presented the Highways Devolved Budget Finance report combined with the Highways Programme Progress report.

The appendices attached to the report provided details of budget allocations by project and expenditure, including progress to date as of the end of December 2017.

A number of virements were suggested  the details of which were contained within Appendix 2 of the report

Members were aware that there were issues with many roads throughout the district, and that the amount of work needing to be done far outweighed the budgets available.

RESOLVED that,

(1)       Local Committee note the revenue and capital budget allocations for 2017-18 and the commitments and expenditure recorded in Appendices 1 & 2;

(2)       Local Committee note the Highways Devolved Revenue budget, attached as Appendix 1, is currently projecting an overspend of £5000;

(3)       Members note the Highways Devolved Capital Budget, attached as Appendix 2, is currently projecting an overspend of approximately £19,257.

[Electoral Division: All]

To consider a report from the Corporate Director – Economy and Highways

This report contains provisional proposals for the Non-Principal Road Network (NPRN) Structural Maintenance, lighting and small scale improvements programme of works for 2018/19 based on forecast devolved capital funding allocation of £1,867,480.

Members had before them a report from the Corporate Director – Economy and Highways which contained provisional proposals for the Non-Principal Road Network (NPRN) Structural Maintenance, lighting and small scale improvements programme of works for 2018/19 based on forecast devolved capital funding allocation of £1,867,480.

The overall provisional NPRN Programme of Works for 2018/19 was set out in Appendix 1 of the report.  The programme of NPRN work, was intended to undertake carriageway patching, structural maintenance and surfacing work in the Copeland area to maximise the proportion of network improvements from available funding. 

Asset data, local knowledge, experience, use of the network, public (customer) demand and identifying all the factors that had influenced failure, had driven the priorities for this carriageway repair work.

The proposed list of surface dressing works within in Appendix 1 was to compliment and reinforce the minor structural and patching programme of 2017/18 by over-sealing the sections of road previously treated where appropriate.

The proposed list of drainage schemes within Appendix 1 had been identified on the basis of experience of repeat flooding, drainage failures and to compliment Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) work where highways issues were identified.

This list of priorities continued to address areas of concern and the resolution of these drainage problems would preserve the structural integrity of the highway.  Conveying water away improved safety, particularly in winter and reduced longer term maintenance costs.

The smaller scale improvement programme, Annual Package of Measures  (APM) aimed to improve both pedestrian and motorist  safety at various sites, target areas requiring improved road markings,  address traffic enforcement anomalies and improve access for those with limited mobility.

The Street Lighting programme was prioritised to areas relating to safety and efficiency including local knowledge, experience and customer demand.

The Highways Network Manager informed members that there was a potential budget reduction in the local committee allocations for Highways.

Members were disappointed to hear this.  They highlighted the existing funding was not sufficient to carry out the works required to keep the roads at an acceptable standard.  Members were concerned that by reducing the budget allocations this situation was only going to get worse.

Members would be interested to see the proposed budget reductions in other areas of the county.  The Highways Network Manager AGREED to try to obtain comparison figures (Action: KC).

Members felt that lobbying should be done for more money to support highways improvements in Copeland, particularly given the winter period experienced recently.  It was AGREED that the Chair would write to the Cabinet Member – Highways and Transport to lobby for more funding.. The Chair was also keen to establish given the proposed budget reduction what impact or risk assessments had been carried out to ensure the service was not adversely effected.

RESOLVED that,

(1)       the provisional devolved capital NPRN Programme of Works for 2018/19, as set out in Appendix 1 be approved for design and subsequent implementation subject to final funding approval in 2018/19

(2)       the Chair to write on behalf of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

[Electoral Divisions: All Copeland]

To consider a report from the Corporate Director – Economy and Highways (copy enclosed)

This report gives details of the outcome of the meeting of the Highways Working Group (HWG) held on 4 December 2017 and presents the HTWG recommendations to the Local Committee for approval.

The Committee received a report from the Corporate Director – Economy and Highways which gave details of the meeting of the Copeland Highways Working Group held on 4 December 2017 and presented recommendations to the Local Committee for approval:-

The Traffic Management Team Leader tabled an updated appendices for the Copeland Traffic Regulation Order, this was noted by members.

Members asked for further detail on the schemes at Homewood Road and Rothersyke, and why these had been put on hold.  They understood that funding allocated through the National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF)  for Homewood Road had to be spent by the end of this financial year and were concerned that Copeland had two major schemes which were ready to commence, on hold. 

