A new grant for improving homes, latest on COVID-19, Shop Local campaign, latest on the hospital development and more....

Cases of COVID-19 in Cumbria have fallen again in the week ending Friday 28 January as 3,969 new cases were recorded - a decrease of 763 or 16% - down from 4,732 new cases in the previous week.     New cases decreased in all districts, with Copeland and Carlisle having the greatest decreases (-22% and -21%, respectively). 

For the 2nd week in a row, the 5-11 age group had the greatest number of new cases in Cumbria (815 new cases) and the highest rate of new cases in Cumbria (2195 new cases per 100k population).  

However, new cases decreased from the previous week in all age groups, with the 0-4 age group having the greatest proportional decrease of 46%.  

In the week ending Monday 31 January, the number of new patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 positive status in Cumbria decreased by 5 compared to the previous week. While the average number of patients with COVID-19 occupying hospital beds in the county decreased by 24 from the previous week. 

Sadly, in the week to Friday 21 January there were 22 deaths with COVID-19 as cause of death.  

Colin Cox, Cumbria’s Director of Public Health, said:

“Thankfully the number of COVID cases in our county is continuing to fall – albeit slower than we’d like them to.  

“With cases still highest amongst the 5-11 age group, I’d urge parents of school-age children to continue testing them regularly with lateral flow tests. Remember though, if they do test positive using a lateral flow, you no longer need to confirm this with a follow up PCR test – but they do need to self-isolate as per national guidance. 

“While we have sadly recently seen the highest number of weekly deaths with Covid-19 for almost a year, these numbers are actually extremely low given the number of cases that we’ve seen over the last six weeks, reflecting the success of the vaccination and booster campaign in keeping the vast majority of people safe from serious harm. I am reasonably confident that we are now over the peak of omicron deaths and that these numbers will start to come down in the coming days.” 

For the latest information on COVID-19 guidance and how to stay safe, visit gov.uk/coronavirus. 

We say goodbye to Laura Boyle this week. Laura joined the communications team about 18 months ago working on improving the communications with businesses. Alongside Ellie Jones, and then Danni Armstrong, she has overseen the creation of a new business Facebook Group and a weekly business email. Thanks for all your work Laura, and best of luck with the new job. 

I’d like to welcome Graeme Law as the new Development Management and Building Control Manager in the Place Development & Housing team. Graeme joins us with a wealth of experience and I’m sure you’ll join me in welcoming Graeme to the team. 

We also say 'hello' to Philip King who has joined the housing team to manage the homes grants mentioned above. Welcome to the team too Philip. 

LGR Joint Committee membership update 

Once the Structural Changes Order has gone through Parliament we will need to set up a Joint Committee for Cumberland until the Shadow Authority is established after the elections.  

The committee will include representatives from each of the local authorities. 

From Allerdale, Council agreed the nominations of Cllr Mike Johnson, Cllr Alan Smith and Cllr Nicky Cockburn. 

Carlisle City Council and Cumbria County Council have announced their nominations. They are: 

• From Carlisle CC: Cllr John Mallinson, Cllr Gareth Ellis and Cllr Les Tickner. 
• From Cumbria County Council: Cllr Stewart Young, Cllr Keith Little and Cllr Celia Tibble 

And now some positive feedback from the week: 

Thanks to Emma Bundock and the DFG Team - Thank you so much. I can't thank you enough for everything you have done for me and my family. 

Whilst litter picking this morning, I had placed filled sacks at the usual pick -up site at the junction of the A596 and Hunday Winscales Rd . A member of the waste services team was passing ,stopped loaded the filled sacks and supplied me with some spare sacks, As usual, great service. 

Customer called to say thank you for excellent and quick service. Customer reported bin as broken yesterday and it was exchanged the morning after. 

Thanks to Helen and her Business Grant Team - I was speaking to a lady who runs a local business earlier today, whilst speaking she mentioned the business grant she had just received, she wanted to thank the council for getting money out so quickly to businesses and send her thanks to the team. 

Fly tipping was reported earlier this week at Siddick in the back lanes. It has been swiftly dealt with. Thank you so much to the grounds maintenance and street cleansing teams. It is an ongoing issue at Siddick and much appreciated. 

We have the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting this afternoon. 

Next week the Executive meets at Allerdale House. On Wednesday’s agenda is the budget for the next financial year, as well as the Statement of Community Involvement. You can see the agenda at: Allerdale Borough Council - Agenda for Executive on Wednesday 9th February, 2022, 4.00 pm 

On Friday the Licensing Regulatory Panel is due to meet: Allerdale Borough Council - Agenda for Licensing Regulatory Panel on Friday 11th February, 2022, 2.00 pm 

We are currently seeking someone to fill our Specialist - Technician (Housing) job which closes on 18 February 2022 

The job is in the busy Housing Operations Team and the role will very much involve working on the housing standards improvement and enforcement. Find out more at: Jobs - Allerdale Borough Council .

