The Joint Executive Committee of Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council met to discuss several key initiatives, including the Get Cumbria Working plan, Enterprising Cumbria programmes, and the disaggregation of hosted services. The committee delegated authority for the Connect to Work service co-ordinator contract and for finalising terms for a Landfill Service Deed of Variation. Members also received updates on live programmes, the disaggregation programme, and contract award decisions for hosted services.

Get Cumbria Working Plan

The committee received an update on the Get Cumbria Working plan, which aims to address labour force participation and progression in work across the region. The plan focuses on tackling health-related economic inactivity, the employment rate gap between disabled and non-disabled people, and the number of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEET).

The committee agreed to:

• Delegate authority to Cumberland Council's Director of Public Health, Customer and Community Wellbeing to approve the Terms of Reference for the Work and Health Board, following its first meeting, in consultation with the Deputy Leader of Cumberland Council, the Cabinet Member for Adult Care of Westmorland and Furness Council, and the Leaders of both councils.
• Delegate authority to Cumberland Council's Director of Place and Economy to award the contract for the Connect to Work Service Coordinator, in consultation with Westmorland and Furness Council's Director of Thriving Places and the Leaders of both councils.
• Request an update on the award of the contract for the Connect to Work Service Coordinator be brought to the January meeting of the JEC.

The Get Cumbria Working plan is expected to involve a partnership of key local stakeholders, including representatives from Integrated Care Boards, voluntary organisations, education and skills providers, and employer and business groups. The Work and Health Board will play a crucial role in providing expert advice and monitoring the delivery of the plan.

Connect to Work Programme

The Connect to Work programme is a key element of the Get Cumbria Working plan. The formal invitation to tender (ITT) was launched on 27 August 2025, seeking to appoint a single service co-ordinator to deliver the programme across Cumbria. The committee delegated authority to award the contract for the Connect to Work Service Coordinator to Cumberland Council's Director of Place and Economy, in consultation with Westmorland and Furness Council's Director of Thriving Places and the Leaders of both councils, with an update to be provided at the January meeting.

Landfill Service Deed of Variation

The committee considered a report regarding the terms of a Landfill Review Deed of Variation¹. The Joint Executive Committee delegated authority to Cumberland Council's Director of Place and Economy, in consultation with Westmorland and Furness Council's Director of Thriving Places, and the relevant portfolio holders from each council to:

• Agree the changes and revised costs to the Landfill Service proposed by Biffa Cumbria Ltd (BCL).
• Finalise the terms of and authorise Cumberland Council to enter into a further Deed of Variation to vary the Project Agreement dated 04 June 2009 (as amended) between Cumberland Council and Biffa Cumbria Ltd in relation to the Landfill Service Review.

The proposed Deed of Variation includes adjustments to the tonnage element, exclusivity for Cumbria Waste Management Ltd (CWM) to transport contract waste from household waste recycling centres, and the use of 'reception sites' for waste transfer to third-party landfill sites.

Enterprising Cumbria

The Programme Director, Isobel Brown, provided an update on the four key programmes being delivered by Enterprising Cumbria.

Monitoring Report on Live Programmes Update

The committee received the Monitoring Report on Live Programmes Update, which provided information relating to the four key programmes being delivered by Enterprising Cumbria. The report updated activities, both planned and delivered, since the last JEC meeting in July 2025.

The report noted that the Government has launched a new Business Growth Service, for which Enterprising Cumbria is identified as the local delivery partner through the Cumbria Accelerator programme.

The report also included the results from the Future Skills Questionnaire for the current academic year.

Programme of Disaggregation

The Assistant Chief Executive (Westmorland & Furness) provided an update regarding progress against the proposed disaggregation programme for hosted services in Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council.

The committee noted the successful disaggregation of the Human Resources (HR) Payroll Administration: Payroll and HR Administration Services on 31 July 2025. They also noted that the future options in relation to the pending disaggregation of the Occupational Health Service was considered at the Joint Officer Board meeting held on 12 August 2025.

Update on Contract Award Decisions for Hosted Services

The Director of Corporate and Transformation Services (Cumberland Council) presented the Update on Contract Award Decisions for Hosted Services. The report informed members of the decisions taken under the delegated authority provided to officers by the Joint Executive Committee on 19 September 2023 in respect of contracts associated with hosted services.

Joint Executive Committee Work Programme

The committee considered the Joint Executive Committee Work Programme to set out the business of future meetings and agendas.