The Highways Network Manager confirmed that a series of updates were provided to members regarding both of these schemes during the most recent Copeland Highways Working Group meeting.

The Chair had also raised this issue recently at the Highways Improvement Board, but had received little support for this.  Members were very concerned to hear this and they asked the Chair to write to the Cabinet Member – Highways and Transport to highlight the issue further.  The Chair would also raise this at the next Local Committee Chairs and Leadership meeting.  This was AGREED.

The Chair confirmed he had written to the Corporate Director – Economy and Highways regarding the Rothersyke scheme.

The Local Member for Egremont North and St Bees had attended a Parish Council meeting recently where the members commented that they had been very impressed with the professionalism of the Highways Staff whilst carrying out works on the pot holes in St Bees.  They asked that their thanks be passed on to those concerns.

(1) Minutes

RESOLVED that Copeland Local Committee note the minutes of the Highways Working Group held on 4 December and the recommendations.

(2) Copeland Traffic Regulation Order Review

RESOLVED that Local Committee AGREE the RECOMMENDATION of the HWG in relation to the Copeland Traffic Regulation Order:-

(i)        That, having taken into consideration the matters contained in Section 122(2) Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 which are more specifically referred to at paragraph 7.2 of the report attached as Appendix 2, “The County of Cumbria (Various Roads, Borough of Copeland) (Consolidation and Provision of Traffic Regulations) Order 20><” (“the Order” be brought into operation as advertised, EXCEPT THAT;

The proposed “No Waiting at Any Time” restrictions on Crossfield Road be reduced so that it will apply on the north-western side from a point at its junction with Leconfield Street, extending in a south-westerly direction for a distance of 20m, and on the south-easterly side from a point at its junction with Leconfield Street extending in a south-westerly direction for a distance of 11m, (a reduced distance of 9m), as shown on the revised plan attached as Appendix 3.

(3) Moresby Parks Road, Moresby Parks, Whitehaven

RESOLVED that Local Committee AGREE the RECOMMENDATION of the HWG in relation to the Moresby Parks  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

[Electoral Divisions: All Copeland]

To consider a report from the Corporate Director – Health, Care and Community Services (copy enclosed)

The Area Manager’s report brings together information across the Public Health and Community teams. This report provides Local Committee with an update on the work of the each service, identifies activity against agreed priorities, highlights current issues and provides an overview of the budget position.

The Local Committee considered a report from the Corporate Director – Health, Care and Community Services which brought together information across the Public Health and Community teams.  It also provided members with an update on the work of the each service, identified activity against agreed priorities, highlighted current issues and provided an overview of the budget position.

In relation to the Community grants a meeting of the Grants Panel was held on Wednesday 13 December 2017.  Members considered applications submitted since October 2017, and were reminded that any grant recommendation made by the panel, which exceeded £5,000, must come to the Local Committee for agreement.  Members recommended the following grants:

·      An allocation of £5,195 to Cumbria Youth Alliance First Steps to Employment Project to provide customised training opportunities to 25 NEET young people from Copeland aged 16 – 25 years old. Funding to be split as £2,597.50 from both the 0-19and General Provision budgets. This recommendation must be considered and agreed at Local Committee.

·      £1,200 to Copeland Libraries for pop up sensory area kits to enable autism friendly sessions and environments, and £800 for Raspberry Pi kits to extend sessions and provide kits for loan. Both grants were agreed from the 0-19 budget line. 

·      An allocation of £1,000 from the General Provision budget to Always Another Way CIC Ltd to support session costs for a mental health peer support group based in Whitehaven.

·      An allocation of £3,000 from the General Provision to enable to start- up of a ParkRun in Whitehaven

The Area Manager detailed proposals for possible community asset transfers, and explained that under the Property Disposal Policy community organisations may express an interest in County Council properties which were surplus to service requirements, and if approved may proceed to develop a Business Plan for the property and service.

In July 2016 Copeland Local Committee were presented with an expression of interest from Phoenix Youth Project (PYP) with respect to the Frizington Youth Centre.  The aim was to take over and maintain a dedicated youth space and develop the offer into a community centre.

The County Council property team supported PYP with a grant for survey work which was delayed and only recently completed.  A business plan had now been submitted and Local Committee was requested to make comment.

