COUNTY COUNCIL LOCAL COMMITTEE FOR BARROW Meeting date: 7th November 2012 From: The Chief Executive RURAL PROJECTS UPDATE 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This report gives details of the work programme being undertaken by the Rural Projects Officer. 1.2 The Rural Projects Officer works in Dalton North and Dalton South Wards in Barrow-in-Furness delivering a work programme determined by the Rural Joint Committee. The Rural Joint Committee comprises members and officers from Barrow Borough Council, Cumbria County Council and members of the Parish Councils. 1.3 The Rural Projects Officer’s post is funded by Cumbria County Council, Barrow Borough Council, Dalton with Newton Town Council and Askam and Ireleth Parish Council. Cumbria County Council is the employing authority. 2.0 STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EQUALITY IMPLICATIONS 2.1 This project supports the delivery of the Community Plan by developing “community capacity through thriving parish councils, supporting parish charters and community plans” 2.2 In supporting the rural community and developing their voice this project will ensure that Councillors and colleagues will have “better intelligence on local views, concerns and wishes.” 2.3 This project supports the aims of the Council Plan; Better council services connected to people and places, Wealthier – a sustainable and prosperous community, Healthier - Improving the health and well being of adults, Safer – stronger and inclusive communities, Greener – world class environmental quality and effective connections between people. In particular the project aims to support: “Enhance opportunities for people and communities to influence decisions and services.” 2.4 All projects will be assessed to ensure that the equality and diversity impacts are addressed. 3.0 RECOMMENDATION 3.1 That the report is noted. 4.0 BACKGROUND 4.1 Friends of Askam Railway Station – The Rural Projects Officer continues to work with the Community Rail Officer and the Friends of Askam Station on the station buildings and gardens. The situation in respect of the renewing of franchises has cast further uncertainty for any project using the station buildings. 4.2 Jack and Jill Playgroup – Youth provision. The Rural Projects Officer is working with colleagues in Children’s Services and the trustees of the Dalton Community Association to ensure that the playgroup can continue to deliver a service to parents in Dalton in the Dalton Community Centre. With the advent of funding for two year olds the Play Group could expand their service in the Drill Hall. 4.3 Dalton Community Association – Trustee support The Rural Projects Officer is continuing to support the Trustees of the Drill Hall in their major refurbishment programme. Applications have been made to Awards for All, Francis C Scott Charitable Trust, Cumbria Community Foundation and the Gannett Trust. Francis C Scott has been successful and £4,000 has been awarded to continue the work on the east side of the building to create new toilets including disabled provision and a second meeting room. It is expected that information from the Lottery under the Awards for All programme will be received this week. Following the successful transfer of the building from the County Council to the Trustees the Rural Projects Officer has obtained free advice and support for the property trustees to form a limited liability company to control the building. Work on the new kitchen for which the Rural Projects Officer obtained £34,000 from a grant application to WREN is expected to start shortly. Further applications are underway. 4.4 Flooding – Askam and Dalton Continuing bad weather has caused significant problems in both communities which has involved liaison between the two councils and the relevant authorities. Imminent or actual inundation of properties from water/sewerage has taken priority. There have been severe problems in the Hollygate Road, Newton Road area of Dalton. At the request of Dalton Town Council, the Rural Projects Officer attended a meeting for residents of these streets and took verbatim notes of the proceedings. The Rural Projects Officer requested assistance with smart water marking for those residents who are out of their properties for six months and this has been arranged with Dalton Police and the Town Council. Also severe problems have been, and are continuing to be experienced by residents at Goose Green on two fronts. Together with the Area Engagement Officer, the Rural Projects Officer has attended the Community Watch group at Goose Green to assist residents with liaison between councillors and the relevant authorities. Lindal and Marton Parish Council has also requested assistance for flooding problems at Marton. In Askam the usual flooding hotspots have continued to cause problems. Identification of regular areas for concern in all the communities are being captured for the Making Space for Water group. 