Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted for Councillor Johnson and the Director of Resources.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 11 December 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To receive declarations by Councillors of disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests, other registerable interests and any other interests in respect of items on the agenda.

No Declarations of Interest were received.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any items of business on the agenda.

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

To consider a report by the Community Development Officer.

Members received a report which set out the current position of the Neighbourhood Investment Fund allocation to the Fells and Solway Community Panel as agreed by the Cumberland Council Executive.

The Community Development Officer tabled an amended Appendix 1 – Neighbourhood Investment Fund Summary with up to date figures at the meeting.

The Community Development Officer provided members with an overview of three current investment applications which required approval by the panel.

The North Allerdale Development Trust (NADT) were applying for funding to facilitate two youth groups: The Silloth Friday Night Project and Kirkbride Youth Group; Chrysalis (Cumbria) Ltd were applying for funding towards expanding their outreach and holiday provision activities at weekends and evenings and new IT equipment to support that; for improvement works to Jubilee Walk in Aspatria a joint team were applying for funding to install a soak away and for resurfacing.

Following consideration members unanimously agreed to all three applications.

The report also set out for information all approved investments not exceeding £1,500 that had been authorised by the Senior Manager, panel Chair and relevant local Member and details on additional investment within the panel area.

Members were presented with a draft Neighbourhood Investment Plan (NIP) for consideration and adoption. The NIP set out the framework around Community Panels and the Community Network together with the panel’s agreed priorities. The first version identified some activity already to be taken however the Plan was to be a live, working document to reflect ongoing conversations with the communities and stakeholders.

The panel held a discussion around where to focus attention going forward and what actions could be included in the NIP to help achieve the agreed priorities.

From the discussion the following actions were agreed -

- Community resilience - the Community Development Officer to begin a mapping exercise prioritising areas across the Fells and Solway Panel area where we feel we could help.

It was agreed to make contact with Wigton Town Council and discuss the work they had previously carried out on emergency response groups.

- Supporting community facilities and activities – the Community Development Officer to map out public assets, identifying what was working well and not so well.

- Wigton Town Borderlands Place Programme – report on progress of the funding programme and work with the Town Investment Plan.

With regards to the panel’s agreed priorities the members had a discussion about the wording of the priority – Highways and Transport Issues feeling it wasn’t quite capturing their intended focus.

One member felt that ‘Environment’ should also be included in that priority to change emphasis to include green issues rather than Highways. Other members felt strongly that Highways should remain as that was what they received the most complaints about from residents.

It was also suggested that the word ‘Issues’ be removed as the work was to be seen as pro-active not just reactive to raised issues.

Following discussion all members agreed that the third priority be re-worded to ‘Highways, Transport and Environment’.

Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

To consider a report by the Senior Manager – Community Services

Members received a detailed report which provided an update on recent activity within the Fells and Solway Community Panel area over the last quarter period.

In presenting the report the Area Planning Manager advised members on progress with recruitment of co-opted members to the panel. Advertisement for the positions had closed on 29 February with a great response received. Shortlisting of applications was due to take place with member involvement W/c 18 March with final appointment(s) to be made at the June panel meeting. It was confirmed that those decisions would be taken at the start of the June meeting allowing any successful candidates to participate in the remaining items of business.

The Community Development Officer, Active Cumbria was present at the meeting and provided a brief update on recent activity carried out or scheduled to happen in the Fells and Solway area.

Members were encouraged to join the ‘Ramblers Wellbeing Walks’, a good network opportunity with groups and communities.

The panel noted a summary on the workings of the Local Focus Hub. During discussion members considered the benefits of inviting officers from the Hub to attend a future meeting of the panel. As one of the priorities of the panel was ‘Community safety and rural crime’ one suggestion instead was to plan a Network Event, with support from the Hub partner agencies, later on in the year. Members welcomed the idea and it was agreed for the Community Development Officer to make contact with the Local Focus Hub Manager.

RESOLVED that -

1.    The report be noted;

2.    A Network Event be developed around the ‘Community Safety and rural crime’ priority to be held later in the year.

Chair to provide an update from the Board meeting held on 30 January 2024.

The Highways Network Manager provided the Panel with an update for the items considered at the previous Highways and Transport Strategic Board, covering in particular the Capital Programme Update and the Highways Funding Allocation for 2024-25.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Highways and Transport Strategic Board meeting held on 30 January 2024 be noted.

The Highways Network Manager provided an update to the panel on upcoming works and schemes in the Fells and Solway area, for some where possible providing intended timescales and allocation.

The panel thanked the officer for attending to present the information.

RESOLVED that the update be noted.

To note the proposed future dates for meetings of the Fells and Solway Community Panel, to be approved by Cumberland Council at the Annual Meeting on 15 May 2024.

RESOLVED that the suggested future meeting dates for Fells and Solway Panel be noted. Final dates to be confirmed at the Annual Meeting of Cumberland Council on 15 May 2024.