[C]umbria County Council’s Local Committee for Eden has re-elected Cllr David Whipp as Chairman and elected a new Vice Chairman for 2018/19 at a meeting in Penrith on Friday 20 April. Cllr David Whipp (Penrith Rural) was elected Chairman for a second term, with Cllr Phil Dew (Kirkby Stephen) elected to the position for vice-chairman.
Over the last 12 months, Eden Local Committee agreed over £130,000 of funds to support a range of community projects and services across Eden district between April 2017 and March 2018.
A total of 22 community projects were delivered, including; improvements to village halls, community campaigns such as ‘Keep Penrith Tidy: Love Where You Live,’ installation of several community defibrillators, benches for a community garden and to pilot an intergenerational project between a local pre-school and a supported housing scheme.
A further nine Eden-based youth groups benefitted from funds to support a range of projects including a Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling competition, support for Eden Young Carers holiday activities, a range of outdoor play and sporting equipment and supporting new and existing Youth Clubs and their activities.
Eden Local Committee also supported the creation of three new Youth Clubs in Alston, Appleby and Penrith and supported a long standing club in Kirkby Stephen.
Waste Reduction projects such as Penrith Action for Community Transition (PACT)’s new refill water scheme in Penrith, a campaign to increase composting, four of Freegle’s ‘Give and Take’ days and a range of waste reduction activities in the Alston Green Print project have all received funding.
Carlisle and Eden Citizens Advice (CACE) used their funding last year to help provide financial and ebt advice to almost 300 residents in Eden. Eden Local Committee has again agreed to provide funding to CACE to continue delivering their popular money advice services in 2018/19.
This year has also seen the launch of the new ‘Stronger Communities Fund.’ Grants are now available to encourage and enable community groups to set up social eating clubs in their village or neighbourhood, and Parish Councils in Eden are able to apply for grant funding to develop a Community Activity page on their website. Funding is also available to communities that would like to set up a Good Neighbours Scheme which looks to harness the relationships within a community to ensure all residents can access local help and support when it is needed, linking the community together.
Cllr Whipp, speaking on his appointment, said: “I’m proud and delighted to be elected to the position of Chairman of Eden Local Committee for a second term.
“I’m pleased with the progress that the committee has made in contributing towards its priority objectives around supporting the people of Eden with access to services, building up our communities to become more resilient and encouraging more and better jobs in the district – I’m delighted to once again, take the helm in driving these and other local priorities forward.
“The Local Committee is an important part of the democratic process as the forum where local Councillors discuss the issues the matter the most in our area and make decisions that best serve local people.
“I will continue to act in the best interests of Eden and look forward to even more local engagement with the people of Eden and our partners throughout the coming year.”
Cllr Dew said: “I’m really looking forward to my year as Vice-Chairman. From my experience during my first year as a County Councillor, the Local Committee has worked hard to support local people and local priorities and I welcome the opportunity to drive this further in my new role.
“Initiatives such as the Stronger Communities fund that the committee agreed recently to support local communities and parish councils to develop their own social eating clubs and good neighbour schemes is a perfect example of how Eden Local Committee is dedicated to furthering local solutions. I look forward to additional developments for our area over the coming year.”
Cllr Whipp was nominated by Cllr Hilary Carrick (Penrith North) and was seconded by Cllr Claire Driver (Alston & East Fellside). Cllr Dew was nominated by Cllr Whipp and was seconded by Cllr Helen Fearon (Penrith West).