The Lakes to Sea Community Panel is scheduled to meet on Thursday 25 September 2025 at The Centre, Ewanrigg. The agenda includes a presentation on the Lake District Valley Action Plans, and a discussion of the Investing in our Neighbourhoods Report, as well as routine updates from the Area Planning Manager. Members of the public are welcome to attend and ask questions.

Investing in our Neighbourhoods

The panel is scheduled to discuss the Investing in our Neighbourhoods Report, which sets out the current position of the Neighbourhood Investment Fund allocation to the Community Panel, as agreed by the Cumberland Council Executive. The report also presents the Lakes to Sea Community Panel Neighbourhood Investment Plan for information and discussion.

The report recommends that the panel agree to several investments from the Neighbourhood Investment Fund, including:

• £5,000 to Thirlmere Recreation Hall towards installing a heavy-duty bike shelter and bike repair kit.
• £1,500 to Gilcrux Social Fund towards utilising an unused bus shelter for a community exchange.
• £500 to Gilcrux Village Hall and Educational Trust towards replacing some tables for use by community groups.
• £12,050 to Dearham Parish Council towards replacing old playground equipment with new age-appropriate equipment.
• £870 to Osprey Cheerleading CIC towards supporting junior members to become qualified coaches on a volunteer basis.
• £700 to Community Rail Partnership towards creation of a series of display panels for the 'ticket to independence' project.
• £3,747 to TEG Virtual to purchase gazebos to expand the local makers market.

The report notes that the total Neighbourhood Investment Fund available to the panel for the financial year 2025/26 is £67,548, including a carry forward of £7,364 from 2024/25.

Applications are assessed against the locally agreed priorities for the panel area, which are:

• Transport for the community
• Community health and wellbeing
• Community involvement
• Community resilience

According to the report, potential applicants are advised to speak with the Community Development Officer, Susan O'Neill, prior to submitting an application.

Community Panel Update

The panel is scheduled to receive an update report from the Area Planning Manager, Hayley Bishop, on recent activity by Cumberland Council within the Community Panel area.

The report covers a range of topics, including:

• Panel network events and activity, such as the CDO's attendance at the Energy Coast UTC and the Hub 2U event at the Harbourside Maryport.
• Wider Cumberland activity, such as the Cumberland Holiday Activities and Food Programme and Family Help, Prevention and Youth Justice updates.
• Early Careers and Apprenticeship Team activities, including a work experience placement for a student from West Lakes Academy.
• Maryport Teenage Market.
• Capital Projects Update, including the regeneration work in Maryport.
• Highways Update, with details of recently completed and upcoming works.
• Land and Property Disposals Policy and Community Asset Transfers.

The report also provides an update on the Cumbria Local Plan consultation, which is running from 1 September to 31 October 2025.

The report notes the new Land and Property Disposals Policy and the role that local members and the community panel play in the process. The policy aims to ensure that residents receive value for money from their council and that surplus assets are disposed of to generate a financial return.

The report also notes Community Asset Transfer applications and Expressions Of Interest from within the community panel area, including requests from Broughton Moor Parish Council and Highfield Community Centre.

Highways and Transport Strategic Board Minutes

The panel is scheduled to note the minutes from the Highways and Transport Strategic Board meeting held on 24 July 2025.

Items of interest within the agenda pack for the Highways and Transport Strategic Board meeting include:

• Health and Safety Update
• Governance Update Delegation regarding Urgent Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) Outwith the Agreed 4-Year Programme
• 2025/26 Funding for Local Highway Maintenance Incentive Element
• Cockermouth and Surrounding Area Traffic Regulation Order Review
• Verge Maintenance in Cumberland

The minutes include a discussion of pedestrian safety on Paving Brow, Brampton, following a question from a member of the public. The board agreed to investigate the feasibility of providing a smaller pedestrian warning sign at the Paving Brow/Tarn Road junction end of Paving Brow, and to pass the issue of speeding traffic to the police for enforcement.

The minutes also include an update on Electric Vehicle Infrastructure solutions, and approval of the Cumberland Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure 3-year plan.