To progress the CAT PYP must demonstrate, in their business plan, that any transfer would support activities in the area and protect the facility for use by other groups. The plan must outline future opportunities that the transfer would bring by enhancing the use of the centre as a community facility and identify opportunities for using the facility to develop and provide new, innovative services.  If members were satisfied the business case could do that the next stage was to recommend the business plan be considered by Cabinet. 

The business plan requested that Local Committee consider grant funding to act as a starting point when applying for funding.  This was presented to the Grants Panel in December 2017 and deferred  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

[Electoral Divisions: All Copeland]

To consider a report from the Corporate Director – Health, Care and Community Services (copy enclosed)

This report provides Local Committee with a proposed Children and Young People’s Partnership for Copeland

The Area Manager presented a report from the Corporate Director – Health, Care and Community Services which provided members with a proposed Children and Young People’s Partnership for Copeland. 

In previous years a Children and Young People’s Working Group existed to bring together partners and agree allocation of a specific budget towards projects.

As every Member was a Corporate Parent for Looked after Children it was felt by the previous Children’s Champion that the work of the Children and Young People’s Working Group should be brought into Local Committee and the group was disbanded.  The Children’s Champion for Local Committee then gave verbal reports to Members on issues or brought forward information.

In order to highlight some key opportunities it was being proposed to establish a new group aligned to the terms of reference outlined in Appendix 1.  

As agreed at Local Committee in July 2017 all members of the committee were able to attend this group although its work would be reported back to full Local Committee and any grant recommendations would be brought back to Local Committee for agreement.

The development of a Children & Young People’s Partnership aligned to Local Committee and with the ability to recommend funding would have the ability to effect change and develop projects for the benefit of Copeland community.  

Members suggested changing the membership in the terms of reference from 8 to 4.  This was AGREED.

Membership was AGREED as follows:-

Chair of Copeland Local Committee (Mr K Hitchen)

Copeland Children’s Champion (Ms E Williamson)

Mr A Lamb

Mr A Wonnacott

All Copeland Local Committee members would receive the papers for the CYPP meetings, but would not be required to attend.

RESOLVED that,

(1)       Members approve the establishment of a Children and Young People’s Partnership – the membership to include Mr K Hitchen (Local Committee Chair), Ms E Williamson (Copeland Children’s Champion), Mr A Lamb and Mr A Wonnacott;

(2)       Members approve the terms of reference outlined in Appendix 1, with one amendment to the membership (reduced from 8 to 4);

(3)       Members approve the Children and Young People’s Partnership making grant funding recommendations to the grants panel against the Universal Services budget line. 

[Electoral Divisions: All Copeland]

To consider a report from the Corporate Director – Health, Care and Community Services (copy enclosed)

This report gives the background to the development of the locality Health and Wellbeing Forums and explains how they fit with the Cumbria Health and Wellbeing Board and the Public Health Alliance.

The report sets out the priorities for the Copeland area and describes the associated activity to date. It also advises on plans and ambitions going forward.

The Local Committee considered a report from the Corporate Director – Health, Care and Community Services which updated members on the development of the locality Health and Wellbeing Forums and explained how these fit with the Cumbria Health and Wellbeing Board and the Public Health Alliance.

In Cumbria the Health and Wellbeing Strategy set out the high-level, medium term priorities for the improvement of health and care in Cumbria. It acknowledged that only by working together could the health and wellbeing challenges faced be addressed.

The strategy therefore aimed to influence all services that have an impact on people’s health such as housing, environment, leisure, and education. It acknowledged that all stakeholders including the County Council, District Councils, Health partners, the third sector, the independent care sector, the private sector along with the communities and people of Cumbria, all had a role to play.

In Copeland, as in the other localities, the Health and Wellbeing Forum priorities were determined by using the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) alongside the Health and Wellbeing strategy as overall guidance and analysing the local determinates of health and demographics as well as taking into considering locality plans such as the Copeland Area Plan.

Partners in Copeland began championing health improvement some time before the Copeland Health and Wellbeing Forum was established. In 2012 a week of Health events across the district included walks; drop ins, Zumba sessions and workshops. The following year Public Health moved from the NHS into the County Council and in 2015 a locality structure was established to deliver the prevention agenda.

Copeland Health and Wellbeing Forum was chaired by Copeland Borough Council, advised and supported by the Public Health Locality Manager and enabled by all the partners, elected members and colleagues who attend, participate and support the promotion and activity.

The current priorities were healthy weight, alcohol awareness, mental health, older people – ageing well and addressing health inequalities. Although the Health Impact Assessment on the proposed new nuclear build at Moorside was also a priority it was currently on hold.

