Last week I had the opportunity to attend a half day conference in Gretna, about the ‘Borderlands Place Plan’ programme. This is the programme, funding out of the Government’s Borderlands Growth Deal to invest money into 16 of the smaller towns across the border. Each town has up to £3 million investment promised. In Cumberland […]

Last week was the regular meeting of the Border, Fellside and North Carlisle Community Panel. This is the ‘area committee’ for this part of Cumberland, the seven, mostly rural, council wards to the north and west of Carlisle. AppointmentsRoger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dem) was re-elected as Chair. John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative) […]

Last week was the regular meeting of Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Panel. This is the body made up of 10 councillors (five from Cumberland, five from Westmorland) to scrutinise the work of Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. As Vice-Chair, I was chairing this meeting as the Chair had sent his apologies. Policing and […]

The decision sheet for Planning Committee, Wednesday, 17th July, 2024, has been published. Decision sheet details on public web site The following items are included in the decision sheet in Longtown Ward 24/0093 – Land at Low Harker Farm, Low Harker, Harker, Carlisle, CA6 4DP – Approved.Erection Of A 400 MW Battery Storage Facility With […]

Fibrus Broadband are holding a couple of meetings to let people know about the broadband infrastructure investment that has been happening different parts of the ward. These are: Rockcliffe Centre • Date:                 14th August 2024 • Timings:           7 pm to 8:30 pm • Venue:              The Rockcliffe Centre To join the upcoming community meeting and gain insights into this […]

Community Grants are available again this year from Cumberland Council. In this area, each local council ward has been allocated £5,000 for small grants, with the potential for larger grants from an area pot of money.  If you are involved in a community organisation or project, please do think about applying. Last year it was great […]

Last Tuesday was the regular Full Council meeting for Cumberland Council. This is the full meeting of the Council, which every Councillor attends. Minutes of the ExecutiveMinutes of two meetings of the Executive were presented. I asked a question about school attendance: I welcomed the fact that the Council was signing up to a charter […]

At the last full Council meeting, myself and other members of the Liberal Democrat Group asked the following questions of notice to the Council Leader and Executive. Here are the questions and full responses: From Councillor Pickstone to Councillor Southward – Could the Portfolio Holder inform members how the Council will work with telecoms providers […]

This Wednesday, was Cumberland Council’s Budget Council meeting. This is the formal meeting, which takes place once a year, where Councillors together agree the budget for the following financial year (ie the year starting 1 April 2024), and set the rates of Council Tax for the new year. Council Budget 2024-25 Like all local councils, […]