Budget agreed, update on Cockermouth's Old Courthouse building, launch of our apprenticeship scheme and more...
Latest news from Cumberland Council

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Cumberland Council agrees budget
CUMBERLAND councillors have agreed a budget for the next financial year which protects front-line services and delivers on the priorities of residents.
The balanced budget was agreed at the Council meeting in Carlisle this week [6 March 2024] against a backdrop of challenging financial conditions for local government.
Central to the plans is spending on improving the health and wellbeing of residents. Initiatives which will be rolled out over the next 12 months include anti-smoking and Live Longer Better campaigns, and the setting up of the Health Determinants Research Collaborative in the area which will look to better understand and address local health issues so that the council can respond in a more meaningful way.
The budget proposals also include spending in areas which meet other key commitments. The first of these is to address inequalities across Cumberland through initiatives like the Food Cumberland Partnership and a programme to transform its children and family wellbeing services.
The area’s economy is due to get a boost with spending on regeneration projects and to help tackle climate change the council is planning on rolling out more electric vehicle charging points and pursuing active travel opportunities.
The budget also means that frontline services that are relied on by many residents are protected including adult's and children’s services, schools, libraries and roads. In addition, the council’s transformation programme is centred on improving all services over the next few years as it takes a more preventative approach.
The plan also includes better use of council assets and buildings to help it realise the opportunities of local government reorganisation. There are also plans to invest in, and make the most of, technology to improve services.
Council tax is the main contributor to the council’s net budget accounting for more than 50% of its income. To continue to maintain services, the council has therefore agreed a 4.99% increase in council tax. This includes a 2% increase to the Social Care Levy.
This means that for a Band D property the council tax bill will rise by £86.35 a year, or £1.66 a week, to help pay for council services.
To support those on low incomes, the council’s budget includes funding for the council tax reduction scheme which can help reduce the cost of a bill.
Councillors also agreed to increase the premium paid by second homes by 100% from 2025/26.
*Read more* [
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Light District image
Get your tickets soon for St Bees Light District event
Tickets are still available for a spectacular light and sounds show set to be held at St Bees Priory next week.
The new Light District event has been lined up by Cumberland Council and will be held on the evenings of Thursday 14 and Friday 15 March.
*Tickets for Space: God, The Universe and Everything* cost £4 and are available to buy online at discovercarlisle.co.uk [
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*Buy tickets* [
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Cake at Taste Cumbria
*Taste Cumbria is back*
Our first Taste event of the year is Taste of Wigton on Saturday 20th April! We will have some great bands, variety of traders, kids activities, fairground rides and hot food and drink. Plus a youth market being held in the Market Hall.
If you would be interested in trading please fill in the below form
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If you are 21 and under and would like to take part in the youth market, please email ellie.jones@cumberland.gov.uk
Also in this week's edition:
* Update on the Old Courthouse, Cockermouth [ #link_1 ]
* More than 60 new apprentices wanted by Cumbrian councils [ #link_8 ]
* Council celebrates transformational service [ #link_6 ]
* Families invited as Whitehaven’s ‘Family Hub on the Harbour’ announces Easter opening [ #link_5 ]
* Have your say [ #link_4 ]
* Maryport improvement works continue [ #link_3 ]
* Talk and Tidy event in Cleator Moor [ #link_9 ]
* Marking International Women’s Day [ #link_7 ]
* Join us at our Community Panels [ #link_10 ]
* Community helps to shape transport scheme for Millom [ #link_2 ]
* Make sure you are ready for the elections in May [ #link_11 ]
* Operator sought for exciting new activity and leisure facility [ #link_12 ]
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Update on the Old Courthouse, Cockermouth
Former courthouse building
This week we confirmed to the owner of the Old Courthouse building in Cockermouth that we will complete the urgent works on the building and will pursue him to recoup the costs.
The council had previously served Section 54 Notices, pursuant to the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, on the private owner. This enables a local authority to carry out urgent works for the preservation of listed buildings in their area after giving notice to the owner.
Two notices were served on the owner of the property (January and February 2024) requiring urgent works to be completed. As no steps have been taken, the council has confirmed that they will complete the urgent works and will pursue the owner to recoup the costs.
*Read more* [
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More than 60 new apprentices wanted by Cumbrian councils
Apprenticeships poster
Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council have this week begun searching for more than 60 apprentices, offering a fantastic opportunity to start a new career in local government.
Apprenticeship opportunities are now available in a variety of different roles such as Civil Engineering, Highways Maintenance, Adult Support Care, Customer Service, Business Admin, Project Management and more, with opportunities from Level 2 to Level 4.
The application window is now open and closes at midnight on Sunday 24 March 2024, with applications to be submitted online.
*Read more* [
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Council celebrates transformational service
Join us as we celebrate National Social Prescribing Day on Thursday, March 14.
The council’s social prescribing team is hosting an event at Christ Central Church in Workington from 10.30am until 1.30pm. Anyone can come along, find out more about the service and take part in activities.
Social prescribing helps people improve their health and wellbeing by connecting them with community groups, activities or services. This can often result in a reduction in doctors’ visits for conditions triggered by loneliness or inactivity.
The council’s Community Connectors can support people directly, or refer them to Joy, an expansive online directory of local groups, services and activities.
At the event on March 14, as well as lots of information on social prescribing and other wellbeing support, there will be free tea and coffee and some mindful activities – visitors can make a biodegradable plant pot and plant a seed to take home.
*Read more* [
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Families invited as Whitehaven’s ‘Family Hub on the Harbour’ announces Easter opening
Family hub
The Old Barclays Bank, Whitehaven Harbour, is being transformed into a welcoming family-friendly hub, ready for Easter holiday opening celebrations.
