Meeting documents

In line with requirements of the Council’s urgency provision, the Outgoing Chair asked that the Local Committee accept the Election of Chair and Vice Chair as items on the agenda. It was AGREED that these items be taken.

The Outgoing Chair thanked the members of the Committee for their hard work delivering for local residents in Allerdale.

It was AGREED that Mr AJ Markley be elected Chair for the ensuing year.

The Newly Elected Chair thanked Mr A Barry for his work as Chair over the previous year.

It was AGREED that Mr A Barry be elected Vice-Chair for the ensuing year.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Mrs C McCarron-Holmes, Mr T Lywood and Lord Liddle.

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 A Barry declared an interest in relation to Item 9 – Area Manager’s Report as there was a decision regarding funding provision for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau of which he was a Board member.  

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 items of business.

There are no public statements, petitions or questions to be made on this occasion.

There were no statement, questions or petitions presented on this occasion.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 4 March 2022.

RESOLVED that,                 the minutes of the previous meeting of the Allerdale Local Committee held on 4 March 2022 be agreed as an accurate and complete record.

To consider a joint presentation from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Cumbria Youth Alliance (CYA) (to follow).

Members received a presentation from Cumbria Youth Alliance (CYA) and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Youth Hub which highlighted the following areas:-

·         Mission – Working with and for young people to enable them to reach their full potential.

·         Vision – Cumbria Youth Alliance is the lead organisation for the development and quality assurance of youth provision where all young people in Cumbria can thrive to achieve a sustainable and positive future.

·         Strategic Priorities –

1.    Championing social value for young people in Cumbria

2.    Building capacity of the young people’s sector in Cumbria

3.    Young people have the confidence and skills to make a successful transition to adulthood

4.    Be the strategic voice of young people’s services in Cumbria working in partnership with others

5.    Young people are active participants in the design, delivery and evaluation of their services

6.    Ensure all partners and CYA when applicable, deliver quality projects with measurable outcomes

7.    Have systems in place to enable, capture, disseminate, advocate and demonstrate positive impact to ensure sustainability and development for all partners in order to benefit young people in Cumbria.

·         Our Strands –

1.    Youth Promise – Leaving Care Project, Positive Role Models, Duke of Edinburgh, Youth Futures

2.    Youth Ambition – First Steps to a Sustainable Future, Choices, DWP – Outreach, First Steps to Employment, Low Level Mental Health – Care Leavers

3.    Infrastructure – COMF, Dream scheme, Better Tomorrow’s, Disability Volunteering

·         Partnership Working and Collaboration

·         DWP Outreach -

1.    Employability Skills

2.    Independent Living Skills

3.    Access to work experience placements and volunteering opportunities

4.    Access to consistent local one to one support and group activity sessions

5.    Online learning and activities

6.    Access to accredited and nationally recognised training / Qualifications

7.    Access to emotional resilience support

8.    Support with job search, application filling, CV Writing, Interview preparation and practice

·         Job Centre Referral Process

Members asked about the impact the scheme had and whether this was measurable. The Committee heard that CYA and the DWP were actively engaging with young people through Kickstart opportunities and targeted support to ensure they were able to prove themselves to employers. It was reported that 32 young people had been supported through the service directly into work.

The Chair and Vice-Chair commented on the importance of boosting the confidence of young people and ensuring that they feel valued. Members of the Committee AGREED to signpost young people to the scheme and provide support where they could.

To consider the minutes and any recommendations that arose from the last meeting of the Allerdale Highways Working Group.

Members considered a report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure which detailed the outcome of the meeting of the Highways Working Group (HWG) held on the 5^th April 2022 and presents recommendations to the Local Committee for approval.

The Local Area Network Manager presented the minutes of the last meeting  and provided an detailed account of the recommendations which had been brought before the Committee. Members heard that the first recommendation related to the proposed changes to Speed Limits in Allerdale and the second  related to the proposed changes to Maryport and Surrounding Area Traffic Regulation Order. The recommendations were that Local Committee agree to proceed to statutory consultation and advertisement on all proposals with the exception of Proposal 9 – The Went, Dearham and Proposal 10 – A594 Marshes, Maryport.

With relation to Proposal 9, the proposal was to introduce a one-way system following historical concerns regarding the volume of traffic using The Went, particularly at either end of the school day. Members heard that five responses were received, all objecting to proposals, mainly citing access issues.

