Meeting documents

To elect a Chair for the ensuing year.

Mr P Dew was elected Chair of the Committee for the ensuing year

To elect a Vice Chair for the ensuing year.

Mr T Wentworth Waites was elected Vice Chair of the Committee for the ensuing year

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs P Bell, Ms C Driver and Miss H Fearon

There were no disclosures of interest made at the meeting

RESOLVED,       that the press and public not be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any items of business on the Agenda.

There were no questions, petitions or statements at the time of despatch of Agenda

There was no Public Participation at this meeting

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Local Committee held on 31 March 2022

Corrections:

Minute 62, first line. Replace ‘Economy and Infrastructure’ with ‘Corporate, Customer and Community Services’

Minute 62, last paragraph, first line. Replace ‘Bell’ with ‘Fell’

Minute 63, first line. Replace ‘Economy and Infrastructure’ with ‘Corporate, Customer and Community Services’

Minute 64, second paragraph, penultimate line. Correct spelling – Carleton

Minute 71, second paragraph, first line add and ‘s’ onto member.

Minute 71, second paragraph, 4^th line. Replace ‘CACE’ with ‘National Citizens Advice’

Minute 73, 2^nd paragraph, 3^rd line, replace ‘was’ with ‘were’. Fourth line, replace ‘form’ with ‘farm’

RESOLVED              that, subject to the corrections above, the minutes of the meeting held on 31 March 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive a presentation from the Senior Manager Children and Families

A Children and Families briefing was delivered by the Senior Manager Children and Families. This covered the following:

·         What the Children and Families Service was responsible for

·         Open cases in Eden

·         Trends in Eden

·         What could members help the Service with

The Senior Manager Children and Families talked briefly to members about the development of the Refugee programme which was an increasing area of work in the Service and detailed the number of and trends in open cases in Eden. The figures relating to Children Looked After were reported and the impact that the COVID pandemic had on figures in Eden was noted.

A short discussion took place on how the open cases figures could be interpreted as they were reported as rate per ten thousand. It was noted that this was so comparisons could be made with the rest of Cumbria and statistical neighbours.

Members were advised that the number of children subject to a Child Protection Plan had reduced with figures being favourable compared to the rest of Cumbria.

Members discussed the impact of COVID on the rising figures. The Senior Manager Children and Families explained how the number of open cases had reduced during COVID lockdown and risen once children were back in school. This was because teachers were reporting issues that would not have been observed when children were at home. The rising trend was reflected across Cumbria and the country. Members were informed that the rising trends should be considered in the context of the Early Help Offer which should reduce the number of children needing statutory services.

A member asked whether the upward trends were due to traditional or new reasons for referral. The Senior Manager Children and Families explained that historically referrals came from the Health Service but increasingly, schools were making referrals to statutory services due to higher rates of neglect.

Discussion turned to the recruitment of adopters in Eden and whether County Council recruitment campaigns had been successful. The Senior Manager Children and Families reported on a recent change in legislation regarding the requirement of a health check for prospective adopters and how this was delaying approval of adopters. It was noted that the number of new adopters had slowed down during the COVID pandemic. A member asked that if the data relating to the number of adopters in Eden was available, that it be circulated to the Committee.

A member drew parallels of the increasing upward trends in open cases in Children’s Services to those in Adult Social Care. He thought that this could be due to increasing financial pressures on families. The Senior Manager Children and Families concurred, adding that increasing numbers were linked to deprivation and poverty.

Referring to the earlier point on rates reported per ten thousand and how the figures could be interpreted, a member explained that members needed to know how the figures could be quantified locally and needed to understand what issues were contributing to the facts and figures. Members required the reasons for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

[Electoral Divisions: All]

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

This report provides Local Committee with an update on the work of each area, identified activity against priorities, highlights current issues and provides an overview of the budget position

A report was considered from the Executive Director – Corporate Customer and Community Services regarding Area Planning in Eden. The report brought together information from across the community teams including community development and services as well as public health. It also provided Local Committee with an update on the work of each area, identified activity against priorities, highlighted current issues and provided an overview of the budget position.

The Area Manager (Carlisle) presented the report. He was attending the meeting in place of the Area Manager (Eden). The Chair advised that members had been asked in advance for any questions on the report so the Eden Area Manager could respond directly. No questions had been received in advance of the meeting. The Area Manager (Carlisle) briefly talked members through the report and drew members’ attention to the recommendations. He commented that the £200,000 allocation to each Local Committee had been a very successful initiative.

