Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councill J Forster, Co-Opted Member G Anderson and Tamsin Beattie (Community Development Officer).

To receive declarations from members of any disclosable pecuniary interest, personal interests, other registrable interest or 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 item on the agenda.

RESOLVED that the press and public not be excluded from the meeting for any items of business on this occasion.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 12 December 2024.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as a true and accurate record of the meeting held on 12 December 2024.

To receive an update from the Copeland Citizens Advice Chief Officer.

With permission from the Chair, the Citizens Advice Update was moved up the agenda from item 6 to item 5.

The Copeland Citizens Advice Chief Officer provided the Panel with a presentation and update on the work being undertaken by Citizens Advice within the Community Panel ward area. She highlighted that Citizens Advice provided free independent and confidential advice to all within the community, on a variety of issues though the main issues were debt, benefits, employment and housing. The Copeland Citizens Advice Chief Officer also noted that Citizens Advice were trying to do more within the community, to increase engagement, provide volunteer opportunities, enhance awareness and access and address the connected issues within problems brought to them. She also highlighted a new project to support Sellafield staff that focused on the links between finance and mental health, which might eventually be rolled out to the rest of the community. The Copeland Citizens Advice Chief Officer agreed to provide the presentation electronically after the meeting.

Members queried if changes were seen in how Citizens Advice was accessed following changes to benefits and Covid. The Copeland Citizens Advice Chief Officer explained that they always saw an increase in need for specialist advice following any Government changes to benefits and even Martin Lewis shows. She also noted that, following Covid, the number of telephone advice calls received had increased which some preferred, but that there was still the option for face to face opportunities which helped when completing complex forms.

Members discussed ways to promote the work the Citizens Advice provide, such as through social media, videos and the warm hubs. The Copeland Citizens Advice Chief Officer noted how important it was to sign post the work that Citizens Advice does, which was shared through a quarterly newsletter, social media and attendance at residents groups, open days and that they were aiming to be present at the Community Hubs when they were up and running.

A Member asked for clarification on the Sellafield project which the Copeland Citizens Advice Chief Officer explained was a project to deliver session to Sellafield employees on the impact on debt on mental health and the link between the two following the pandemic and the cost of living crisis. She noted that Citizens Advice was part of a group of five organisations working to deliver this project and hoped the first session would be delivered in May 2025.

A Member noted the importance of employees offering support, as well as Councillors, not being overlooked regarding needing trauma informed response support. The Copeland Citizens Advice Chief Officer agreed that it was important to ensure that staff wellbeing was being considered, especially as staff could relate more to service users now.

A Member queried if there was a wait for appointments and what work was being done with young people regarding finance topics such as pensions and credit cards. The Copeland Citizens Advice Chief Officer explained that Citizens Advice tried not to book appointments too far in advance to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

To note the minutes of the Highways and Transport Strategic Board meeting held on 29 January 2025.

The Local Area Network Manager provided the panel with an overview of the minutes of the Highways and Transport Strategic Board meeting on 29 January 2025.

Documents of interest contained within the agenda pack for the HTSB meeting were highlighted for members attention namely:

• Health and Safety Update – verbal update
• Capital Projects – page 23-36
• Bus Services Improvements Plan Funding – page 37-50
• Cumberland Parking Services Annual Report 2023/24 - pages 51-84
• Highways and Transport 3-Year Works Programme 2025 to 2027 - pages 85-108

A Member queried how much it would cost to place a zebra crossing outside of a school, which the Local Area Network Manager commented would cost around £25-30,000 to put in place. However, he noted that the estimated amount did not account for the longer-term maintenance liability for the authority and electricity costs. But the Local Area Network Manager would ask for a crossing assessment to be carried out for the location.

Members discussed the need for a strategic joint approach to planning by Cumberland Council to ensure that the appropriate infrastructures were put in place for the community alongside the housing estates and that there was visibility on how the Cumberland Plan would help with ongoing issues such as parking.

A Member requested clarification on when the yellow lines as part of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for Bransty would be done, for an additional sign to be added for pedestrians at eye level regarding the road works on Tangier Street and clarification on the Earls Road work mentioned within the 3-Year Works Programme. The Local Area Network Manager clarified that work for Earls Road was to create a new surface, on top of the patching work recently done, and that the Bransty TRO would be implemented soon as part of a large package of works in the area. He also noted the request for an additional sign on Tangier Street.

Members discussed potential options for ensuring that new yellow lines were enforced and who to contact. The Local Area Network Manager noted that the Parking Enforcement Manager and the Highways team were the correct contacts regarding enforcement. He agreed to help arrange for areas noted by the Panel to be targeted by enforcement, with a meeting to be held online to discuss the specifics. He also commented that the grace period for when enforcement could issue tickets following yellow lines being installed would need to be confirmed before potential pre-warning notices could be issued.

A Member noted a previous concern regarding yellow lines at the bottom end of Rutland Avenue was still outstanding and the Local Area Network Manager agreed to follow up on the issue.

A Member raised a petition which had been received from residents of Low Moresby regarding traffic issues, noting that it was a historic issue and that they would also raise the issue at the next Highways and Transport Strategic Board meeting. The Local Area Network Manager noted that the Highways and Transport Strategic Board was the appropriate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

To consider a report by the Area Planning Manager.