Proposal 10 was to introduce two sections of "No Waiting At Any Time" restrictions (double yellow lines) either side of a junction to a proposed future housing development in order to prevent obstructive parking and maintain visibility. Four responses were received, objecting to proposals and highlighting concerns in relation to loss of parking.

For these reasons officers recommended that Proposals 9 and 10 were not pursued at this point in time.

RESOLVED that,

1)            That Local Committee notes the minutes of the meeting of the HWG held on the 5^th April 2022 which are attached as Appendix 1 to this report.

That Local Committee endorse the recommendations of the HWG and agree the following: -

2)            ALLERDALE SPEED LIMIT REVIEW

a) that having taken into consideration the matters contained in section 122(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 which are more specifically referred to at paragraph 7.2 of the report to the HWG, that "The County of Cumbria (Various Roads in the Borough of Allerdale) (Consolidation and Provision of Speed Limits) Order 20>< ("the Order") be brought into operation, as advertised.

3)            MARYPORT TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER REVIEW

a) that Local Committee agree to proceed to statutory consultation and advertisement of a Traffic Regulation Order which would consolidate and vary The County of Cumbria (Various Roads, Maryport and Surrounding Area) (Consolidation and Provision of Traffic Regulations) Order 2018, (as varied by the County of Cumbria (Various Roads, Maryport and Surrounding Area) (Consolidation and Provision of Traffic Regulations) (Order 2018) Variation (No.1) Order 2019), by proposing to introduce new restrictions as shown on the plans attached as Appendices 1, 2, 3, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, and 13 only ("the Order") ONLY of the report.

b) that Local Committee agree that, subject to there being no unresolved objections at the end of the statutory consultation and advertisement of the changes referred to in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To consider a report from the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services.

Members considered a report from the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services which set out the Communities Budget for Allerdale as agreed at full Council on 10 February 2022 and served the purpose of advising members of those budgets and recommend how these funds be allocated.

The Area Manager began by discussing School Crossing Patrols, explaining that the current allocated budget of £38,154, although the same as the previous year, was significantly less than the SLA although the level of vacancies would mitigate this. There were 11 school crossing patrol posts and 4 of these were currently vacant. If these posts remained unfilled or were disestablished, the true cost of the SLA would be less than the amount quoted above. The Local Member for Seaton asked that officer investigate whether it would be possible to reallocated funds from the School Crossing Patrol budget to Safer Routes to School.

Also highlighted was the Money Advice budget of £66,570 which will be distributed via the Invest in Our Communities report and remains the same as previous years.

Members heard that it was recommended that any unallocated money from the Community Projects funds at 31 October 2022 be added back into the original fund from which they were allocated. This was sooner than proposed in previous years due to the terminus of the County Council and the need to ensure funds were allocated in time.

RESOLVED that,    

1)    Members note the budgets allocated to Allerdale Local Committee for 2022-23 as set out in the report.

2)    Members agree the full School Crossing Patrol Budget of £38,154 is allocated to fund the provision of school crossing patrols in the Allerdale area as per the Service Level Agreement – as seen in Appendix 2 of the report and to fund technical assessments to inform any disestablishment of posts.

3)    Members agree the full Neighbourhood Support Budget of £116,857 is allocated to contribute to the funding of the Community Services Team for 2022-23.

4)    Members agree to the allocation of the 0-19 budget of £78,456 as set out in paragraph 4.9 and spent in line with the local committee priorities.

5)    Members agree to the use of the 11-19 Universal Provision budget of £32,908 to be agreed at future meetings of local committee.

6)    Members note the continuance of the approval of monies from 0-19, 11-19 Universal Services and General Provision in excess of £5,000 to be made at meetings of local committee as per the Constitution as separate agenda items.

7)    Members note the approval of monies from 0-19, 11-19 Universal Services and General Provision up to £5,000 to be made by the Area Manager in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Local Committee as per the Constitution.

8)    Members agree to continue with the approval of monies from the Community Projects funds (0-19 and General Provision) to be made by the Area Manager in consultation with the individual Local Members and the Chair / Vice Chair of Local Committee. 

9)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To consider a report from the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services.

Members considered a report from the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services which provided members with an update on activity across Allerdale and any recent developments.

The Area Manager began by explaining that the feedback gathered from members had been used to develop the following as priorities for consideration to replace the existing ones

·                     Improving outcomes for Young People

·                     Encouraging individuals, households and communities to live well and thrive

·                     Supporting individuals, households and communities to engage, and to feel enabled and empowered

Initially a fourth priority had been included which referred to ‘Improved accessibility to opportunities’, but after further feedback from members the Area Manager now proposed that this priority, be merged with the previous three. It was AGREED that the fourth priority be incorporated as part of the previous priorities and removed from the list.