Along with Copeland Local Committee, the Copeland Health and Wellbeing Forum had supported focused activity funded predominately by Cumbria County Council Public Health Locality Funding. These activities included a Children’s Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyle Programme for all children in Copeland available in schools and childcare settings for children ages 4 -11 years. Parent/carer workshops were included as part of the programme plus Oral health promotion including tooth brushing packs and challenges.

Supporting older people and ageing well, was core activity for some of the Copeland Health and Wellbeing Forum partners. So additionality comes in the form of raising awareness of current and new activity in communities.  Much of the new activity had been delivered through libraries with Health Functional Fitness MOT events in Whitehaven, Egremont, Cleator Moor and Millom; blood pressure checks raising cardiovascular awareness and a full week of 9 events during Falls Prevention week in September.

RESOLVED that the report be received and noted.

[Electoral Divisions: All Copeland]

To consider a report from the Corporate Director – Resources and Transformation (copy enclosed)

A request has been received from the National Trust for Local Committee representation on the Partnership board of the Wasdale Visitor Management Project. 

This report invites Members to consider whether representation on this board will add value to the work of local committee.

The Local Committee considered a report from the Corporate Director – Health, Care and Community Services, which detailed a request received from the National Trust for Local Committee representation on the Partnership Board of the Wasdale Visitor Management Project. 

The report invited Members to consider whether representation on this board would add value to the work of local committee.

Working with a range of bodies to deliver improved outcomes for the people of Cumbria was an intrinsic part of how the County Council works. 

The Outside bodies to which Local Committee make appointments was agreed at the June 2017 Local Committee meeting.  A significant amount of highly effective and beneficial work took place on these outside bodies. This had led to improved outcomes being delivered at a local level with the development of many essential links and partnerships through these relationships.

In May 2012 Cabinet considered a report produced by a Scrutiny Task and Finish Group on a review of Outside Bodies. Cabinet agreed that representation on these bodies should include:-

·      those in which the County Council has a statutory duty to be involved;

·      essential to the work of the Council and delivery of its service areas;

·      to which Cabinet/elected Members are required to attend because of their specific role in the authority;

·      where the Outside body/County Council would derive a significant benefit from the engagement of a local Member.

·      In appointing to the outside body request as seen in Appendix 2, from the National Trust Local Committee need to have regard to the criteria for establishing whether Member representation is appropriate.

Members felt it was not appropriate for Copeland Local Committee to send a representative to this meeting.  However, they did feel it would be more appropriate for a member of the Lake District National Park Authority to attend, and would make this suggestion to the Partnership Board.

All members supported this approach.

RESOLVED that the Local Committee does not make an appointment to the Wasdale Visitor Management Projects Partnership Board in line with the recommendations from the report on Outside Bodies undertaken by Scrutiny Management Board.

[Electoral Divisions: All Copeland]

To consider a report from the Corporate Director – Resources and Transformation (copy enclosed)

This report provides an update on the Copeland Traineeship pilot for nineteen 16-24 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEETS). 

Members had before them a report from the Corporate Director – Resources and Transformation which explained that Copeland currently had almost three hundred 16 - 24 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEETS).  Without developing their skills and improving their ability to engage with local employers a major opportunity to influence and improve the prosperity of a vulnerable section of our local community was lost..

The report provided an update on the Copeland Traineeship pilot for nineteen 16-24 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEETS). 

The support from the Local Committee enabled the creation of a traineeship programme for 16 to 24 year olds in Copeland, which provided the opportunity for unemployed and vulnerable young people to gain the skills, work experience, qualifications and motivation to progress into an apprenticeship or employment at the end of the Traineeship.

The traineeship had a positive impact on the 19 young people engaged with 15 of the 19 progressing directly into either an Apprenticeship, employment or to College.

Community Learning & Skills (CLAS) worked closely with Inspira and DWP to identify and recruit 19 unemployed young people onto the Copeland Traineeship Programme.  The young people started in two cohorts, eight young people on programme one starting in January 2017 and eleven young people on programme two starting in March 2017.

The young people were from the following areas in Copeland:-

·         Whitehaven                        8

·         Cleator Moor           4

·         Egremont                3

·         Frizington                3

·         Holmrook                 1

Fifteen of the nineteen young people progressed directly into either employment (5); an apprenticeship (7); self-employment (1) or College (2).

