Concerns have been raised over the Penrith PAG (Place Action Group) by a Westmorland and Furness Councillor who has questioned if the Penrith PAG had moved beyond the original remit and agreed terms of reference for a PAG.
Cllr Colin Atkinson raised the concerns at a meeting of the Eden Locality board when an update on the councils place action groups was given to the councillors by the councils Senior Manager for Community Services.
The report set out the decisions by the Penrith PAG members at a recent meeting that had decided that going forward the Action Log of the PAG meetings will only record meeting attendance by organisation and give a brief discussion points, and agreed actions.
A proposal for restructuring the Penrith PAG and local working groups was also agreed including, Widening the remit of the Penrith Borderlands Town Team to give it strategic oversight of Borderlands projects, other key infrastructure projects, high street grants and high-level priority opportunities, and renaming it Penrith Town Team.
Splitting the Place Action Group into two groups with clear remits: 1. Economy & Assets and 2. Community & Wellbeing.
Westmorland and Furness Council established a trial of place action groups in the Eden locality covering the ward areas of the council as a forum of local stakeholders
The groups terms of reference agreed by the council set out that the PAG is a forum of key partners to discuss, co-ordinate and plan for the delivery of projects that will improve the sustainability and vitality of the W&F Council ward area.
Penrith is covered by the single Penrith place action group covering Penrith North and Penrith south wards with an agreed terms of reference and remit as a forum for the exchange of information and collaboration with individual stakeholders taking on responsibilities for delivery of any work streams that emerges from the forum.
Membership of the Penrith PAG is made up of Westmorland and Furness Council, Penrith Town Council, Penrith BiD, Penrith Chamber of Trade, Cumbria CVS, Penrith Churches Together.
The agreed terms of reference for the PAG set out the remit of the group and that the group is not a decision making body.
Cllr Atkinson said the action log from the latest Penrith PAG meeting “appear to show a group moving well beyond the agreed remit and function of the place action groups and looking to become what can only be described as a shadow council for Penrith that members of the forum don’t want people to know who they are or what they are doing yet want to see more powers and decision making roles.”
Cllr Atkinson asked for some clarity on the role and remit of the Place Action Groups and why it appears that the Penrith PAG is operating well beyond the remit of the forum it is supposed to be with the rather concerning push for less transparency and accountability of those involved.
In reply Cllr Bell claimed that due to the differing situation of Penrith, as the largest town in Eden, compared to other PAG areas it had been decided to re-structure the PAG with working groups of partners and focus groups for buildings and people.
Despite the details set out in the Penrith PAG action log around restructuring the Penrith PAG and local working groups including, Widening the remit of the Penrith Borderlands Town Team to give it strategic oversight of Borderlands projects, other key infrastructure projects, high street grants and high-level priority opportunities, and renaming it Penrith Town Team.
Cllr Bell said “that the PAG had not moved beyond its remit and was not a decision making body but offered a forum for decision makers to come together”.
It’s understood other councillors outside of the meeting have also raised concerns about the direction the Penrith PAG is taking.
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