Reporting back: Cumberland Full Council – 8 July 2025
The latest meeting of Cumberland Full Council took place on Tuesday 8 July 2025 at the Civic Centre, Carlisle.
Public Participation
A member of the public raised concerns about unreliable bus services in Carlisle and surrounding areas. They called on the Council to intervene, clarify any financial support to Stagecoach, and consider re-tendering for bus provision. (Item 6)
Questions from Councillors
Liberal Democrat councillors asked the following written questions:
- Cllr Dobson – how much waste from Scotland is expected to be taken by landfills in Cumberland, including private operators.
- Cllr Wills – what action the Council is taking to reduce agricultural chemical runoff, identified as the biggest pollutant in waterways.
- Cllr Pickstone – enforcement of the single-use vape ban (effective 1 June 2025) and how much of the increased capital investment announced in the Government Spending Review will reach Cumberland. (Items 7.3 and 7.4)
You can read all our questions and the responses here:
https://timpickstone.mycouncillor.org.uk/2025/08/09/answers-to-questions-3/
Portfolio Holder Reports
The executive provided updates across key areas. Councillors raised questions after each report.
Audit & Risk Committee
The Annual Report for 2024/25 was received and noted. (Item 9)
Overview & Scrutiny Chairs’ Reports
Reports from the Business & Resources, Place, and Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committees were received. (Item 10)
Community Governance Review
A report proposed aligning parish council election dates with those of Cumberland Council. This was agreed. (Item 12)
Constitution Updates
As Vice-Chair of the Standards and Governance Committee, I moved changes to the Council Procedure Rules. In future, motions not considered due to time constraints will fall and need to be re-submitted. This was approved.
Devolution Update
The Leader updated Council on the Devolution Priority Programme. The main item was the request from both Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Councils to defer the Mayoral election to May 2027.
Motions
Four motions were debated:
- Clean Energy at Moorside – urged a planning document to protect land for nuclear infrastructure rather than solar or wind. Liberal Democrat councillors voted against, as there is already sufficient land for a potential future nuclear site. Defeated.
- Swift Bricks in New Development – Liberal Democrat motion proposing swift nesting bricks in all new housing. Referred to the Local Plan Working Group.
- Reversing Frontline Service Cuts and Halting Wasteful Spending – supported by Liberal Democrat councillors. Defeated.
- Local Impacts of Government’s Proposed Cuts to Disability Benefits – withdrawn following recent government announcements.
Appointments
Appointments to the Independent Audit & Risk Committee and the Independent Remuneration Panel were agreed. I asked for the Constitution Working Group to review the process, as only Labour councillors had been involved in one appointment, and Council officers sat as voting members on the panel. This review was agreed.
The papers for the meeting are available here:
https://cumberland.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=311&MId=14442&Ver=4
Any questions, please ask.
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