Colleagues at Allerdale Waste Services are looking for an MOT mechanic. The post is for 40 Hours a week and the necessary skills:

• Essential - Level 2 or 3 in light or heavy vehicle maintenance and repair or equivalent qualification with at least 4 years’ full-time employment servicing and repairing light or heavy vehicles.
• Full car UK/EU driving licence.
• Desirable - MOT Tester Class 4 and 7.

The salary is negotiable dependant on experience.

For an informal discussion please contact Richard Rourke, Transport & Workshop Manager, Tel: 01900 702863

As a partner in the Lakesman triathlon event, Allerdale gets a free place on the beautiful lakeside start line for any of the races. 

So 1 lucky person or relay team (of 2 or 3 people) could be swimming, biking and running their way to becoming a Lakesman!    

If you are fancying a challenge or have already been training hard for the perfect event this this could be for you. It is already sold out, so it’s looking like it will be a great day.  

All you need to do to enter is send an email to sports.recreation@allerdale.gov.uk with the name of the Lake that the Lakesman 2022 swim takes place in.  

You need to be a member of Allerdale staff to enter the draw (if you want to take part as a relay team then at least 1 member needs to be ABC staff) and the place can not be given to anyone else if you are unable to take part.  

The deadline for entries is 12 noon on Monday 7th February. 

The government published the long-awaited Levelling Up White Paper this week. The policy team are busy digesting the details. But you can see the press release with links to the full report online:  

Government unveils levelling up plan - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Levelling Up the United Kingdom - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Cumbria Highways recently launched a new highways online reporting form. Our new service makes it easier for our elected members, customers and partners to raise enquiries and report problems, resulting in an improved customer experience. We have also enhanced the way our highways teams handle reports to advance the efficiency of the service for our customers.   

The service now follows a consistent approach to managing reports and are encouraging all of our stakeholders to submit their request directly to Cumbria Highways using the ‘one front door’ approach: 

1. The highways online reporting form found on the Cumbria County Council website 

1. Telephoning the Highways Hotline on 0300 303 2992 

By submitting a report using the one front door approach, our teams receive the key information that we require to initially conduct a desktop assessment and define an appropriate course of action.  

Prior to the launch of our new highways reporting process, the highways@cumbria.gov.uk inbox was widely promoted as a route to report and enquire.   

To improve the efficiency of the service provided, from Friday 11th February, the highways@cumbria.gov.uk inbox will no longer be available to report highways problems, enquires or requests for service. Any email we receive into this inbox will be redirected to the one front door. 

People in Cumbria are being reminded that it’s not too late to get a flu vaccination to boost their immunity over the remaining winter months. 

Although the days are getting longer and Spring is in sight, the colder weather can often be an issue for patients with respiratory issues and the flu vaccination is recommended to help ahead of further cold conditions. 

This year there has again been a high uptake across Cumbria with around 84% of Cumbrians over 65 receiving their flu jab. People of all ages are reminded that there is still time for everyone to come forward for the vaccination as the invitation does not expire. 

Health professionals are particularly encouraging those who are pregnant to get their flu jab, as there is evidence that flu can cause complications, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy. 

Groups eligible for a free NHS flu jab, in the 2021 to 2022 season include: 

• all children aged 2 to 15 (but not 16 years or older) on 31 August 2021 – who will be offered a nasal spray 
• those aged 6 months to under 50 years in clinical risk groups 
• pregnant women 
• those aged 50 years and over 
• those in long-stay residential care homes 
• Carers 
• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals 
• frontline health and social care staff employed by: 

• a registered residential care or nursing home 
• registered domiciliary care provider 
• a voluntary managed hospice provider 
• Direct Payment (personal budgets) and/or Personal Health Budgets, such as Personal Assistants. 

If you need medical advice you can visit NHS 111 at: 111.nhs.uk for information and advice. nhs.uk/conditions/flu   

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust has this week announced that it has secured final approval to start work on phase two of the redevelopment of the West Cumberland Hospital.     

The £40 million pound full business case was submitted to the Department of Health earlier in the year and the Trust has received the news that the work can now go ahead.      

Phase two of the plans include replacing up to 40% of the original hospital and build upon the £90m investment from phase one of the project which was completed in 2015. The new build will bring a huge upgrade in facilities for both patients and staff, creating an improved environment while keeping the number of beds and retaining services for the site.  

The new build will include: a paediatrics ward and assessment area, a care of the elderly ward, a specialist palliative care/step down ward and a stroke/rehabilitation ward.     

To ensure the plans for phase two sits within the available national funding allocation, the Trust will cover the costs for the refurbishment side of the project from its own capital programme.    

Delivering a suitable design for phase two has been a collaborative process between colleagues across the Trust, ensuring the design is clinically-led and fit for the future.  

The design has been created and modified to accommodate the changing landscape within healthcare. Elderly care will have both four bedded areas as well as single rooms after feedback from patients stated they felt they benefitted from the company of others while recognising single rooms allow for privacy. All areas will adhere to infection prevention best practice.