A member referred to the Eden COVID Resilience Group. He asked whether thought had been given to inviting members of the Westmorland and Furness Shadow authority to the meetings. The Community Development Officer – Eden would draw the Eden Area Manager’s attention to this matter.

The local member for Shap was pleased to note the work undertaken in his division. He asked that officers review the Askham to Helton footpath in the hope that this work would be completed. The Local Area Network Manager – Eden explained the work that he would do with local landowners on this matter.

The same member asked if a programme was available for the Cumbria Opera Group. Officers would respond after the meeting.

In terms of budget, the same member referred to the amount of money which remained unallocated. He highlighted that the public would want this money spent. He referred to the amount of money which was unallocated in Community Grants adding that residents should be benefiting from schemes paid for from this budget. The Community Development Officer – Eden explained that all the money had now been awarded.

The member was disappointed to see that the recommendation for Cumbria Family Support was not to award the total project costs and proposed that the full amount be awarded. It was explained that the project was split into three areas therefore Eden Local Committee was only responsible for awarding one third of the total cost of the project.

A couple of members highlighted that all of their Community Budget had been spent and therefore the figures before members were incorrect. The Area Manager (Carlisle) explained the governance process that reports had to go through before consideration by the Committee which sometimes meant that figures were out of date by the time they were considered by members.

The Local Member for Appleby thanked officers for their speedy response to repair Appleby town woodland path. He passed on the thanks of Mrs Bell for the schemes to be funded by the Environment Fund in Penrith East.

It was noted that Recommendation 4  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

[Electoral Divisions: All Penrith]

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

This report provides

A report was considered from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure regarding the Penrith Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. The report sought approval of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for Penrith.

The report was presented by the Senior Programme Manager, Cycling and Walking. A brief overview of the LCWIP was given. This included the reason for its development, what it was and what the aims of it were. It was highlighted that it was not a funded plan and was the start of a process which put the County Council in a good position should funding become available.

The Chair advised that the LCWIP had been considered in detail  at a member workshop.

A member referred to 66% of those consulted identifying cycle routes separated from other modes of travel as a reason for encouraging  them to cycle more and asked what the proposals were. He identified a short route between Little and Great Dockray that would benefit from a cycle route. The Senior Programme Manager, Cycling and Walking advised that currently, the Plan’s network priority linked main places but that additional routes could be added at a later date.

Discussion ensued on the health costs of inactivity to Eden being identified as £1,000,000 each year. The Senior Programme Manager, Cycling and Walking added that cycling and walking was a benefit to health. She added that amendments could be made to the Plan before it was a finalised public document.

The Chair presented the recommendations to the Committee. These were agreed by assent of the Committee.

RESOLVED that,

1          Members approve the LCWIP for Penrith as attached at Appendix 1 of the report

2          Members delegate authority to the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Local Committee to make any necessary minor amendments to the Penrith LCWIP prior to its publication.

Mr Dew gave a report on the business conducted at the MASCG meetings held on 24 March and 25 April 2022. Discussions had focussed on the 9 June 2022 Appleby Horse Fair and Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Mr Dew reported on the fun day held at Hawesend Centre which he had attended as the Committee’s Children’s Champion.

Mr Dew commented positively on the Care Leaver’s Ambassador for Eden in terms of her work and dedication to the role.

Mr Dew gave a brief report on the business conducted at the meeting of the Holehird Committee held on 11 May 2022. This included the future of the Holehird Mansion.

Mr Dew gave a short briefing on the recent Eden Health and Wellbeing Forum meeting.

Mr Dew reported on a recent successful challenge for young people Not in Employment, Education or Training, along the similar lines of the programme ‘Dragons Den’ on which he was a ‘Dragon’.

Discussion took place on the closure of Brough Doctor’s surgery. This included the issue of recruiting GPs which had led to temporarily closing the surgery. The impact of its closure upon local residents was discussed with members hoping that a solution could be found.

Mr Connell talked about a recent Appleby Horse Fair meeting which he had Chaired which had discussed the clash in dates of the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations and Appleby Fair. He confirmed that attendees of the Fair had been encouraged not to travel to Appleby until after the celebrations.

The next meeting will be held on 27 July 2022 at 10.30am

The next meeting of the Local Committee would be held on 27 July 2022 at 10.30 at Cumbria LEP, Redhills, Penrith