Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Assouad and Murphy.

To receive declarations of interest by members of any interests on respect of items on this agenda, and to consider any dispensations.

Members may however, also decide, in the interests of clarity and transparency, to declare at this point in the meeting, any such disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, as well as any other registerable or other interests.  

Councillor Edwards declared an interest in Agenda item 7 as he was employed by Inspira.

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

That the press and public not be excluded during the consideration of any items on the agenda.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28^th November, 2023 (copy enclosed).

The minutes of the meeting held on 28^th November, 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive any questions or statement which have been received from members of the public and to receive any petitions.

(note questions or statement must be received in writing (including email) by the Council at least 3 clear working days before the day of the meeting (not including the day of the meeting). So, for example, if the meeting is on Tuesday requests must be received by 11.59 pm on the previous Wednesday by the person named on the front of the agenda.  Petitions must have been presented to the Monitoring Officer 9 working days before the date of this meeting to be valid).

Mr Stephen Grisdale attended the meeting and raised the following question to the committee –

Recognising the residents desire for improved speed controls in and around the Newbarns ward and their submission of their comprehensive 20mph zones request how do they move this forward at pace given the potential catastrophic consequences if they procrastinated further?

The committee discussed the question.

It was raised that a letter should be written to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Assets regarding these issues.

Councillor Hamilton asked whether a member could be elected to sit on the CRASH group.

Alison Meadows stated that at a previous Locality Board meeting it was confirmed that it was officers only however she would confrim this again.

Councillor Callister provided the following response to Mr Grisdale –

Westmorland and Furness Council adopted a 20mph speed limit policy in September 2023.  We are currently receiving applications for 20mph speed limit schemes through Town and Parish Councils. An application has been received from Barrow Town Council in respect of Newbarns Ward Barrow-in-Furness.

Westmorland and Furness Council are currently working through a prioritisation matrix to score the applications enabling a prioritised list to be presented back to Locality Boards in April 2024. This will enable the first phase of schemes to be agreed and progressed.  Subsequent phases will follow as it is anticipated that not all applications will be able to be progressed as part of the first phase.

Following prioritisation there will follow a process of design and consultation with the local community before a Traffic regulation Order (TRO) legal process will be undertaken for the proposed 20mph speed limit scheme. It is necessary to follow to correct process, which is a statutory one to ensure that a legal and enforceable speed limit is put into place.

We thank you for your attendance today and presentation of support for 20mph speed limit in Newbarns Ward.

To consider any urgent items of business.

Councillor Shirley raised his concerns that the Council Meeting Scheduled for 18^th January, 2024 had been cancelled and requested the Chair to write a letter to the Leader of the Council raising this issue.

Councillor Hamilton raised the issue of the reception desk at Barrow Town Hall and that they had agreed that one would be set up.

Alison Meadows informed the board that this was currently in the system and the Locality Board would be consulted again regarding this.

RESOLVED: Councillor Callister to write to the Leader of the Council raising the Boards concerns over the cancellation of the Council meeting on 18^th January, 2024.

To receive a report from the Senior Manager - Safe & Strong Communities.

The Senior Manager - Safe & Strong Communities presented the Safe & Strong Communities report to the Board.

She stated that the report brought together information from across Thriving Communities. The report included updates from thematic workstreams, in line with priorities, highlight issues, actions and risks and provided an update on the devolved budget positions.

The Furness Locality Board Draft Plan had been attached as an appendix to he report and set out its priorities based on local issues and opportunities while supporting Westmorland and Furness Council’s vision, priorities and values. The Locality Board Plan priorities would be reviewed annually to ensure they reflected community need.

Thematic Working Groups

Since the Locality Board report on 18th October 2023 all four thematic working groups had now held two meetings. The thematic working groups included Furness Locality Board Members who had been elected to sit on the working groups and key external partners who could provide the technical expertise as required.

The priorities for Furness Locality Board were:

Health & Wellbeing – supporting everyone to start well, live well and age well.

Poverty Proofing – supporting their disadvantaged communities to access and increase opportunities.

At the meeting of 6th June 2023, Cabinet agreed to delegate a further one-off funding. This comprised £230,400 for Sustainable Travel and Transport Fund, £100,000 for Strong and Connected Communities Programme, £80,800 Household Support Fund for the Furness Locality Board.

Cabinet at its meeting on 12th September 2023 approved the community grants scheme and criteria. The community grants were to support constituted non-profit making organisations to apply for grants up to £5,000 that benefitted the local area and met local priorities.

Community Thematic Working Groups

The working group had developed an action plan to look at delivering on priorities that were emerging. These were:

• Website and staffing to support the Know Your Neighbourhood Project.

• Anti-social behaviour in town centre and considering funding request from 11-19 Universal Funding for Furness Youth Work Partnership.

• Mapping of ward assets.

• Update on Team Barrow.

Furness Locality Board at its meeting on 18^th  October 2023 agreed that community grants budget, 0-19s budget, 11-19s budget and DWP Household Support Fund would be considered through the Community Thematic Working Group.

Grants up to £5,000 were delegated to the Senior Manager, Safe and Strong Communities, with the agreement of the Chair and Vice Chair of Furness Locality Board and relevant ward member(s). Any approvals for amounts above £5,000 would be brought as a recommendation to the Furness Locality Board for a decision.

The Community Thematic Working Group had held meetings in October 2023 and December 2023 to recommend and agree grants from its Community Grants, 0-19s, 11-19s and DWP Household Support Fund.

The following grants were agreed from Community Grants under delegated authority.

Armed Forces and Breakfast Club £500

Cumbria CVS Inspiring Barrow Programme £4,992

The following grants were agreed from 0-19s Grants under delegated authority.

Cumbria CVS Inspiring Barrow Programme £4,992

The following grants were recommended for approval at the Locality Board as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.