Services Provided by the Council : Cumbria County Council

Information about the services the Council provides including leaflets guidance and newsletters.

Regulatory and Licensing

The Trading Standards Unit deal with applications for licenses in relation to animal feeds, credit, explosives, performing animals and poisons.

Services for Local Businesses/Other Organisations

Cumbria County Council works closely with other agencies to develop business opportunities and regeneration across the County. We actively work with a number of regeneration agencies to offer support to rural and urban communities. A number of strategic business sites have been highlighted in Cumbria.

We are collaborating with the District Councils and other agencies to attract new business to those areas requiring economic development.

Please visit the Business section of the website to find information and advice on building control, fair-trade, digital switchover, grants and Council departments.

Services for the Public

Generally this is an extension of part of the first class of information. While the first class provides information on the Council, its departments, roles and responsibilities, this class includes details of Council services. Information in this class should be current information only.

Adult Social Care is part of Cumbria County Council's Adult and Cultural Services Directorate and deals with the council's social services responsibilities for adults and their carers. Please visit the Adult Social Care and Health homepage for more information.

The Council wants to achieve the best for every child, young person and family in Cumbria. Our aim is to enable children and young people to stay safe, be healthy, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being. For more information please visit the Children's Services homepage.

For more information on the Council’s involvement in the planning process go to the Environment and Planning homepage where you can find details of planning policy, development control, spatial planning, countryside and landscape issues.

The Council is major employer with over 17,000 employees offering a wide range of job opportunities from part-time and job share to full time posts with career development opportunities. Please visit the Jobs and Careers homepage for more information.

Cumbria County Council as the waste disposal authority is responsible for the disposal of household waste and for providing Household Waste Recycling Centres for householders to recycle and dispose of their waste.

Cumbria's district councils are responsible for waste collection services, including weekly collections of household waste, special collections for bulky household items and the recycling of rubbish.

Together the seven Cumbrian authorities make up Resource Cumbria which is Cumbria's strategic waste partnership. Our partnership website recycleforcumbria.org (external link) (external link)

is your one stop shop for all recycling service information in Cumbria.

For further information on the Council's activities go to Rubbish Waste and Recycling.

Borrowing books and multimedia, accessing information and lifelong learning, or delving into the rich cultural and historical heritage of Cumbria - it's all part of the extensive Library and Archive Service.

There are 48 libraries throughout the County plus a fleet of mobile libraries. You can also visit the library on-line to find out what's in stock, to request items to borrow or to renew titles that you already have out on loan. Our Library Service isn't just about books - if you'd rather go more hi-tech, you can book a slot on one of our PCs to surf the internet, or borrow computer games, DVDs, videos, talking books and CDs through your local library.

If you are interested in tracing your family tree or the history of your home or community please visit the Cumbria Archive Service homepage.

Cumbria County Council is working to provide you with a transport network that will meet the needs of individuals and businesses in the 21st century. We are responsible not only for the thousands of miles of roads within Cumbria, but also footpaths, bridleways, cycleways and street lights. When snow and ice hit the network, we are responsible for keeping the network open, using our gritting and ploughing plan.

Organising public transport services so that they can work together to benefit consumers is also a major part of our work. Rail and bus timetables that are coordinated as far as possible, car parks close to stations, facilities for cyclists, etc all help to let the public transport network take the strain - reducing congestion and pollution. We continue to work with other transport agencies, including the Highways Agency, central government, district councils and a wide range of local partners to create a harmonious and safe transport system. Please visit the Transport and Roads homepage for more information.

Election Information

For information on electoral services, electoral registration, how to become a councillor, local elections and voting, go to the Councillors Democracy and Elections page on this website.

Chargeable Services Including Fee Payable

Most of the information listed in the Publication Scheme and on associated pages is available free of charge unless stated otherwise. Where a fee is applicable this will be clearly stated.

Documents featured on Council webpages are available to download free of charge.

The Council is currently developing an Access to Information Charging Policy which gives details of how the Council can charge for requests for information submitted under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Data Protection Act 1998 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

Visitor Information

For more information on schools, sport, arts, entertainment, culture, local history and community events in Cumbria' go to the Learning Leisure and Culture page on this website.

The Council publishes a magazine called ”Your Cumbria” quarterly throughout the year. The magazine is delivered to all households and businesses across the County. If you require a copy of Your Cumbria in an alternative format e.g. CD, audio cassette, Braille or large print; or in another language please telephone (01228) 226304. If you have suggestions for future content or how to make improvements please contact the Editor on 01228 (221008).

Advice and Guidance

Advice and Guidance on a wide range of topics is available on this website together with many helpful links to other organisations.

In the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section of the website you can find answers to our most commonly asked questions. Advice includes: school transport/holidays/places, planning applications, highways, parking permits, home care, waste disposal and social care. If you cannot find the information you require or have a specific question you would like answered please contact us using the following email address: information@cumbria.gov.uk.

Media Statements or Releases

News releases are available via the News Releases section; you can also find details of the Media in Cumbria and contact the Council’s Media Team. In this section you can also view the interactive Events Calendar for details of community, environmental, Made in Cumbria and Neighbourhood Forum events happening around the County.