Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Mr N Hughes and Mr D Whipp

There were no Disclosures of Interest made at the meeting.

RESOLVED        that, the press and public not be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any items of business on the Agenda.

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

There was no Public Participation at the meeting

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Local Committee held on 27 May 2022

Corrections:

Page 11, Minute 9, 3^rd paragraph. Last part of the sentence to read ‘response to a repair request at’

Page 11, Minute 9, paragraph 4, second line and resolution 4. A member noted that although minuted correctly, this had been reported incorrectly at the meeting so 4.15 should read 4.5.

Page 12, 2^nd paragraph, correct the spelling of Hawesend to Hawse End.

RESOLVED,   that subject to the corrections above, the minutes of the meeting held on 27 May 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

[Electoral Divisions: All Eden]

To consider a report from the Assistant Director - Customer and Community Services

This report provides Local Committee with an update on the work of each area, identified activity against priorities, highlights current issues and provides an overview of the budget position

A report was considered from the Assistant Director - Customer and Community Services regarding Area Planning in Eden. The report brought together information from across the community teams including Community Development and Services as well as Public Health. The report gave an update on each area, identified activity against priorities, highlighted current issues and provided an overview of the budget position.

The Area Manager presented the report. He advised that following discussions with the Chair, the budget appendices had been streamlined, in line with other Local Committees’ budget reporting arrangements. Members could request information outside of the meeting if required.

Members’ attention was drawn to the additional funding for the cost of living crisis. They were appraised of the amounts identified for the local urgent food supply network and to enable community organisations to distribute money to local households in need of support. £10,000 would be distributed to support Eden’s foodbanks and proposals for the remaining funding would be brought to a future meeting. The Team was identifying organisations who distributed cash and vouchers to the community and they would receive £14,400. There were grants for 5 charities.

The Area Manager highlighted the recommendation to support the Inspiring Eden Enterprise Hub. Members had discussed this at a workshop and were being asked to make a formal decision on the matter.

The Chair gave an account of his involvement with the successful Dragons Apprentice Challenge. He had attended the award ceremony on behalf of the Local Committee who had part funded the challenge.

The Chair talked about the Inspiring Eden Enterprise Hub. He explained how it formed the basis of Eden’s Levelling Up Fund bid and, if successful, would attract over £7m of funding. He suggested that members following the workshop  were happy to support it with 2 provisos. Firstly, that assurances were given that the programme considered and supported the current growth in Penrith Town and linked in with other projects such as Borderlands Plan and the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. Secondly, there should be significant consultation with stakeholders in order to shape the area for the future. Members considered the 2 provisos to be fundamental to supporting the Hub and should be outlined in a letter of support.

A member who was supportive in principle of the Hub expressed her concerns. The first related to the significant amount of work spearheaded by the County Council in partnership with other organisations and was now on the verge of delivery. She suggested that the letter of support should include the words that the Hub should ‘reflect upon and support’ all of the work about to be delivered. She considered stakeholder engagement to be key.

In support of the above, another member referred to local residents talking about 111 expressions of interest to the Inspiring Eden programme. She thought that people should know about the town projects and how they would fit in to current County Council and partnership projects going forward. She asked for more understanding of the 111  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

[Electoral Divisions: All]

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

This report presents the Highways Revenue, Devolved Capital and Non-Devolved Capital Budget outturn information, as detailed in the appendices attached to the report.

A report was considered from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure regarding the 2021/22 Highways Budget/Programme Outturn. The report presented the Highways Revenue, Devolved Capital and Non-Devolved Capital Budget outturn information, as detailed in the appendices attached to the report.

The Local Area Network Manager – Eden presented the report. He advised that the budget outturn for all schemes were included as appendices to the report. He drew members’ attention to the overspend in the Revenue and Capital budgets. He explained that although there had been issues during the COVID pandemic, such as sourcing materials and staff working from home, the budgets were in a good position. It was noted that the Environment Fund Schemes had been completed, which included Beacon Edge. He would make enquiries about barriers left at Beacon Edge after a member asked if they should still be there.

Members congratulated the Local Area Network Manager – Eden on the budget position given the difficult circumstances of the past year.

The Chair stated that the MASCG had commented on the excellent work of the Highways team and asked that the team be congratulated.

The Chair put the recommendation, as set out in the report, to the Committee. This was agreed by assent.

RESOLVED that, the report be noted.

Mrs Bell commented on the excellent work of the Guilford Centre as it was going from strength to strength whilst the number of referrals continued to increase. The condition of the building was poor but the team was excellent.

Mr Dew reported on the 27 June 2022 and 25 July 2022 MASCG meetings. The MASCG had also met every day during Appleby Fair. He reported that the MASCG had come under some criticism but considered this to be unfair as officers’ work and diligence was exemplary. He thought that the Police and other agencies had performed well.

The MASCG had employed consultants to look at the feasibility of Appleby Fair becoming a ticketed event and also the addition of temporary stopping places. A number of members commented on the feasibility of the Fair becoming a ticketed event with a few supporting the idea of temporary stopping places.

Mr Dew was pleased to advise that Jubilee celebrations that had taken place at the same time as the Fair had not been affected by it. This had been confirmed by Parish Council Chairs.

Mr Dew talked about Appleby Fair Communities Group advocating the use of Parish Polls. If these went ahead, he thought they would be costly.

Mr Dew gave a short briefing on the business conducted at the Holehird Trust meeting held on 14 June 2022. This included the future of the Holehird Mansion and the award of grants in the Westmorland area.

Mr Dew had attended the opening of the Shap Play Area on 20 July 2022. This had been part funded by the Local Committee. He thought the Play Area was a credit to the people of Shap and asked members to visit it if they were in the area.

The next meeting will be held on 23 September 2022 at 10.30am at the LEP, Penrith

The next meeting would be held on 23 September 2022 at 10.30am at the LEP, Penrith.