06/04/04 - 'No change' call by Made in Cumbria

Made In Cumbria, the body which helps to sell Cumbrian products to people from all over the world, is to remain under the umbrella of Cumbria County Council. A consultation by the county council has shown an overwhelming desire among the commercial members of the organisation to keep things the way they are. The county council's Cabinet today agreed. 

Councillor Lawson Short, Cabinet member with responsibility for economic regeneration, said:

"Made In Cumbria performs a service which is extremely valuable to its members, who make and sell products of all kinds, from foodstuffs to jewellery. They strongly believe that the best way to take the project forward is under the wing of the county council, which they say has provided them with real, practicable help in the past.

"We shall continue therefore to offer all the support we can. However, the county council will look at changes to management systems necessary to deal with concerns which were partly responsible for the review in the first place."

The review of the future of Made In Cumbria was sparked off by the resignation of its manager, Richard Knowles, but the county council's Cabinet also believed that such a trading operation did not fit comfortably alongside the county council's other functions. Also, the North West Development Agency's rural recovery plan stressed the importance of a regional perspective to such projects.

The county council carried out a consultation, holding public meetings in Kendal and Penrith and sending all commercial members a consultation document. Most members expressed by letters and e-mails and attendance at the public meetings the desire for Made In Cumbria to remain with the county council.  The county council's support for Made In Cumbria in recent years has included full funding of the manager's post, a grant of £6,600 in the last financial year and providing office accommodation.