Meeting documents

To receive any apologies for absence

All of the above members and officers were present at the meeting.  Apologies for absence were received from Mr M Hawkins, Mr D Southward and Mr D Wilson.

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).   

Mr G Roberts declared a non pecuniary interest in Agenda Item No 7 – Sellafield Transport Plan as a member of Whitehaven Town Council.

Mr F Morgan declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda Item No 10 – Area Planning Report – as a Board Member of Phoenix Enterprise Centre.

Mr A Lamb declared a personal interest in Agenda Item No 11 – Copeland Champions Update - as an employee of North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.

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.

There are no public questions, statements or petitions to be considered at this meeting.

There were no questions, petitions or statements to be considered at the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Local Committee held on 18 January 2021 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED,that the minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2021 be agreed as an accurate record of the meeting.

To receive a report by the Executive Director – People (copy to follow).

The Senior Manager, Children and Young People gave a Children Looked After (CLA) presentation to members.

The presentation outlined the number of children looked after in Copeland and the trend and placement of these children.  The Senior Manager highlighted the number of foster carers in Cumbria, identifying 11% of foster carers were in the Copeland district and welcomed questions from members.

In answer to a question on whether school attendance for looked after/vulnerable children had been higher in the third lockdown period compared to the first one, the Senior Manager advised that attendance was lower this time round for a variety of reasons, shielding and isolating being the main ones.

The discussion led on to the Government announcement for "summer" schools and initiatives to put extra support in place for children to catch up on their education.  It was agreed that the initiatives should focus on families, fun, fitness and food, not just education.

Following a member’s question, the Senior Manager confirmed that social worker vacancies continued to be an issue, although a successful bid for DfE funding had been made and eight social workers had been appointed to work in Cumbrian schools (five in the west of the county).  Members highlighted the need to continue to push for appropriate levels of staffing.

The Chair thanked the Senior Manager for her informative presentation.

To receive a report by the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure (copy enclosed).

This reportis to share information about the recently submitted Sellafield Travel Plan and to consider the proposed response from the Council.

Members received a report and presentation from the Programme Lead - Infrastructure Planning, the purposes of which was to share information about the recently submitted Sellafield Travel Plan and were asked to consider the proposed response from the Council which was appended to the report

.

Members noted the travel plan described the company’s approach to the transport and movement of people, goods and materials in West Cumbria; seeking to establish transport and travel planning principles that can guide future planning applications submitted by Sellafield Limited.  The officer highlighted that the plan also raised opportunities to work with the Council to develop transport infrastructure improvements within West Cumbria.

The discussion that followed centred around the locations of proposed bus stops/shelters, the introduction of electric charging points in the district, improvements needed in the cycling and walking infrastructure plans, the need for future monitoring of the projects and the use of "rat runs" and unsuitable parking causing issues in some areas.  Concerns were raised about the application of the Plan.  The Programme Lead -  Infrastructure Planning agreed to include issues raised in the proposed response to the Travel Plan.  It was recognised that this was a key opportunity for the County Council to undertake joint partnership working with Sellafield, Highways England and the Borough Council to develop transport infrastructure improvements within West Cumbria.

RESOLVED, that

(1)  the contents of the Travel Plan be noted;

(2)  the proposed County Council response to the Travel Plan, to include suggested changes, be endorsed.

[Electoral Divisions: All Copeland]

To consider a report by the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure (copy enclosed).

This report presents the Highways Devolved Budget Finance figures and includes an update on the Highways Revenue and Capital Programme for Copeland.

Members received a report presenting the Highways Devolved Budget Finance figures and included an update on the Highways Revenue and Capital Programme for Copeland, details of which were contained within the appendices to the report.

RESOLVED,that

(1)  the devolved revenue and capital budget allocations for 2020/21 and the commitment and expenditure recorded in the appendices to the report be agreed and kept under review;

(2)  the Highways Revenue budget, currently forecasting a £4,045 overspend, be noted;

(3)  the Highways Devolved Capital Budget, currently forecasting a £17,165 underspend, be noted.

[Electoral Divisions: All Copeland]

To consider a report by the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure (copy enclosed).

This report gives details of the outcome of the meeting of the Copeland Highways Working Group (HWG) held on the 10^th February 2021 and recommends that the Local Committee notes the Minutes of that meeting.

Members received a report giving details of the outcome of the meeting of the Copeland Highways Working Group held on 10 February 2021.  The minutes of the Working Group were appended to the report.

Further to Minute 65, the Local Area Network Manager informed the Committee that a member of the Development Management Team would be invited to attend Copeland Highways Working Group meetings to allow members to have the opportunity to look in detail at upcoming planning applications and any responses relevant to them.  This was welcomed by members.

Further to Minute 66, the Local Area Network Manager informed members that discussions had taken place with Highways England on the re-establishment of the A595 Working Group and a meeting between members and Highways England was being arranged.  

