Here is a summary of the items scheduled for discussion by the Cumberland Council Executive on 11 September 2025, according to the meeting agenda and report pack. It is important to remember that this is only a summary of what was scheduled for discussion, and I have no knowledge of what was actually discussed or decided during the meeting.

Permission to award stage two Construction Contract for the Iron Line project in Millom

The Executive was scheduled to consider a request to delegate authority to the Director for Corporate and Transformation Services to award the Stage two construction contract for the Iron Line project in Millom to Story Construction Limited, with an accepted price of £7,131,798.64 plus VAT. This delegation was to be subject to the council obtaining planning permission and negotiating an agreement for lease for the visitor centre with an operator.

The Iron Line project aims to build on the existing RSPB Hodbarrow Nature Reserve through a number of interventions to increase the engagement, interaction and learning benefits from the reserve as well as improving the ecology of the site, and is one of four projects funded through the £29.3 million Millom and Haverigg Town Deal¹.

The report pack noted that the project would deliver:

300,000 of existing parks/greenspace/outdoor space improved 150,000 sqm of rehabilitated land 7.5km of improved or new walking and cycling paths 1 restored heritage building- Towsley Windmill 1 new cultural facility- visitors centre 80 new car parking spaces 6 new art installations 120 trees planted 8 gross direct jobs created at the welcome building Up to 26 jobs supported during construction of the Iron Line.

The report pack also set out alternative options that were considered, including not proceeding with the project, or re-procuring the construction contract. It was noted that re-procurement would result in delays and increased costs, and that the current proposal from Story Contracting Ltd was deliverable within the project budget.

Cumbria Wide Addictions Service

The Executive was scheduled to consider a report regarding Cumberland Council acting as the lead authority for the procurement of a Cumbria wide Addictions Service and delegating authority to the Director of Public Health, Customer and Community Wellbeing to negotiate and enter into a Joint Working Agreement (JWA) with Westmorland & Furness Council.

The report pack stated that the current Addictions Service had an end date of 30 November 2025, and that both councils were in the process of progressing contract variations to the maximum available term, taking the maximum end date across both Councils to 30 September 2026.

The report pack recommended that the Executive give permission for Cumberland Council to act as the lead authority for procurement of a Cumbria wide Addictions Service, and delegate authority to the Director of Public Health, Customer and Community Wellbeing to negotiate and enter into a Joint Working Agreement with Westmorland & Furness Council.

The report pack stated that the estimated total value of the activity covered by the JWA is £80 million, and that this value takes into account the following:

• Core current Public Health Grant Budget uplifted by 2.4%
• Additional Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant (DATRIG) funding
• Adding 5% to previous year budget total for each authority to ensure capacity for uplifts if possible, subject to increases to the Public Health Grant over the maximum possible 10-year term
• Adding 15% to total 10 year estimated contract value for each authority to ensure potential for budget growth should additional funding be secured.

School Admission Arrangements 2027-28

The Executive was scheduled to discuss the proposed admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for 2027-28, including catchment areas, proposed Published Admission Number (PAN) changes, and the nursery admissions policy for 2027-28 for community and voluntary controlled nursery schools and infant/primary schools providing nursery education.

The report pack noted that Cumberland Council is the statutory admissions authority for all Community and Voluntary Controlled schools in the Cumberland Council's area, and as such, is required to determine admission arrangements for those schools, by 28 February 2026, for the 2027-28 academic year.

The report pack proposed the following PAN changes for individual schools:

• The Nelson Thomlinson School, Wigton - A decrease in the PAN from 210 to 180.
• Pennine Way Primary School, Carlisle - A decrease in the PAN from 90 to 60.
• Norman Street Primary School, Carlisle - A decrease in the PAN from 50 to 45.
• Inglewood Infant School, Carlisle - A decrease in the PAN from 90 to 60.

Allocation of the Sellafield Social Impact Investment Fund 2025/26

The Executive was scheduled to discuss the allocation of funding from the Sellafield Social Impact Investment Fund (SIIF) for the year 2025/26. The report pack stated that this funding must be utilised within the footprints of the former council areas of Allerdale and Copeland, and support the delivery of the Sellafield Social Impact Strategy and the Council's own priorities.

The report pack proposed that the Sellafield Social Impact Investment Fund be allocated as follows for the financial year 2025/26:

• Social inclusion, community and voluntary sector support - £197,000
• Regeneration and economic development - £305,000
• Sporting, leisure and cultural development - £1,274,250

Draft Revenue and Capital Outturn 2024-2025

The Executive was scheduled to discuss the council's draft revenue and capital outturn position against budget for the period April 2024 to March 2025.

The report pack stated that the draft revenue outturn position would allow an un-budgeted contribution to general fund balances of (£0.493m), and that the draft capital outturn position was £202.631m.

The report pack also included a recommendation to Council, for the approval of the carry forward of £26.227m to future financial years to enable previously approved capital schemes to be completed, and the approval of £2.573m of budget re-profiling as a result of accelerated spend from future financial years.

Publication of Commissioning Strategy for Adult Social Care & Housing

The Executive was scheduled to discuss the publication of the Commissioning Strategy for Adult Social Care & Housing, alongside the existing Market Position Statement (MPS).

The report pack stated that the Commissioning Strategy builds upon the MPS and outlines the council's intentions to meet current and future care needs, and that the strategy would help residents, providers and partners to understand the council's strategic approach and priorities for delivery, strategic commissioning priorities, and what to expect when working with the council.

The report pack also noted that the council had consulted with residential & nursing and support at Home Framework Providers, the Adult Social Care & Housing Leadership Team, and the Integrated Commissioning Board (ICB) to co-produce the Commissioning Strategy.

Other items

The agenda also included the following items:

• Apologies for absence
• Declarations of interest
• Exclusion of press and public
• Minutes of Previous Meeting
• Public participation
• Executive announcements
• Executive Committees
• Individual Portfolio Holder Decisions
• Refurbishment of Workington Dock Gates