SENIOR councillors have approved a move which represents almost a £30million investment into the Cumberland economy.

Members of Cumberland Council's executive committee met at Cumbria House in Carlisle on Tuesday (October 15) to consider granting permission to procure a day opportunities framework for adults in north and west Cumbria.

It is for the council’s adult social care service and the estimated budget for the full five-year term is £26.6million – inclusive of a transportation element of up to £6.1million.

Speaking at Tuesday's meeting councillor Mark Fryer (St Johns and Great Clifton, Labour), the leader of the council, told members that it represented an investment of almost £27million into the local economy and members agreed the report's recommendations.

The framework is due to begin on April 1 next year with procurement decisions delegated to senior managers within the council's adult social care service.

The current day opportunities framework was awarded by Cumbria County Council on March 16, 2023, and it runs until March 31, 2025.

The report states: "There are 14 providers currently on this framework delivering 23 services, with some providers offering more than one service.

"The majority of providers are locally owned organisations with established bases and teams. There are a few national providers that have been established in Cumberland for a long time.

"Every three months there is an opportunity for new providers to join the framework or for current providers to add new services.

"This allows the council to continue to work innovatively with the existing market and to explore new models and offers."

According to the report the annual budget for the day opportunities framework in year one will be up to £4.8million which includes up to £3.7million for support provided and up to £1.1million for provider transportation costs.

It adds: "In total there were 442 individuals supported with a day opportunity through the framework in April 2024.

"This is an increase from 401 individuals when the framework started. This number does not include those individuals who are accessing a day opportunity through the Council’s in-house service in Cumberland Care.

"143 people are supported across 10 Cumberland Care Day Services with an annual cost of circa £3.6million."