The Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed the Enterprising Cumbria Economic Strategy and its development. The Committee noted the report and comments, the planned milestones and the deliverables. The Committee also noted an update to the disaggregation of hosted services and requested an update on the disaggregation of the HR Occupational Health Team. A review of hosted services was also requested.

Cumbria Economic Strategy

The Committee received a presentation from Isobel Brown, Programme Director at Enterprising Cumbria, on the development of the new Enterprising Cumbria Economic Strategy. This new strategy will underpin the joint response to the possibility of devolution within Cumbria.

The Programme Director explained that the strategy was being developed in collaboration with the private, public, and third sectors, and that a Cumbria-wide Economic Summit would be held on 3 December 2024 at the Keswick Pencil Factory to review an early draft of the strategy.

A Member of the Committee highlighted the importance of the strategy for prosperity in Cumbria, and requested copies of the Summit's presentation, which the Programme Director agreed to share.

One Member, concerned about the scheduled end of funding in March 2026 for rural enterprises to enable apprenticeships in colleges and with land agents, requested assurance that rural enterprises were being included in the strategy. The Programme Director reassured the Committee that rural enterprises were fundamental to some developments in Cumbria, and highlighted the workshops taking place with representatives from the rural sector.

The Committee also discussed the importance of including organisations such as the Lake District National Park and the Yorkshire Dales National Park when considering the strategy.

Programme for Proposed Disaggregation

The Assistant Chief Executive (Westmorland and Furness) presented an update on the programme for the proposed disaggregation of hosted services. The Committee was informed that 21 services had been disaggregated, 10 were still to be disaggregated and 12 would remain as part of long-term hosted services.

The Committee heard that the Joint Executive Committee had approved proposals to move the disaggregation dates of two services. The disaggregation of the Registrar's service would be brought forward 12 months from 31 March 2026 to 31 March 2025, while the disaggregation of the Human Resources (HR) Occupational Health Team would be moved back six months, from 31 March 2025 to 1 October 2025. The Assistant Chief Executive confirmed that the other services still to be disaggregated were on track for their scheduled disaggregation date.

Members requested an update on the disaggregation of HR Occupational Health, asking for an explanation of why the date had been extended and for information on the number of staff affected.

The implications of devolution on the long-term hosted services were raised, with Members asking whether these services would move into a combined authority. The Assistant Chief Executive explained that both Councils were waiting for the publication of the Devolution White Paper before any decision could be taken on whether to set up a combined authority or which functions would sit within such an authority.

Finally, a Member queried whether the disaggregation of HR systems would result in different systems being used by each Council, and if the Committee would have oversight to ensure that the systems chosen were sensible. The Assistant Chief Executive explained that each authority would be responsible for deciding which HR System it used, although they were likely to be similar.

Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The Democratic Services Officer (Scrutiny) presented the Committee's work programme, highlighting the progress that had been made on actions from previous meetings.

In response to a request from a Member, it was agreed that benchmarking data from other local authorities would be included in the information provided about the tonnage of waste disposed of by each Council.

A Member asked for an update on Connecting Cumbria and the rollout of full fibre broadband, requesting information on which areas are to be upgraded, and when. The Democratic Services Officer agreed to add this to the Work Programme.