Here's a summary of the Joint Executive Committee meeting held on 8 September 2025, covering key discussions and decisions:

The Joint Executive Committee (JEC) met to discuss several key items, including updates on the Enterprising Cumbria programmes, the Get Cumbria Working plan, and the disaggregation of hosted services. The committee delegated authority for awarding a contract for the Connect to Work Service Co-ordinator and approved changes to the Landfill Service agreement.

Landfill Service Agreement

The JEC approved a variation to the Project Agreement in response to a Landfill Service Review completed in August 2024. Councillor Mark Fryer, Leader Cumberland Council, declared a registrable interest as a director of Cumbria Recycling, and did not participate in the discussion or decision-making on this item.

The decision was to delegate authority to Cumberland Council's Director of Place and Economy, in consultation with Westmorland and Furness Council's Director of Thriving Places and relevant portfolio holders, to:

• Agree to changes and revised costs to the Landfill Service proposed by Biffa Cumbria Ltd (BCL) in the 2024 Landfill Service Review.
• Finalise the terms and authorise Cumberland Council to enter into a further Deed of Variation to the Project Agreement dated 4 June 2009 (as amended) between Cumberland Council and Biffa Cumbria Ltd in relation to the Landfill Service Review.

The changes to the agreement include:

• Revised landfill gate fees.
• Adjustment of the Tonnage Element.
• Exclusivity for Cumbria Waste Management Ltd (CWM) to transport contract waste to agreed 'reception sites' from Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) until 3 June 2034.
• Haulage of waste diverted from the Resource Parks as part of contingency arrangements initially linked to the contract with Hayton Coulthard Transport Ltd (HCT).
• Use of 'reception sites' for waste transfer to a '3rd party Landfill Site' instead of direct deliveries, excluding FCC Environment's disposal costs for waste delivered to the Kendal Fell Waste Transfer Station.

The report noted that since 29 August 2024, the councils had been operating under a letter of comfort with BCL, based on proposed prices. The proposed use of reception sites would provide a more convenient tipping area for collection vehicles and facilitate the diversion of waste from landfill to alternative facilities in the future. The proposed 'Third Party Landfill Sites' will initially be Hespin Wood and Flusco Landfill Sites, now owned and operated by Seletia Ltd, with the possibility of including additional Third Party Landfill Sites.

Get Cumbria Working Plan

The JEC received an update on the Get Cumbria Working Plan and delegated authority to award the contract for the Connect to Work Service Co-ordinator. The committee:

• Noted progress on the development of the Get Cumbria Working Plan.
• Noted that the Terms of Reference for the Work and Health Board were delegated to Cumberland Council's Director of Public Health, Customer and Community Wellbeing following the first meeting of the Board, in consultation with relevant council members and leaders.
• Delegated authority to award the contract for the Connect to Work Service Co-ordinator to Cumberland Council's Director of Place and Economy, in consultation with Westmorland and Furness Council's Director of Thriving Places and the Leaders of both councils.
• Requested an update on the award of the contract for the Connect to Work Service Coordinator be brought to the January meeting of the JEC.
• Requested that the Cumberland Council Community Panels were included in the quantitative analysis and stakeholder consultations to add to the evidence base.
• Requested that the Get Cumbria Working Plan service providers survey link be circulated to the Committee.

Enterprising Cumbria Update

The Programme Director, Enterprising Cumbria, provided an update on the four key programmes being delivered by Enterprising Cumbria. The JEC:

• Noted the activities and deliverables across all programmes.
• Noted the launch of a new Business Growth Service by the government.
• Noted that Carbon Neutral Fuels (CNF) had secured £6 million from the Department for Transport's Advanced Fuels Fund.
• Requested an in-depth presentation on the Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ) be submitted to a future meeting.
• Requested a report on the work of the Cumbria Careers Hub be submitted to the next meeting.
• Requested that the North West Net Zero Hub expression of interest information for grants of up to £140,000 from the £5 million Great British Energy Community Fund be circulated to the Cumberland Council Community Panels.

Programme of Disaggregation

The Director of Corporate and Transformation Services (Cumberland Council) presented an update on the Joint Disaggregation Programme for hosted services. The JEC:

• Noted the update on progress of the disaggregation programme and the disaggregation of the Human Resources (HR) Payroll Administration: Payroll and HR Administration Services on 31 July 2025.
• Noted that the future options in relation to the pending disaggregation of the Occupational Health Service was considered at the Joint Officer Board meeting held on 12 August 2025.

A member highlighted that the report included the Childrens Residential, Edge of Care and Emotional Health & Wellbeing Service and Fostering Service as a service under long term arrangements, however, it should be moved to the list of services due to disaggregate, this was agreed.

Contract Award Decisions for Hosted Services

The Director of Corporate and Transformation Services (Cumberland Council) submitted a report outlining decisions taken under delegated authority regarding contracts associated with hosted services. The JEC noted the decisions taken by officers.

Joint Executive Committee Work Programme

The JEC Work Programme was circulated for discussion. The committee agreed to move the Childrens Residential, Edge of Care and Emotional Health & Wellbeing Service and Fostering Service report to the November meeting.