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Also in this week's edition:
Notices of Election for polls on 2 May have been published this week.
If contested, voters in the Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness areas will go to the polls to elect a Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC).
Elections for some parish and town councils in the Cumberland Council area are also due to take place on this date.
Anyone wishing to stand in the PFCC elections, can obtain nomination papers from the office of the Police Area Returning Officer, Allerdale House, New Bridge Road, Workington CA14 3YJ. Completed forms must be returned to this address by 4pm on Friday 5 April 2024. Candidates can also contact the elections team by email at elections@cumberland.gov.uk .
More details on the nomination process can be found on our website.
Local town and parish council elections in the Cumberland Council area
Parish Council elections are also taking place in some areas, as well as a parish by-election for Silloth on Solway Town Council. Those parishes with scheduled elections are:
- Brampton Parish Council
- Carlatton Parish Council
- Castle Carrock Parish Council
- Cumrew Parish Council
- Cumwhitton Parish Council
- Hayton Parish Council
- Wetheral Parish Council
Anyone interested in standing, can contact the elections team by email at elections@cumberland.gov.uk or alternatively contact the relevant parish clerk.
Nomination papers may be obtained from the offices of the Returning Officer, Cumberland Council, Civic Centre, Rickergate, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8QG and must be returned before 4pm on Friday 5 April 2024.
More details, including the number of seats available on each council, can be found on the Cumberland Council website.
If contested elections for town and parish council elections will be held on 2 May.
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Applications to register to vote must be made by 12midnight on Tuesday 16 April 2024. Applications can be made online. It is particularly important that those recently turned 18, or have recently moved house make sure that they are registered to vote.
Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes must be returned by 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024.
The rules for postal voting have now changed and postal voters are encouraged to use the Royal Mail envelope provided with the postal vote pack, wherever possible. Anyone returning a postal vote by hand to the Local Returning Officer must complete a postal vote return form. A postal vote returned by hand that is not accompanied by a postal vote return form will be rejected. There are also new limits on the number of postal votes that can be handed in by one person. Electors who wish to hand their postal vote in at the polling stations or designated council offices must complete a postal vote return form for the postal vote to be accepted. Postal votes should not be put through the council's letter boxes or via internal council mail boxes as these will have to be rejected.
Anyone voting in person will have to show a form of photo ID. Anyone without an eligible form of ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC). Applications for a VAC or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for these elections must be returned by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024. Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate can be made online.
Applications to vote by proxy at these elections must be returned by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.
Applications to vote by emergency proxy at these elections must be made by 5pm on Thursday 2nd May 2024.
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Cumberland Council has recently pursued environmental crime offenders who paid fines totalling over £2700.
At recent West Cumbria Magistrates’ Court hearings Cumberland Council had the following successful prosecutions:
- A man from Workington discarded a sofa into the street and left it, despite the council attempting to resolve the issue he failed to respond. He pleaded guilty to the offence of fly tipping and received: £230 fine, victim surcharge of £92 and £150 costs, totalling £472.
- The owner of a takeaway in Maryport appeared at court in January.
The fly tipping took place on private land and contained rotting food, packaging, waste oil and receipts. This waste was hazardous and posed a significant risk to the environment. The man pleaded guilty and stated he had paid a man with a van to dispose of the waste, he received: £2000 fine, victim surcharge of £800, costs of £150 and to pay the landowner compensation of £1182.60, totlling £4132.
- A woman from Workington entered a guilty plea of fly tipping. The court sentenced her to a fine of £480, victim surcharge of £192 and granted a costs order in the sum of £150, totalling £822.
The apprenticeship application window closes at midnight tonight (24 March 2024). Don't miss out!
Our new apprenticeship opportunities are available in a variety of different roles such as Adult Care Worker, Customer Service, Business Admin, Civil Engineering, Highways Maintenance, and Early Years Educator. There are positions across the whole of Cumberland including in Carlisle, Workington, Whitehaven, Aspatria, Longtown, Millom, Wigton, Dalston and Brampton.
Help us spread the word. Whether it's friends, family, or neighbours, please let anyone who could benefit know. This is an incredible opportunity for anyone looking to kickstart a career in local government.
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Improved footpath access to the River Eden
We have been working with the Hadrian’s Wall Trail Partnership, to develop a new ramped access to a popular riverside footpath in Carlisle.
The council’s countryside access team has a rolling programme of improvements to the rights of way network and have recently completed surfacing a path across the Swifts area, to access walks along the River Eden. The final phase of these improvements received vital support from the Hadrian’s Wall Path Partnership.
Toad traffic takes a skip and a jump to reach Caldbeck pond
We have been advising residents to be careful when driving through Caldbeck as amphibians are currently crossing roads in the area.