Members received an update from the library service on their Feed and Read programme  whereby they were reminded that the service aimed to improve literary levels and provide food for children during school holidays. The service had now expanded the project into community settings . Members were very pleased by this news and provided feedback which included a request that food pantries acknowledge that some members of the community may not be in a position to cook food using  gas or electric given the recent increase in energy bills  and that food be provided to the community with this in mind.

Members heard that the Council had secured funding to offer vitamins to new Mums and babies on a universal offer from venues across Cumbria including libraries, children’s centres, community centres and food hubs. Midwives and health visitors would offer vitamins at antenatal visits then parents would be signposted to any of the 50 venues afterwards to collect. Mums and families would then be encouraged and supported to apply for the Healthy Start pre-paid card if they haven’t already done so. The Healthy Start Scheme provided eligible parents up to £8.50 per week for food and milk on a pre- paid card.

The Public Health Locality Manager explained that an event promoting Suicide Safer Communities had been held on 4 May delivered by the multi-agency partnership. The meeting was open to anyone in the Allerdale community who wished to be involved and included an introduction to suicide prevention and details from people who had already taken action in their local community. The event which had been held at Grasslot Welfare Sports & Social Club was free and well attended.

RESOLVED that,    

1)    members note the report

2)    members agree to the revised priorities to replace those previously agreed for the year ahead

To consider a report from the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services.

Members considered a report from the Executive Director – Corporate, Customer and Community Services which presented grant applications in excess of £5,000 for consideration and approval from the 2022-23 budget.The report also presents the outturn budget for 2021-22.

An overview of the applications made to the Local Committee’s General Provision were provided to members:-

• Workington Heritage Group applied for funding to create a walkway from the roadside pavement across the green area in front of Jane Pit. Members heard that this application was originally intended to come from the Environment Fund but it was decided that it would be better suited to General Provision. The total cost of the project would be £70,000 and the organisation were applying to local committee for £10,000 of funding.

• The West Cumbria Domestic Violence Support had applied to local committee for £5,000 of General Provision funding to support delivery of their project aimed at reducing domestic abuse by working with perpetrators in Allerdale and Copeland.

Members were then given an overview of the applications made to the 0-19 Provision:-

• Oughterside and Allerby Parish Council applied for funding to upgrade Pond Green play park replacing some of the existing play equipment. The total cost of the project was £24,000 and the organisation were applying to local committee for £5,000 of 0-19 funding.

• The Oakleigh Trust, Right2Work programme focuses on supporting a young person's personal development and social skills, enabling them to have a voice, influence and place in their community and society. The total cost of the project was £44,352 and the organisation was applying to local committee for £11,088 of 0-19 funding towards the Allerdale part of the programme.

The Local Committee were then provided with an update on Environment Fund Allocations. The Area Manager explained that the 21-22 Outturn Budget Report showed a spend of £213,750 for the full year against the budget of £200,000 resulting in an overspend of £13,750. A discussion took place regarding the Environment Fund allocations, whereby the Area Manager explained that the approach was to RAG rate applications, allocate fairly and ensure a high impact.

RESOLVED that,    

1)    Members note the contents of the report.

2)    Members agree to temporarily utilise the Environment Fund for 2022/23 to fund an overspend of £13,750 against the 2021/22 budget.

3)    Members agree that an amount of £10,000 is allocated from General Provision to Workington Heritage Group towards the creation of a footpath in the Jane Pit area of Workington.

4)    Members agree that an amount of £5,000 is allocated from General Provision to West Cumbria Domestic Violence Support towards a multi-agency domestic abuse perpetrator intervention. 

5)    Members agree that an amount of £5,000 is allocated from 0-19 Oughterside & Allerby Parish Council towards a revamped play area. 

6)    Members agree that an amount of £11,088 is allocated from the 0-19 budget to Oakleigh Trust towards their Rights2Work programme supporting young people into education, training and employment opportunities.

7)    Members agree that an amount of £20,000 is allocated from the Environment Fund  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To receive updates from Allerdale’s Local Committee Champions

There were no Local Committee Champion Updates on this occasion.

The Vice-Chair informed members that a new Senior Officer would shortly be in post at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

The next meeting will be held on 1 July at 10am at West Cumbria House.

The next meeting of the Local Committee was due to take place at West Cumbria House on 1 July 2022 at 10:00am.