4.5 Dalton Mary Portas Pilot update– The Rural Projects Officer completed a submission to DCLG for Dalton to bid to become one of the 12 Mary Portas pilots towns. The bid involved developing a Town Team and producing a You Tube clip. Following an unsuccessful second round of submissions a further opportunity was presented for all Town Teams around the country to receive £10,000 to develop projects. This application went through the office of members of parliament for each area. We are awaiting the results of this application. The Rural Projects Officer also applied to Action for Market Towns for free town bench marking for Dalton. This was successful and free consultant support is available. 4.6 Dalton-in-Furness Town Council support - Emergency Planning – The Rural Projects Officer is supporting both communities with developing an emergency plan. A meeting was held with representatives of Dalton Town Council to identify possible emergency situations. There is more work to do with both communities on emergency planning. 4.7 Askam Parish Council support – The Rural Projects Officer continues to support the Clerk of Askam Parish Council on a weekly basis and attends every Parish Council meeting to report back on work in hand and to assist the parish council with their activities. The Rural Projects Officer took the minutes at a special meeting with residents regarding a change of use planning request for a caravan park at Park Knotts in the absence of the Clerk. 4.8 Parish Planning Day – Askam and Ireleth – The Community/Parish Plan for Askam and Ireleth is being revised. The Rural Projects Officer held a planning workshop with parish councillors and representatives of the community in Askam on Saturday, 15 th September to develop a series of action plans based on issues raised in the questionnaires. 4.9 Joint Festival and Events Committee – The Rural Projects Officer continues to work the Dalton Askam and Ireleth Events and Festival Committee and has taken over writing the minutes for that meeting. Currently plans and under way for a Christmas market on 2 nd December to be held at the Drill Hall and hopefully on the Car park adjacent. The usual Christmas celebrations in Dalton and Askam are in the planning stages. 4.10 Closure of toilets in Askam and Ireleth – The Rural Projects Officer is undertaking further work with Borough Councillor Barry Doughty, the Community Rail Officer and Askam and Ireleth Parish Council to find a solution which will enable Duke Street toilets to be re-opened. 4.11 Members £12k Capital Fund– The Rural Projects Officer continues to work with Dalton North and Dalton South Councillors on members delegated revenue fund projects. 4.12 Parish and Town Council, Rural Joint Committee – The Rural Projects Officer is attending Dalton Town Council and Askam and Ireleth Parish Council meetings on a regular basis to update council members on the status of projects, receive feedback and report on a variety of issues including Highways. 4.13 Involvement in Area Engagement Activity - The Rural Projects Officer is working with colleagues on the Library service engagement plan in Askam and Ireleth. Askam Library is also a priority for the Parish Council. 4.14 Match and Levered Funding – Members may be interested to note that to date the Rural Projects Officer has brought in additional funding to assist with projects in Askam and Ireleth and Dalton. The current total of funding received to projects has risen from £140,367 to £175,367. 5.0 OPTIONS 5.1 Members are invited to discuss the report and note the progress made on projects. 6.0 RESOURCE AND VALUE FOR MONEY IMPLICATIONS 6.1 There are no direct financial implications within this report as it is for noting only. 6.2 The Local Committee has been asked to contribute to this post in another report brought to this Local Committee meeting. 7.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS 7.1 There are no legal implications at this time. 8.0 CONCLUSION 8.1 The Rural Projects programme is progressing well with a good distribution of projects between Dalton and Askam and Ireleth. Good and productive relationships are being embedded with the two rural communities. Jill Stannard Chief Executive 15 th October 2012 APPENDICES No appendices Electoral Division(s): Dalton North Ward and Dalton South Ward. * Please remove whichever option is not applicable Executive Decision No Key Decision No If a Key Decision, is the proposal published in the current Forward Plan? N/A Is the decision exempt from call-in on grounds of urgency? No If exempt from call-in, has the agreement of the Chair of the relevant N/A* Overview and Scrutiny Committee been sought or obtained? Has this matter been considered by Overview and Scrutiny? No If so, give details below. Has an environmental or sustainability impact assessment been N/A undertaken? Has an equality impact assessment been undertaken? No N.B. If an executive decision is made, then a decision cannot be implemented until the expiry of the eighth working day after the date of the meeting – unless the decision is urgent and exempt from call-in and the Head of Member Services and Scrutiny has obtained the necessary approvals.