Following a concerned residents contacting the council's Highway Hotline, it was noted that toads, frogs, and newts were migrating to the pond in Caldbeck village, crossing the road to get there: Toad traffic takes a skip and a jump to reach Caldbeck pond! | Cumberland Council
Verge cleaning on A689
Our Street cleaning team where out and about doing some litter picking by the verge next to the A689.
As you will appreciate, litter picking on highway verges is extremely dangerous. So if you pass any of the team, please be extra cautious.
Improving roads in Cumberland
Here are some before and after shots of recent works at Cumwhinton Drive in Carlisle – we hope you’ll agree that the roads are looking smooth and amazing thanks to our highways team.
If you spot a pothole or other problem with the, report it online at: Report a problem with a street or road | Cumberland Council
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Following the report of a shocking incident involving a teenage boy from St John Henry Newman Catholic School in Carlisle recently, Cumberland Council have been and continue to work closely with school leaders, Cumbria Police, Anti Racism Cumbria and Multi-Cultural Cumbria to provide support to affected students, their families and to the wider school community.
You can read our full joint statement by clicking the link.
We have continued our progress to manage the financial pressures we inherited on 1 April 2023, a report considered by leading councillors this week revealed.
Members of the Executive committee were meeting in Carlisle to consider the council’s Q3 finance report for this current financial year.
This predicts a continued narrowing of any overspend this financial year to £5.8m. This is £2.7m lower than in the previous three months and considerably lower than in the first quarter when the gap was forecast to be more than £17m.
The improved financial position is largely due to reduced borrowing costs, income from investments as well as the work being carried out across the council to reduce costs and make services more effective.
There remains a number of pressures on the council’s budget, including a significant overspend forecast in children’s services due to a high demand for services.
We joined a series of activities to mark the first ever action day on ageism this week.
The move comes as the council joins the Centre for Aging Better’s network of Age-Friendly Communities, which forms part of our commitment to promote respect and appreciation for individuals of all ages within the organisation, as well as be a beacon of good practice to others in the community.
Our membership of the Age-Friendly Communities network means we will also take an active role in ensuring older people participate in community life and age well. This includes taking into consideration age-based requirements when it comes to planning things like transport, housing, outdoor spaces, social participation, community support and health services.
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Senhouse Street in Maryport reopens
Maryport’s main shopping street has reopened to traffic this past week after extensive works to create a new gateway to the town.
Senhouse Street was closed so that the road and its parking could be upgraded and reconfigured, with improvements made to its public realm too. Cluttered street furniture has been removed and new signage and planters are due to be installed.
Carlisle Station Gateway project update - demolition of The Pools building
Carlisle Station Gateway project has scheduled the demolition of The Pools building, for week commencing, Monday 25 March 2024.
The works will take approximately six weeks, weather permitting, with the designated area already secured by fencing for safety. The demolition is a key next step in the delivery of the Carlisle Station Gateway Project and will open the area of the rear of the station making way for a new public square and public car park.
The demolition of The Pools will not impact the Turkish Baths. We are actively collaborating with 'The Friends of the Turkish Baths' to ensure positive outcomes for this building. James Street will remain open for vehicular traffic during the works. The pavements adjacent to The Pools are closed and will remain closed throughout the works for public safety.
Motoring ahead with travel plans for Millom
Following a recent Town Deal engagement event, thanks have been passed on to the community and businesses of Millom and Haverigg for their involvement and input.
A chance to take a fresh look at plans to make moving around Millom and Haverigg safer and easier took place on Wednesday 6 March and an online consultation continued until Wednesday 20 March.
Officers from Cumberland Council and representatives from the Millom Town Deal Board were on hand during the dedicated drop-in afternoon that looked at proposed changes to Connecting Millom and Haverigg - one of four Millom Town Deal projects.
The event was held at Millom Guide Hall, with residents and those who work in or visit the communities were invited to attend.
Landlords can benefit from a wealth of free training, courtesy of Cumberland Council.
The council is providing the training to property landlords in the area, with the support of the National Residential Landlords Association.
The event will take place on Friday 5 April, from 9.30am until 5pm at the Civic Centre, Carlisle.
Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Work has begun to appoint the first roles to an exciting £4.8m scheme that will create a centre of excellence in research into local health-related issues affecting people in north and west Cumbria.
Cumberland Council is receiving the funding invested by National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to set up its new NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC).
The money will go towards the creation of a new research team which will work with partners in the voluntary sector. Its work will largely focus on some of the more deprived local communities across the new local authority area. The first roles are a Research and Innovation Manager who will lead the scheme, supported by two research officers.
A Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II has been launched.
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will build on the success of the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund and will deliver a £660 million commitment of new funding to smaller businesses.
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