The dramatic week of storms and floods in Cumbria, nuclear decommissioning at Sellafield and West Cumbria’s Strategic Forum will all be discussed by representatives from the county’s public, private, community and voluntary sectors as Cumbria Strategic Partnership (CSP) meets at Rheged, near Penrith on 18 January 2005 starting at 10.00am.
Cumbria is the only county in the UK experiencing economic decline and the Cumbria Strategic Partnership has been developed with input from 70 leading organisations to address the issue. CSP aims over the next 20 years to develop a sustainable approach to securing economic growth, social progress and environmental protection and enhancements. The partnership includes Cumbria’s six district councils, Cumbria County Council, North West Regional Development Agency, Cumbria Constabulary, North West Arts and many more
Key speakers include Councillor Elaine Woodburn from the West Cumbria Strategic Forum and Richard Mrowicki from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
The Action Plans for Cumbria Strategic Partnership encompasses nine key priority areas these include:
· Building sustainable communities
· Rural regeneration
· Driving forward the regeneration of West Cumbria
· Expanding further and higher education sectors in Carlisle
· Creating a wealthy and diversified economy
· Addressing the county’s housing needs
· Retaining, fully utilising and the meeting the aspirations of the County’s young people
The aims and objectives of the Sub Regional Strategy - Action Plan will be laid out in draft form tomorrow and will receive final endorsement in April 2005. The document is designed to meet the national government and regional agencies objectives linked to delivering sustainable communities.