Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D Cassidy 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 Shirley decalred an interest stating he was Manager of Dalton United Football Club.

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 10th January, 2024 (copy enclosed).

The minutes of the meeting held on 10^th January, 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).

RESOLVED: - To note that no questions, representations, deputations or petitions had been received in respect of the meeting.

To consider any urgent items of business.

Councillor Phillips raised an urgent item.

He informed the Committee of the planned tree felling at Infield Park and stated that this would have a great impact on the neighbourhood as well as the wildlife.

There were concerns about the lack of consultation with residents and it had been agreed that the felling would be paused and further consultations would be held.

RESOLVED: - The Committee noted the information.

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

The Senior Manager – Safe & Strong Communities presented the report.

The Safe and Strong Communities 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.

In the report there were recommendations to agree grant awards from 2023/24 devolved budgets.

Thematic Working Groups

Since the Locality Board report on 10th January 2024 all four thematic working groups had been meeting weekly. The thematic working groups included Furness Locality Board Members who had elected to sit on the working groups and key external partners who could provide the technical expertise as required.

The Furness Locality Board Plan had been agreed and 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.

Community Working Group

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 Furness for You Know Your Neighbourhood Project.

·         Anti-social behaviour in town centre and the Locality Board supported matched funding towards the National Lottery Million Hours Funding Bid.

·         Mapping of ward assets now completed.

·         BEATS programme – Exercise on Referral – Barrow Forward.

Priority Wards Working Group

The working group has developed an action plan to look at delivering on priorities that are emerging such as:

·         Health Plan to address health inequalities to support the action plan.

·         Get Ready for Winter – Two events to be held in Central & Hindpool wards joint third sector and statutory partners to provide residents with practical and holistic support.

·         Football Foundation Playzone – Expression of Interest approved to look at proposal of developing a playzone in the priority wards. Furness Locality Board at its meeting on 18th October 2023 agreed that the Strong Connected and Communities Fund would be considered through the Priority Wards Thematic Working Group.

Infrastructure, Environment & Connectivity

The Infrastructure, Environment & Connectivity Working Group had developed an action plan to look with key updates and schemes.

In addition to the various highways and sustainable travel and transport schemes being discussed the working group was also looking more strategically at wider assets for Furness to be a destination area and to inform the Local Plan.

Education, Skills & Economy

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

·         Welfare and transition across Primary and Secondary Schools.

·         Data evaluation around senior school qualifications, further education retention and young people not in education, employment or training.

·         Long-term sick.

·         Benefits system.

Informal Briefing Sessions

In addition to the Locality Board meetings and thematic working groups it was agreed there would be informal briefing sessions to receive timely updates and presentations. There were further informal briefing sessions planned with key partners and directorates.

            Below is the list since January’s Locality Board meeting.

·         Update on assets/major  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.