Two of the young people were unable to work due to significant health issues and referrals were made to the Health And Wellbeing Coaches and/or relevant agencies for support.

Two young people remained unemployed, one of whom was looking for work.

The Learning and Skills team requested funding of £53,500 from Copeland Local Committee to deliver the targeted Traineeship programme.  The funding was used to:

·      Work with the Phoenix Youth Group, DWP and Inspira to market and promote opportunities to young people from target communities and engage with the NEET group.

·      Develop and provide work experience opportunities within the Council and with external employers.

·      Provide an Incentive payment for young people of £50 per Trainee per week

·      Provide travel costs for trainees.

·      Enhance the programme with specific industry specific training, not fundable through the ESFA, to support the employability of the young people engaged on the programme eg CSC cards.

·      Funding the cost of the qualifications and training for the two young people who were not fundable through the ESFA contract.

·      Provision of a mentor to work with the young people.

·      Engage with employers to identify future opportunities for young people at the end of the programme – an apprenticeship, College or a job

·      Personal development and team building to increase confidence and develop social skills.

·       Support provision for job search, interview preparation and application skills for the Trainees.

The grant awarded by Local Committee was spent on:

·      Programme  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

To receive the draft minutes from the Local Committee Chairs and Leadership meeting held on 10 November 2017 (copy enclosed)

RESOLVED that,     the minutes of the Local Committee Chairs and Leadership meeting held on 10 November 2017 be received and noted.

[Electoral Divisions: All Copeland]

To consider a report from the Corporate Director – Health, Care and Community Services (copy enclosed)

This report seeks nominations for LA Governors of nursery, primary and secondary schools

RESOLVED that the report of a vacancy be received and noted.

To receive an update from the Copeland Children’s Champion

The Children’s Champion updated members on a CICC meeting she had attended recently on behalf of the local committee where the Fostering Team had given a very interesting presentation.  She reminded all members that they were Corporate Parents to all of the County Council’s Looked After Children.

If time was permitting she would like to show members a video from Haltwhistle Arts called Listen to Me.  This was AGREED.

Mr Whiteside had been asked by the Head of Communications and Engagement, NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group to pass on information to members that the CCG was going through market testing ahead of a contract renewal around the Fellview practice.

It was a process they had to go through to move the contract onto a new footing (the current contract had been extended  as much as it possibly could). It was not anticipated that this would create  any issues.

It would be described as the Copeland Practice, as Fellview was the name of the contract holder. This was just an early stage in the process, and one that we have to follow.

If members wanted any further information on this the Head of Communications would be happy to ask someone from the primary care team to  provide more detail.

The Chair thanked Mr Whiteside for the information.

To discuss any relevant nuclear issues

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Property updated members on Nuclear Issues, including the following:-

The NDA had launched its latest 3 year business plan consultation for 2018 - 2021 with a closing date of 4 February 2018.  They were seeking views from local authorities, regulators, site stakeholder groups and members of the public on the key activities and expected progress for all 17 of their sites over the next 3 years.

The NDA would go through significant changes over the next 3 years and the Plan therefore also outlined expected income and expenditure for the coming financial year.  In order to deliver this change it identified how it planned to review its contracting, and also standardise and simplify many of its processes as well as increase insight and governance on the progress being made at each site.

The UK Government’s 2014 White Paper, “Implementing Geological Disposal” established NDA’s role as the implementer in a consent-based process to develop a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for the UK’s higher activity radioactive waste.  In 2014, NDA established Radioactive Waste Management Limited (RWM) as its delivery body for a GDF.

The White Paper set out a programme of three initial actions to be completed before the siting process could begin (National Geological Screening led by RWM and two BEIS-led actions). These initial actions were now close to completion and the current planning assumption was that the GDF Siting Process would be launched in June 2018.

The Korean Electric Power Corporation (Kepco), - South Korean state energy firm – was recently announced as the preferred buyer for NuGen although the sale was not yet completed.

Kepco would provide its own reactor technology – the APR1400 – which would need regulatory approval. NuGen’s working assumption was that two reactors would be built at Moorside with a maximum output of 2.8GW.

NuGen’s indicative programme suggested that a DCO application would be submitted in early 2021, with a final investment decision in early 2023 and generation starting in 2029.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for his update.

The next meeting will be held on 27 March 2018 at Cleator Moor Civic Hall and Masonic Centre at 10.15am.

The next meeting will be held on 27 March 2018 at Cleator Moor Civic Hall at 10.15am.