Cumbria County Council`s Local Committee for Eden elected a new Chairman and Vice Chairman for the year 2020-21, at a meeting on Tuesday 14 July 2020.
Cllr Phil Dew (Kirkby Stephen Division) was elected Chairman, with Cllr David Whipp (Penrith Rural) elected Vice-Chairman.
The meeting, which took place via Microsoft TEAMS, was the first ever remote Eden Local Committee meeting. This new way of working for all Members and Officers has been adopted in response to the COVID 19 emergency. Members of the press and public were also invited to attend.
During the last 12 months, Eden Local Committee agreed over £82,000 of funding to support a range of community projects and services across the Eden district between April 2019 and March 2020.
A total of 25 community projects were supported, including: improvements to village halls, parish directory of services, heritage display and signage, equipment for community emergency response group, tree planting projects across the district and activities around Tour of Britain 2019.
A further 16 Eden-based youth activities benefitted from funds to support a range of projects including new play and outdoor recreation facilities, fitness equipment, tennis court refurbishment, a flight simulator, circus skills activities, youth volunteering development opportunities and a very successful mental health project to raise awareness of the positive impacts of random acts of kindness.
Eden Local Committee also continued to support the established youth clubs in Alston and Appleby, and is working with local stakeholders and communities to develop youth club provision in Kirkby Stephen and Penrith.
New Chairman, Cllr Phil Dew, said: “I’m very happy to have been elected Chairman of Eden Local Committee. Over the past year I have taken my role as Vice-Chairman very seriously and have done my best to support our Chairman and committee in order to achieve key priorities for Eden.”
“I’m pleased with the progress that the committee has made in contributing towards its objectives around supporting the people of Eden with access to services, and building up our communities to become more resilient. I very much look forward to working with members and officers to continue this work, and supporting our communities, which have all been faced with such unprecedented circumstances in recent times.”
“The Local Committee is an important part of the democratic process as the forum where local Councillors discuss the issues that matter the most in our area, and make decisions that best serve local people.”
“I will 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.”