The Area Planning Manager provided an overview of the Cumberland wide key points within the

Community Panel Update which included updates on; the most recent network events, library services, Active Cumbria, Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRC), 10p swims for Cumberland children, the Early Interventions team, the Home Adaptions and Assistance Policy consultation and Partnership meetings for the Thriving Communities Partnership, the Children and Young People Partnership and the Refugee Locality Group.

The Panel agreed with the appointment of the two co-opted member candidates, with the recruitment and induction processes noted, and permission granted for officers to use the co-opted member’s personal contact information until council issues email address could be provided following the induction process.

The Panel thanked officers for the events that had been held within the Panel area and commended their work on making the events a success.

A Member queried whether the 10p swims finance extended to include travel costs and the Area Planning Manager agreed to follow up with the team involved and report back.

Members discussed apprenticeship opportunities within the Council and learning sessions for care experience young people, as well as the Business and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish Group which reviewed recruitment within the Council, and the need for improved promotion on all opportunities available within the Council. The Area Planning Manager agreed to send Members a copy of the Dream Placement presentation and highlighted the work done by the apprenticeship team within the Council.

A Member noted communication from a local resident regarding sessions being held by Eagle Labs, which the Area Planning Manager agreed to send the Members the dates of and calendar invites for the sessions.

Members discussed ways to improve publicity of the work done by both the Community Panels and the Council, which included creating videos and offering the opportunity for funding an organisation to undertake the project, as well as issues surrounding engagement with press releases.

Members considered potential briefings on Cumberland’s assets and housing, both added to Councillor Briefings with a presentation and question and answering session and as part of the Panel’s monthly informal catch-ups.

A Member requested further information regarding issues previously raised in Mirehouse and Eskdale Avenue. The Assistant Chief Executive and Area Planning Manager agreed to follow up and provide an answer on the respective issues when they were available.

RESOLVED – that the Whitehaven and Coastal Community Panel,

a)    Noted the contents of the report.

b)    Agreed and formally invited the following Co-opted Member candidates to join the Whitehaven & Coastal Community Panel from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026:

                                                    i.     Nicholas Graham

                                                   ii.     Louise Pattinson

c)     Requested the Area Planning Manger provided;

                                                    i.     Further information on 10p swims finances and travel costs

                                                   ii.     The presentation from Dream Placement

                                                 iii.     The dates of and calendar invites for the Eagle Lab sessions

                                                 iv.     An answer regarding the Eskdale Avenue issue when available

d)    Requested the Assistant Chief Executive provided an answer regarding the Mirehouse issue when available.

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 this Community Panel as agreed by the Cumberland Council Executive. The Area Planning Manger informed the Panel that there were 5 Community Investment Applications for either approval, disapproval, or deferment.

Members requested and agreed that the investment of £4,989 to Copeland Citizens Advice be increased by the remaining Community Panel budget allocation of £30 to £5,019.

The Area Planning Manager noted that an addition to the report included updated on projects which had previously received investments from the Panel. Members requested that the process be reviewed to include both the formal and legal requirements but also more detailed information to bring the project to life, show lessons learned and promote the opportunities available through the Panel.

Members discussed possible options to promote the Panel including videos, Councillor project visits and feedback, and having the Community Network Events work alongside exiting community events.

A Member requested further engagement with young people and the Area Planning Manager agreed to share ideas from the Workington Together Community Panel’s co-opted young person as part of that engagement.

The Area Planning Manager commented that the Neighbourhood Investment Plan had become a larger cross-departmental piece of work, so had been removed from the agenda, until further work was able to be completed.

RESOLVED – that the Whitehaven and Coastal Community Panel,

a)    Noted the contents of the report.

b)    Agreed an investment (CGA/2245-25) of £4,000 to Rosehill Arts Trust towards the FLOW project, a creative, person centred programme of support aimed at improving the mental wellbeing of young care leavers and parents of SEND children.

c)     Agreed an investment (CGA/2264-25) of £5,019 to Copeland Citizens Advice towards expanding their volunteer recruitment and training and their community outreach support offer.

d)    Agreed an investment (CGA/2272-25) of £3,572 to Moor Row Money Angels towards a new community garden and outdoor reading space for the whole community to use.

e)    Agreed an investment (CGA/2273-25) of £5,312 to South Whitehaven Youth Partnership towards their young people’s ‘Wish List’ of things they wish to have or improve in the Mirehouse and St Peters clubs and for their parent & toddler groups.

f)      Agreed an investment (CGA/2275-25) of £2,500 to Rosehill Youth Theatre & The Solway Hall towards the continuation of their programme to support new volunteers who have learning disabilities and differences, to gain new skills and improve self-confidence.

The next scheduled meeting of the Whitehaven and Coastal Community Panel will take place on 17 June 2025 and the venue to be confirmed.

Members noted the difficulty of finding a venue for the currently scheduled meetings and agreed to send the Democratic Services Officer (Scrutiny) a list of alternative venues that may be available within the panel area and potentially review the Panel’s future meetings dates if venues continued to be unavailable.

RESOLVED – that the Whitehaven and Coastal Community Panel,

a)    Noted the date and venue of the next scheduled meeting of the Whitehaven and Coastal Community Panel be at 6pm on 17 June 2025 at The Beacon Portal.

b)    Provided the Democratic Services Officer (Scrutiny) with a list of alternative venues within the Community Panel area.