Significant refurbishment work is underway to prepare Whitehaven Harbour’s Old Barclays Bank to welcome its first families this Easter, as part of Cumberland Council’s Family Hubs initiative [
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The landmark building – renamed by local families as the ‘Family Hub on the Harbour’ – is being repurposed and refurbished to provide a welcoming one-stop-shop Family Hub, where children, young people and their families can access a range of family services and the support and advice they might need.
The redevelopment is due to be completed by April in time for the grand opening, set for the second week of the Easter holidays.
Families in and around Whitehaven are being invited to drop in to the opening event, Thursday 11 April 11am–3pm.
The opening celebration event will offer free family fun activities and refreshments, as well as an opportunity to see the new Family Hub and find out more about the services and activities on offer.
*Read more* [
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Don't forget to tell us about your experiences of our children and family wellbeing services. From health visitors, to SEND support and targeted family help, we provide a whole range of services for families. Have your say online by 15 March.
[
] Hear more about our ambitions for our services by listening to our podcast. [
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Have your say
Our children and family wellbeing consultation is just one of a number of topics we are talking to people about at the moment.
We are also in consultation about our waste collection services, and Cumberland Care.
Please do take the time to give us your views.
*Have your say online* [
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Maryport improvement works continue
We started improvement works to the open space at Maryport’s Promenade on Friday 8 March.
Railings in the Sea Brow Gardens are at the end of their life, and will be replaced with upgraded galvanised railings and will ensure the safety of members of the public using the paths.
They will also provide a significant aesthetic upgrade to the area, which will be further enhanced by footpath surface upgrades at a later date.
Maryport-based firm Shane Taylor Welding Ltd has been contracted to undertake the works which are likely to take around a week to complete.
The contractors will start work on Friday 8 March and during the installation, the upper level of the Sea Brow Gardens will be closed to the* *public.
The schemes are part of a £12 million regeneration project which aims to enhance and develop three of the town’s biggest assets - the town’s high street, harbour and promenade.
The developments will be funded by the Government’s Future High Streets Fund and managed by Cumberland Council.
*Read more* [
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Talk and Tidy event in Cleator Moor
Cleator Moor Talk and Tidy event
We'd like to say a huge than you to everyone who joined us in Cleator Moor for our recent Talk and Tidy event.
Organised with our partners from the Local Focus Hub, the event was a chance to tidy up the town centre and chat about community issues.
The weather was kind and we collected a large amount of litter - thank you everyone!
Talk and Tidy events are run regularly in the former Copeland area - keep an eye on our socials or the next one. Local Focus Hubs bring together partners including the council, police, housing providers and many others, to jointly tackle antisocial behaviour and improve social cohesion.
...and our enforcement officer cleans up at awards
Our Enforcement Officer, Gary Banks, has won the Excellence in Enforcement Award at the Keep Britain Tidy local authority Network Awards 2024.
Gary discovered he had won the Excellence in Enforcement Award at the charity’s annual Network Conference and Awards held in York on Thursday 29 February. The Award recognises Gary's dedication, determination, passion, and drive to improve the beautiful place that is Cumberland. Continuously going above and beyond in tackling waste crime, empowering communities and being a friendly face on the streets.
The Keep Britain Tidy Network Conference and Awards is dedicated to recognising and promoting excellence in local environmental initiatives and brings together more than 150 influential decision-makers from local authorities across England.
*Read more* [
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Marking International Women’s Day
On Friday we marked International Women’s Day - a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
The theme for IWD 2024 is Inspire Inclusion. When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.
Learn more about this year's theme online. [
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And you can see a message from our Deputy Leader, Cllr Lisa Brown on our Facebook feed. [
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Join us at our Community Panels
Community Panels logo
Next week sees our South Cumberland, Fells and Solway and Whitehaven and Coastal Community Panels meet up.
You can find out more about these, and other, meetings at: Monthly meetings calendar - March 2024 | Cumberland Council (moderngov.co.uk) [
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Community helps to shape transport scheme for Millom
Millom town deal logo
The latest plans for a scheme to improve ways to move around Millom and Haverigg sustainably have been shared with the community.
Residents, business owners, those involved in local organisations and other community members attended engagement events to view updated designs for Connecting Millom and Haverigg.
The project is one of four that make up Millom Town Deal which secured £20.6 million from the Government’s Towns Fund in November 2022 with an additional £8.7 million in match funding to help the town and its communities to thrive in the future.
*Read more* [
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Make sure you are ready for the elections in May
On 2 May 2024 there will be elections for the Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC).
You can find out more about registering to vote, voter ID, and postal and proxy voting on our website.
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Operator sought for exciting new activity and leisure facility
An exciting opportunity to take on the management of a new activity and leisure facility in Millom and Haverigg is underway.
The process provides the chance for potential operators to submit their interest.
In addition to submitting information through Cumberland Council’s online procurement CHEST, potential providers can also email the procurement team direct or send information in the post.
The deadline for responses is 4pm on Friday 29 March 2024.
The new activity and leisure facility is part of the Activating Community Health projects and is one of four projects that make up the Millom Town Deal which secured £20.6m from the UK Government's Town's Fund alongside a further £8.7m in match funding.
The project will offer a swimming pool, sports hall and fitness studios within the setting of a community and leisure hub.
*Read more* [
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Join us at Cumberland
We have a number of jobs available at the moment. Check out our jobs newsletter and see if there is a new role for you. And if you've not subscribed to this email already, then do so today.
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This email was sent to david.carr@trustedcarcheck.co.uk using govDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Cumberland Council · Civic Centre, Rickergate, Carlisle CA3 8QG GovDelivery logo
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