The Petteril Community Panel met to discuss highway and transport issues, updates to community projects, and future funding. The panel agreed to invest in several local community projects, including upgrades to community centres, support for youth projects, and initiatives to improve local environments. They also reviewed updates on community asset transfers and discussed upcoming consultations and events.

Investing in Neighbourhoods

The panel considered investment applications from the Neighbourhood Investment Fund (NIF). The total NIF budget available to the Petteril Community Panel for the financial year 2024/25 is £171,856. Investments up to £1,500 can be agreed outside the meeting in consultation with the Chair, local Member and Senior Manager – Community Services.

The panel agreed to the following investments:

• Harraby Community Centre - £23,863 to upgrade the seating within the community theatre. Harraby Community Centre has served the community since 1963 and is run by a board of trustees as a registered charity. The centre offers a wide range of activities for all ages. The funding will be used to match fund with other funding avenues to replace the current 'raked' seating mechanism.
• Greystone Community Centre - £12,150 to extend their nursery provision. Greystone Community Centre are a local community site which includes a nursery. The investment would be used to purchase a basic package of furniture to operate the pop-up nursery . The aim is to create a space to generate an additional 16-20 places for ages 9mths-2yrs per day.
• Currock Community Centre - £23,863 to refurbish and upgrade one of their downstairs rooms. Currock Community Centre would like to refurbish and upgrade the lounge within the centre. The refurbishment will assist the centre in attracting new users and generate additional income from room hire.
• Groundwork North East and Cumbria - £17,500 to create a Green Hub within the Upperby ward. Groundwork North East and Cumbria will use the investment to help them to create outdoor learning spaces and green classrooms, where children can engage in hands-on environmental education.
• Spiral - £6,750 towards the salary for the project lead to run the pilot of their new Stepping Stones project. Spiral works with young people aged 8 to 25, as well as their guardians, to address and prevent the harmful effects of bullying. The project will provide a space to develop skills to support re-engagement into education.
• Cumbria Cricket - £466 towards coaches time, hire of facilities, promotion/publicity and travel costs, to run the pilot Cumbria Cricket Pathway Early Engagement Plan. Cumbria Cricket are looking to create an environment where cricket is open, welcoming, and accessible to all. They will focus on targeting children and young people living in LSEA's¹ by providing participation opportunities in areas where they live and can access.

Community Panel Update

The panel received an update on recent activities and events within the community. This included a network event held on 23 July 2025 at Carlisle Youth Zone, where young co-researchers presented their work around the panel's priorities.

The panel also discussed Community Asset Transfers (CATs)² and long leases to community groups. Councillor Lisa Hinton, Deputy Leader (Statutory) and Adult Social Care Portfolio Holder, referred to the Land and Property Disposals Policy, and noted that:

...there will be engagement with local members where a property or piece of land is the subject of a CAT or long lease (25 years or more). Although the policy does not require Community Panels to make decisions regarding CATs / long leases, they have a clear remit to influence. Being given an opportunity to comment on potential disposals to communities within their individual footprint is therefore viewed as part of the process.

The panel noted updates on CAT applications and expressions of interest (EOI) within the community panel area, including:

• The Rock Youth Project - The organisation had expressed an interest in, and applied for, a CAT but they are now following a process with the Council for a long term lease which will enable them to apply for external funding. The Rock Youth Project are a registered charity and currently have a 25-year lease running from May 2018 for the former Currock Bowling Green on Scalegate Road.
• Turkish Baths, Carlisle - The Friends of Carlisle Victorian Turkish Baths have requested a CAT for the Turkish Baths. Regular meetings are held to progress this and heads of terms are in development. The applicants have provided details of their funding proposals and applications which will allow the project to proceed.

Highways and Transport Strategic Board

The panel received the minutes of the meeting of the Highways and Transport Strategic Board held on 24 July 2025.

The key discussion points from the minutes were:

• Pedestrian Safety on Paving Brow, Brampton - The Board agreed to pass the issue of speeding traffic to the Police for enforcement, investigate the feasibility of a pedestrian warning sign, and consider the matter further at a future Border, Fellside and North Carlisle Community Panel meeting and as part of a future Traffic Regulation Order review.
• Workington and Surrounding Area Traffic Regulation Order Review - The Board agreed to bring the Cumberland Council (Various Roads, Workington and Surrounding Area) (Consolidation and Provision of Traffic Regulations) Order 20>< ( the Order) into operation as advertised SAVE FOR the following proposal which is not to be introduced: Proposal No. 13 – Church Road, Harrington.
• Keswick and Surrounding Area Traffic Regulation Order Review - The Board agreed that the Cumberland Council (Various Roads, Keswick and Surrounding Area) (Consolidation and Provision of Traffic Regulations) Order 20>< ( the Order) be brought into operation as advertised, SAVE FOR Proposal 1: Keswick Streets, which sought to introduce No Waiting at Any Time" restrictions on the streets shown in Appendix 3 of the report, which is to be introduced IN PART ONLY ie. to the extent shown in Appendix 4 of the report.
• Winter Service Policy - Operational Review 2025 - The Board approved the proposed amendments to Appendix 1 of the Winter Service Policy 2023-2028.
• Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Solutions - Update - The Board approved the Cumberland Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) 3-year plan, in principle a pilot scheme for Cross pavement solutions eg gullies as part of a portfolio of EV charging solutions subject to further required decision-making, and in principle a pilot for fully funded Electric Vehicle Chargers in schools subject to further required decision-making.
• Bus Services Improvement Programme - The Board agreed to procure transport operators to run new scheduled services or enhancements to existing services based on Appendix 1 of the report and delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Highways and Transport in consultation with the Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places to grant permission to award contracts once the tender assessments have been undertaken and the preferred transport operator/s identified.