The Fells and Solway Community Panel of Cumberland Council are scheduled to meet on Monday 22 September 2025 at Allonby Village Hall. The agenda includes discussion of the Neighbourhood Investment Fund, a community panel update, and highways matters. The panel will also receive an update on the Highways and Transport Strategic Board.

Investing in our Neighbourhoods

The panel is scheduled to discuss a report about the Neighbourhood Investment Fund (NIF). The Neighbourhood Investment Fund budget allocation to this Community Panel is £60,727, as agreed at Full Council on 4 March 2025. A carry forward of £840 from 2024/25 is expected, bringing the total amount available to this Panel for the financial year 2025/26 to £61,567.

The report includes several investment applications for consideration and approval from the budget allocation:

• Age UK North Cumbria has applied for £4,470 to extend their Rolling On project to address the needs of older adults in Wigton and the surrounding area. The officer recommendation is for £4,470 from the Neighbourhood Investment Fund, including a £1,470 contribution from the local member for Wigton's allocation.
• Woman Up, a community interest organisation[^2] focusing on supporting women and girls, has applied for £2,500 to support refugee and asylum-seeking women in the Wigton area. The officer recommendation is for £2,500 from the Neighbourhood Investment Fund, including a £1,500 contribution from the local member for Wigton's allocation.
• Kirkbampton Parish Council has applied for £6,000 to build a new inclusive play area in Little Bampton. The officer recommendation is for £4,000 from the Neighbourhood Investment Fund, including a £2,000 contribution from the local member for Thursby's allocation.
• Kirkbampton Village Hall has applied for £1,000 to purchase new curtains to improve acoustics in the main hall. The officer recommendation is £1,000 from the local member for Thursby's allocation.
• Hesket Newmarket Community Shop Ltd has applied for £7,000 to revitalise the community shop and develop an inclusive community hub and tearoom. The officer recommendation is for £4,000 from the Neighbourhood Investment Fund, including a £2,000 contribution from the local member for Thursby's allocation.
• Community Rail Partnership has applied for £2,800 to create a series of display panels for the 'ticket to independence' project, promoting active and accessible travel along the Cumbrian Coast Line. The officer recommendation is £350 from the local member for Aspatria's allocation.

The report also includes updates on projects that have already received funding, such as Richmond Hill Primary School, Anthorn Community Association Play Area, Cummersdale School, and Bolton Low Houses Social & Education Centre.

Applicants in receipt of Neighbourhood Investment Funding are asked to complete Project Achievement Reports (PAR's) upon completion of their projects. The following section provides a summary of completed PAR's received since the last panel meeting.

Community Panel Update

The panel is scheduled to receive an update on recent activity within the Fells and Solway Community Panel area. This includes updates on:

• The High Bridge, Stockdalewath and Gaitsgill project to bring mobile connectivity to rural areas.
• A flooding drop-in event held in Raughton Head School.
• The Wigton Area Emergency Response Group (WAERG).
• Silloth Affordable Food Provision, a project to provide affordable food in Silloth.
• The Wigton Family Hub Fun Day.
• The Borderland Place Programme update.

The update also includes information on the Cumberland Holiday Activities and Food Programme, Family Help, Prevention and Youth Justice updates, and the Early Careers and Apprenticeship Team.

Land & Disposals Policy

The panel is scheduled to note the new Land and Property Disposals Policy and the role that local members and the community panel play in the process. The report states that the priority of the programme is that residents receive value for money from their council, and holding onto surplus assets that deliver no community benefit diverts funds away from frontline services.

The panel will also note the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) applications / CAT Expressions of Interest (EOI) from within this community panel area and provide comments that can be considered as part of the decision. These include:

• Northern Fells Group (NFG) - Transfer of Land, where NFG currently operate their Men in Sheds project in Caldbeck and they have been given the opportunity to purchase the shed from the landlord and are seeking a transfer of the land on a 99-year lease at a peppercorn rent to the NFG charity with no restrictions on building.
• Caldbeck Parish Council – Transfer of Caldbeck Tennis Court, where Caldbeck Parish Council have applied for a CAT in respect of Caldbeck Tennis Court to enable them to develop it into a multi-use games area.

Local Consultations

The panel will note that the council has begun work on a new Local Plan for Cumberland (excluding those areas within the Lake District National Park and St. Cuthbert's Garden Village). The first public consultation stage is the 'Issues and Options', which will run for nine weeks from Monday 1st September to Friday 31st October 2025.

Highways Matters

Panel members are scheduled to discuss highways matters within the Fells and Solway area. The report includes updates on recently completed works, such as surface dressing, resurfacing schemes, drainage, lighting, road markings, and bridges and structures. It also includes information on ongoing works and upcoming works, such as drainage works, carriageway works, resurfacing schemes, road markings, traffic signals, street lighting, and bridges & structures.

Highways and Transport Strategic Board Update

The panel is scheduled to receive and note the minutes from the Highways and Transport Strategic Board meeting held on 24 July 2025. Councillors Dobson, Eldon, Grisdale, Lansbury, Councillor Elaine Lynch and Perry were also in attendance representing their respective Community Panel.

The minutes include discussions on pedestrian safety on Paving Brow, Brampton, the Workington and Surrounding Area Traffic Regulation Order Review, the Keswick and Surrounding Area Traffic Regulation Order Review, the Winter Service Policy - Operational Review 2025, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Solutions, the Local Transport Grant - 2025/26, and the Bus Services Improvement Programme.