The Workington Together Community Panel met to discuss investment in the community and receive updates on council activity. The panel approved funding for Cumbria Cricket Ltd, Workington Cricket Club, Age UK North Cumbria, and Community Rail Cumbria. Members also reviewed updates on various local initiatives and highway projects.

Investing in our Neighbourhoods

The panel approved several investments from the Neighbourhood Investment Fund (NIF):

• Cumbria Cricket Ltd: The panel agreed to invest £1,398 in the Cumbria Cricket Pathway Early Engagement Plan, a pilot programme aimed at expanding access to cricket for children aged 9-12 in the Workington area. The funding will cover staffing, promotion, venue hire, and travel costs. The initiative seeks to create an inclusive environment where cricket is accessible to all, focusing on children and young people living in areas of deprivation.
• Workington Cricket Club: A £14,379 investment was approved for Workington Cricket Club to install new CCTV, purchase groundskeeping equipment, and support resources for cricket games, the youth club, and the women's club. The funding aims to ensure a safe and functional environment for games and increase the number of non-playing volunteers at the club.
• Age UK North Cumbria: The panel agreed to invest £5,581 in Age UK North Cumbria to support essential electrical works, IT provision, decorating costs, and suitable seating for a new support centre for the elderly in Workington. The centre will offer person-centred preventative support, including information and advice, welfare benefit applications, and assistance with fuel poverty and digital inclusion.
• Community Rail Cumbria: A £350 investment was approved for Community Rail Cumbria's 'Ticket to Independence' project. This initiative involves creating a series of display panels in collaboration with learning disability and adult care organisations, to be displayed at railway stations, including Workington station. The panels will promote active and accessible travel along the Cumbrian Coast Line.
• Workington Heritage Group: Members noted an application for £1,296 awarded to the Workington Heritage Group, for new audio units to assist visitors to tour the Helena Thompson Museum in Workington.

The panel also received an update on the Summer Holiday Activity Fund (HAF) through the Cumberland Holidays Activity and Food Programme – Summer 2025, including the implementation of the summer programme, the launch of the booking system, and plans for Winter 2025.

Community Panel Update

The Area Planning Manager provided an update on recent activities within the Workington Together Community Panel area. Key points included:

• Co-opted Members: The panel acknowledged the contributions of its three co-opted members: Deborah Naylor, Area Operations Manager at Inspira, Richard Wilson, who has experience delivering The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and Harvey Benson, a care leaver and advocate for young people.
• Seaton Focus Group: A group has been formed to address youth provision and anti-social behaviour in the Seaton area, with support from Councillor Jimmy Grisdale.
• Operation Respect: The community event aimed at fostering community cohesion and addressing anti-social behaviour was held in Northside Community Centre and Westfield.
• Land and Property Disposals Policy: The panel was informed about the new Land and Property Disposals Policy, which prioritises value for money for residents and the disposal of surplus assets. Windermere House, a vacant industrial unit on Peart Road, Workington, has been identified as surplus to requirements and is scheduled for disposal.
• Workington Gateway Project and Town Deal: The council has been engaging with local residents and businesses about capital projects in Workington, including improvements to road connections and active travel links.
• Family Help, Prevention and Youth Justice: Updates were provided on the Family Help, Prevention and Youth Justice service, the Youth SAFE and Youth RISE Teams, and the Early Careers and Apprenticeships team.

The Local Area Network Manager highlighted recent and upcoming highways works in the area, including major improvement works on Murray Road, Ramsay Brow, and Hall Brow as part of the 'Workington Town Centre Public Realm and Connectivity' and 'Workington Gateway' projects.

Highways and Transport Strategic Board Minutes

The panel reviewed the minutes from the Highways and Transport Strategic Board meeting held on 24 July 2025¹. A member asked when the Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) agreed by the board would be implemented. The Local Area Network Manager said that works had already begun and would be implemented in the coming months, with work planning looking to group similar works together to save costs.

Library Engagement with Young People

The Service Manager for Libraries and Community Hubs presented on library service activities and engagement with children and young people in the panel area. The presentation covered activity programmes in public libraries, including the Summer Reading Challenge, STEM events provided by BAE Systems², the Holiday Activity Programme, and weekly Rhyme Time and Story Tots sessions.

The Service Manager presented figures for libraries in the Panel area covering footfall, the number of children and young people registered and those who were active borrowers, the utilisation of the Book Bus and Topic Boxes by local schools and the headlines from the recent 'Libraries fit for the future' survey which had showcased disengagement with the Library Service from some secondary aged children, and identified a number of factors which young people wished to see from the service in the future.

Members raised questions about the disengagement with the Book Bus or Topic Boxes by some schools, funding of these services, opening times for the libraries in Workington and Seaton, the comparison of digital and physical borrowing from the service, footfall compared with previous years and the impact of commercial outlets, such as Café West in Workington, on attendance in libraries.

It was noted that a report on the Libraries fit for the future survey was to be presented to the Executive in early 2026.