This meeting was scheduled to receive updates on a number of topics, including the ongoing disaggregation of shared services, and plans for a Cumbria wide economic strategy. The committee was also scheduled to consider its work programme for the year.

Disaggregation of Shared Services

This was scheduled to be the last meeting of the year that would be clerically supported by Westmorland and Furness Council officers. In future, support would be provided by Cumberland Council officers. The meeting was scheduled to receive a report on the programme for the disaggregation of services previously provided by Cumbria County Council. The committee was scheduled to note that the disaggregation of the Family Group Conferencing Service had been completed on 31 October, and that the Registrars service, and the Human Resources (HR) Occupational Health Team had had their disaggregation dates changed. The committee was scheduled to be asked to refer any proposed amendments to the disaggregation programme to the Joint Executive Committee for consideration. The report scheduled for discussion included a table showing when the remaining shared services were expected to be disaggregated.

Cumbria-wide Economic Strategy

The Committee was scheduled to receive a report on the development of the new Cumbria-wide Economic Strategy. The strategy had initially been due by the end of November, but would now be discussed at the Joint Executive Committee meeting in January. The final strategy would then be published in February 2025. The report explained that:

Leads from each Westmorland & Furness and Cumberland Council were identified at the outset, which alongside Enterprising Cumbria ¹, form the core Steering Group for the Economic Strategy. This ensures that there is good read across to both local authority emerging economic strategies from the start. The report also set out how the final strategy would be developed: Post JEC, we will then consult with the private, public and third sectors in a Cumbria-wide Economic Summit planned for 3 December 2024 in the Keswick Pencil Factory.