Members were informed that the draft highways works priority list for 2021/22 was in the process of being reviewed following confirmation of the 2021/22 budget and a future report would be brought to either the Copeland Highways Working Group or Local Committee outlining any proposed changes on the agreed works programme.  The Local Area Network Manager agreed to liaise with the Local Member for Cleator Moor West on the impacts of the budget cuts made to highways funding.

RESOLVED,that the minutes of the meeting of the Copeland Highways Working Group held on 10 February 2021 be noted.

[Electoral Divisions: All Copeland]

To consider a report by the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services (copy enclosed).

This report provides Local Committee with an update of activity undertaken by the Communities Team since its last meeting.  It is also to advise Members on their current budget position.  This report makes reference to the ongoing COVID 19 Response and recovery activities.

Members received a report from the Area Manager with an update of activity undertaken by the Communities Team since the last meeting of the Local Committee.  Members were also advised on their current budget position.  The report made reference to the current Covid 19 response and recovery activities.

The Area Manager outlined the work of the Community Resilience Group and emerging work on Thriving Communities.  Members noted that the draft Covid 19 Recovery Strategy for Cumbria was out for consultation.  A summary of the local committee budget was appended to the report and members were provided with an update on the Covid Winter Grant Scheme, specifically to support groups and organisations involved in projects and initiatives that benefit adults vulnerable to Covid or where their vulnerability has increased because of Covid.  It was noted that all the funding had now been allocated and, as the total requested exceeded the allocation, top up funding had been received from Ways to Welfare.  A table was included in the report on agreed spending and earmarked allocations.  An update on the Contain Outbreak Mitigation Fund (COMF) was outlined at the meeting.

The Area Manager updated members on the Digital Poverty gap in Copeland.  The funding and matched funding had gone directly to schools across Copeland and had enabled 265 children to be given digital tablets in order to fully engage in their school work.  It was noted that this was on top of the work of the Well Project and Sellafield Ltd who had distributed a significant number of recycled laptops to local schools.

Members were requested to agree a recommendation to allocate £17,500 from the 0-19 Universal budget to Shackles Off Youth and Community Project for the Millom Youthwork Pilot Project and asked whether to de-commit an allocation of £960 from general provision following cancellation of the virtual dementia bus tour or to retain the allocation and re-invite the bus at a later date.  Members supported the retention of the allocation.

An update on the predicted shortfall of the budget provision for the costs of school crossing patrols was given at the meeting and members would be informed of the actual figure at the next Local Committee meeting. 

The Area Manager advised on the allocation of £200k to each Local Committee from the Environment Fund 2020/21 to support environment projects.  A further report on this would be given to a future meeting of the Committee.  Members discussed the possibility of introducing electric car charging points and introducing/improving cycle routes and footpaths around the district, specifically highlighting the need for an easier, safer route between the hospital and Cleator Moor.  

The Area Manager updated members on Town Deals, Libraries and Archive services.  Members noted that libraries would reopen on 12 April but it was unclear at the present time when the Archive Service would reopen.  The Public Health Locality Manager gave a detailed update on public health issues which included a Covid 19 update, a New Every Mind Matters campaign and an opportunity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

To receive updates from the following Copeland Champions:-

Armed Forces Champion

Autism Champion

Children’s Champion

Dementia Champion

Fire Champion

Health Champion

Dementia Champion

The Dementia Champion updated members on a variety of issues including Partners delivering services for those living with dementia online with additional telephone calls, unpaid/family carers now being included in Priority 6 vaccination group (as long as they have registered with their GP to be identified as a carer) and how attempts were being made to contact newly diagnosed dementia patients and their families.  It was recognised that, with Dementia Action Week scheduled for 17-23 May, it would potentially be a good time to run a campaign to promote what support was available.  To conclude, the Dementia Champion outlined All Dementia Friends Information Sessions for the public that were being delivered.

Health Champion

The Health Champion informed the Committee on new developments proposed for West Cumberland Hospital and signposted a virtual event, organised by the North Cumbria Integrated Care, on the next stages of that development.  It was suggested that a member of the Trust be invited to a future meeting of the Local Committee to give an update on this.

The Health Champion thanked the Director of Public Health and team on the fantastic work undertaken during the pandemic and highlighted long lasting impacts arising from Covid 19.

The Local Member for Cleator Moor West paid tribute to the Fire Service for tackling the large wild fire near the Cogra Moss area.

To receive a verbal update from members serving on any outside bodies/external committees they attend on behalf of Copeland Local Committee.

There were no verbal updates given at the meeting.

To discuss any relevant nuclear issues.

Further to Minute 58 of the last meeting, the Chair confirmed that a referral had been made to Cabinet regarding representation on the RWM Working Group.  The Chair would present the referral to Cabinet at their meeting on 18 March.    It was acknowledged that the motion passed at Council on this issue was not binding and the decision to appoint or refer the appointment to the Local Committee would be made by Cabinet.

The Area Manager agreed to follow up on the letter sent to RWM to confirm the Committee’s interest to engage directly with the Independent Chair and other members of the RWM Working Group.

To note that the next meeting of Copeland Local Committee will be held on 25 May at 10.15 am.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Local Committee will be held on 25 May 2021 at 10.15 am.