22/10/2009 - Media opportunity: Is Cumbria joined up? : Cumbria County Council

Leading figures from the public sector, private and third sectors in Cumbria will be gathering near Penrith tomorrow to see just how well different organisations in the county are working together and whether public cash is being spent in the most effective way.

The event, Calling Cumbria - Going Forward, will be attended by chief executives and leaders from councils all over the county as well as leading figures from Cumbria Constabulary, NHS Cumbria, Furness Enterprise, BAE Systems, Amey, Government Office North West, the Nuclear Decommission Authority, University of Cumbria, Jobcentre Plus, Learning and Skills Council and the Lake District National Park Authority. Also in attendance will be representatives from the Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA).

The presentations and workshops at the Rheged event will look at some of Cumbria's success stories in joint working since the Calling Cumbria initiative was first kick-started last year. They include initiatives in getting long-term incapacaity benefit claimants back into employment, encouraging people to give up smoking and freeing up hospital beds by supporting people in their own homes. Schemes such as Together We Can and Local Links will also be showcased.

Bill Lowther, Chairman of the Cumbria Strategic Partnership, said:

"Cumbria has come a long way in a year in terms of different organisations being determined to work together for the greater good. But there's still lots more to achieve and one of the key aims of this Calling Cumbria event will be to look ahead to see how collaborative working can be further developed in what will undoubtedly be extremely challenging times for the public sector."

Cllr Jim Buchanan, Leader of Cumbria County Council, said:

"We're all determined to deliver more things that matter to Cumbrians for less money. We need to work together to achieve that and we also need to speak with a single voice to get the best outcomes for the county. It involves doing things differently, trusting each other and being brave enough to see the bigger picture. Events like this are essential for making that happen."