A PROPOSED economic strategy for Cumbria should be available to the public by early next year, it has been revealed.

Members of Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness councils’ joint overview and scrutiny committee met at Cumbria House in Carlisle on Monday (December 2) to hear an update.

Isobel Brown, Enterprising Cumbria’s programme director, told members that Enterprising Cumbria had replaced the former Cumbria Local Enterprising Partnership (CLEP).

She said that the emerging strategy was set to be tested at a range of workshops at tomorrow’s (December 3) economic summit which will be held at the former pencil factory turned convention centre in Keswick.

Ms Brown added that there will be an additional workshop on Wednesday, December 18, and following feedback, it will be brought back before members next month.

Councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) said the strategy was “fundamental” to growth across the county and the timetable looked pretty good.

However, he said it was difficult to comment on it as they did not know its content and Ms Brown promised that evidence would be brought before the committee next year.

According to the report it was recommended that members note the strategy, comment on the milestones and also note progress made to date.

Councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes (Maryport North, Labour) felt that the recommendations were “bland” and added: “I feel it’s important for the two councils to press forward.

"So much in the future depends on this plan.”

Members of the committee agreed the recommendations and, according to the report, the strategy will be delivered in four phases and a total of 315 organisations have registered for the economic summit.

The report states: “Development and delivery of an economic strategy has been approved by the joint executive committee with original plans for this to be completed by end November 2024.

“However, to provide the economic growth board and the business community with an opportunity to co-design, engage with, and be actively consulted with, it was agreed that a robust draft strategy will be presented to the joint executive committee at its January 2025 meeting.

“The planned discussion at JEC on November 22 and the economic summit on December 3 will provide further opportunity for members to influence the final document, ready for approval at their January 2025 meeting and publication thereafter.”