COUNTY COUNCIL LOCAL COMMITTEE FOR BARROW Meeting date: 8 th March 2013 From: The Chief Executive RURAL PROJECTS UPDATE 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This report gives details of a summary of the work programme undertaken by the Rural Projects Officer since March 2009 to date. 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 aims of the Council Plan: Challenging poverty in all its forms; Ensuring that the most vulnerable people in our communities receive the support they need; and, Improving the chances in life of the most disadvantaged in Cumbria 2.2 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 Dalton North Ward – Askam and Ireleth – Major projects Over the last four years the Rural Projects Officer has worked on a number of projects in Askam and Ireleth including project managing the refurbishment of Askam Community Centre for Barrow Borough Council which was a £250,000 scheme. For Askam and Ireleth Parish Council the Rural Projects Officer managed from design to implementation a £30,000 environmental enhancement scheme at Duddon Road Car Park on the SSSI site fringing the Duddon Estuary. Working with the Askam Old Age Pensioners Group the RPO raised funding from charitable trusts to enable the Rankin Hall owned by the pensioners group to achieve full disabled access to the main hall and toilets. The RPO also assisted the Lots Charity who own the 11 hectare site with governance issues, site security and access and made an application on behalf of the group to the Big Lottery to secure funding for a wildlife garden. 4.2 Young People- A major issue for the community was the demonstrable need for a youth club in dedicated premises. The unused Grade II listed Railway Station owned by Network Rail and leased by Northern Rail was a focus for a multi-agency team which started work in 2008 with a remit to open a youth café. The RPO took a lead role in developing the project working with the elected member for Dalton North ward and the Community Rail Officer. Despite the best efforts of all partners and attempts to lease another building the project had to be wound up. Sustainability of the project in the future being a major issue. The development of a Friends group for the station and the early indications of a project emerging to involve all the railway stations on the Cumbria Coast line are reasons to be optimistic about some development in the future. 4.3 Support to Askam Parish Council -The Rural Projects Officer has provided dedicated and intensive support to Askam and Ireleth Parish Council throughout the last four years. This has taken the form of guidance over the conduct of meetings, budgeting and improving contact with residents. The RPO has worked with the Parish Council to establish a high quality website for the community. .Links have been established and strengthened with service providers The RPO embarked on a community led planning exercise with the Parish Council which is still on-going. 4.4 Services in the community - directly provided in the community by the public sector in particular are under pressure because of budget cuts. Askam has already lost the day centre which was held weekly at the Rankin Hall. Barrow Borough Council embarked on a programme of closing public toilets in the Borough which led to the closure of Duke Street toilets in Askam. The RPO worked with the Parish Council and District Council to investigate the feasibility of keeping the toilets open and run locally. A plan was developed for the toilets at Ireleth Cemetery working with the local church. A piece of work is still underway to involve the community in developing the library service at Askam Library. 4.5 Flooding and community resilience – The RPO has had a role in bringing parties together in order to address surface water flooding and historic areas where flooding has been a more severe event. Emergency planning has been discussed through the Community Led Planning process continues to work with the Community Rail Officer and the Friends of Askam Station on the station buildings and gardens. 4.6 Dalton South Ward – Dalton-in-Furness with Newton The Rural Projects Officer has supported the Trustees of the Drill Hall in their major refurbishment programme. The building had been subject to some poor quality renovations but had largely not been touched since 1929 and was providing a very poor environment for user groups. Of equal importance has been the intensive work on the governance of the Dalton Community Association. Numerous grant applications have been made by the RPO working with the trustees to trusts and charitable foundations both nationally and locally. A high success rate has seen income to projects in excess of £160,000. Support to the volunteer trustees in developing their Business Plan, policies and financial operations has been an important part of the work with DCA. The RPO prepared the reports for a community asset transfer of the Drill Hall from the County Council to the property trustees of the DCA. Current work includes limiting liability for the trustees by enrolling the Dalton Community Association in the new Charitable Incorporated Organisation under the umbrella of the Charity Commission. 4.7 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 which would increase income for the DCA and improve the service to the community. 4.8 Dalton Mary Portas Pilot– The Rural Projects Officer completed a submission to DCLG for Dalton to bid to become one of the 12 Mary Portas pilot 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 and Dalton with Newton Town Council has received £10,000 towards projects linked to those in the original bid document. Working with the already established Joint Dalton with Askam and Ireleth Festivals and Events Committee the RPO is developing a programme of activity based on events and regenerating the outdoor market. 4.9 Goose Green Community Network Group – The RPO is working closely with the Area Engagement Officer to support the Goose Green group with multiple issues relating to flooding, both surface water and sewerage and highways problems. This is a large group of residents who came together initially as a Community Watch group but who have formed an effective alliance to work closely with County and Borough Councillors, Highways Officers, United Utilities and the Environment Agency. 4.10 Dalton-in-Furness Town Council support - Emergency Planning/Resilience – The Rural Projects Officer is supporting both Town Councils with developing an emergency plan. Over the last year flooding has been an ongoing problem for the community in Dalton, not only in Goose Green but in other areas which had not flooded before. The RPO has attended the first meeting of an Environment Agency led Flood Action Group for Dalton. There is more work to do with both communities on emergency planning. 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 is now in excess of £200,000. 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 direct legal implications arising in the Report. 8.0 CONCLUSION 8.1 The Rural Projects programme is progressing well with a good distribution of projects between Dalton and Askam and Ireleth.