Latest news with #CumberlandCouncil
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Cumberland Council to pay £2,000 for child's missed education
A council has been ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to a family after their child missed out on two school local government and social care ombudsman upheld a complaint from the mother of a child with special educational needs after Cumberland Council failed to review these.A report published by the ombudsman said the council had "failed to secure" educational provision detailed in the child's health and care plan (EHC) - a document which outlines what needs they have and the support they require - and provide a suitable alternative between September 2024 and April Council has been approached for comment. The ombudsman said the child, referred to as Y in documents, had been going to a special school until April 2024, at which point they started struggling to council arranged out-of-school tuition but, when it issued a draft EHC plan following a review, it continued to name the previous school as the child's family complained and the council committed to making changes. 'This was fault' By the October, Y's tuition had stopped because they struggled to engage with it and council records showed the authority had asked a special advisory teacher to carry out a review of the child's in the February the family complained to the ombudsman because there was still no final plan nor provision in place."There is little evidence of the council reviewing Y's progress or acting on [the mother's] concerns. This was fault," the ombudsman said in the added that, while Y had received some education since leaving the special school, the council had failed to provide the child with a suitable alternative."The council failed to consider carrying out an interim review when Y left school and failed again to do so when Y's alternative provision was unsuccessful," it said. "This left Y with an out-of-date plan which did not meet their needs."The report showed the council had agreed to apologise to the family and review its approach on interim EHC council also agreed to pay £1,800 compensation for failing to secure the provision in Y's plan for two terms, and £200 for the uncertainty caused. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Parent 'over the moon' as council U-turn on decision to scrap school bus from village
A GROUP of West Cumbrian parents are 'over the moon' following news that the council have u-turned on their decision to scrap the school bus from their village. Parents from Great Clifton, whose children attend Workington Academy, were told in June that from the next academic year, children attending the school will no longer have access to a free bus service. Following an outcry from parents, Cumberland council have now u-turned on the decision, saying they have acknowledged concerns of parents and decided to keep the provision for school pupils. One of the parents who led a campaign to have the service reinstated, said she was 'over the moon' with the councils decision. Sarah Barber said: " I'm over the moon we can now enjoy the children's summer holidays knowing that our children are safe coming and going to school when term starts." Grave concerns It's understood the bus carried 45 pupils through the 2024-2025 academic year, with parents expressing concerns that the loss of provision would be unsafe for their children. During a meeting parents held back in June, parish councillor Peter Gaston said he was 'gravely concerned' for the safety of any village children travelling beside a unlit 60-mile-an-hour road, especially in winter with dark nights and poor weather conditions. He said: "One incident is one too many. My priority is the health and safety of the school children because it is not safe, full stop." Holly Fox, whose daughter will start at the academy in September 2026, also attended the meeting with concerns for the future should the service be scrapped. Council response A Cumberland Council spokesperson said: 'We recently undertook an assessment of walking routes to schools to ensure our free school transport provision remains fair, consistent, and based on current criteria for need and entitlement, in line with national guidance. "We acknowledge the concerns raised by families regarding the outcomes of the reassessment of walking routes. As a result, current provision will remain in place on all affected routes at this time. 'Our priority continues to be the safety of children and young people, and we are committed to working openly with families and community representatives.'
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Cumbria free school buses reinstated amid safety concerns
A council accused of putting money before children's safety by scrapping free school buses is to reinstate all Council was due to end services on four routes in Cumbria from September having said it was following national guidance by identifying a "safe walking route" that pupils could use, while paid-for public transport was also hit out at the move and warned many youngsters would face long and potentially unsafe authority said it was now acknowledging "the concerns raised by families" and all services would remain in place. Among those set to have been affected were children from Great Clifton who attended Workington Academy two miles (3.2km) route put forward by the council for walking was next to a busy road and had little or no lighting, opponents Fox said her daughter Connie faced a 45-minute walk."I don't see how the council can deem it safe," she told the councillor Peter Gaston said: "Are they putting money before the safety of school children? The answer is yes." 'Rash' decision Youngsters in the Kells area of Whitehaven were also going to lose free bus Madrick said her son Flynn would either have had to catch two paid-for buses to get to St Benedict's Catholic High School or face a walk of more than three miles (4.8km), which was "impossible" due to health branded the council's original decision to scrap the service "rash"."We're relieved they've changed their mind," Ms Madrick said, adding: "It would've had a huge impact."Both secondary schools - St Benedict's and Whitehaven Academy - are on the other side of town to the Kells and Bransty areas, and the public buses aren't reliable."Expecting children from the age of 11 to walk six miles to school and back every day is too much and it wouldn't have been safe crossing the A595." 'Priority is safety' The council provides free travel on just over 600 routes, with the figure including services for coaches for dozens of pupils as well as vehicles for single a statement, it said it had undertaken a review of walking routes to schools to "ensure our free school transport provision remains fair, consistent, and based on current criteria for need and entitlement, in line with national guidance".However, it added: "We acknowledge the concerns raised by families regarding the outcomes of the reassessment of walking routes."As a result, current provision will remain in place on all [four] affected routes at this time."Our priority continues to be the safety of children and young people, and we are committed to working openly with families and community representatives." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
ITV News
5 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
The UK Government agrees to delay Cumbria's mayoral election until 2027
The UK Government has agreed to a request from Cumbria's two main councils to delay the upcoming mayoral elections until 2027. Both Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council requested a one-year delay to appoint their first mayor, a year later than other areas, such as Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton and Hampshire and the Solent. The request was made to hold the mayoral vote at the same time as local elections, creating more time to prepare and to save almost £1m in resources. Cumbria's future mayor will have powers over housing, transport and other vital areas. Government work will continue with Cumbria's local authorities to confirm the framework for its thirty-year investment funds, a key part of the new model. Minister for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon OBE MP says the "devolution revolution" will shift power out of Whitehall. He said: "These sweeping new powers for communities will put them on the fast track to deliver growth, opportunities, transport and housing. "The six devolution priority areas are leading the way towards a new era of devolved power in England and a stronger relationship between central and local government. We stand ready to work with local leaders in realising their areas' incredible potential." The new English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which aims to encourage better ownership over regional growth, was introduced in Parliament last week.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Wild campers fined for cutting down trees and lighting fire in the Lake District
A group caught wild camping has been fined for environmental damage. The offenders felled trees and lit a large fire, breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order in the Thirlmere area. The damage was significant, causing 'unnecessary harm to the local landscape,' said Cumberland Council. The council, working with United Utilities, identified the offenders, levying fines for the breaches. The group also made a voluntary donation to the John Muir Trust to aid tree replanting and area restoration. Cumberland councillor Denise Rollo, executive member for sustainable, resilient, and connected places, said: "Although wild camping itself isn't an offence, damaging the environment is. Damage caused by the campers at Thirlmere (Image: Cumberland Council) "Cumberland Council has zero tolerance for environmental harm, and anyone breaching the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) risks a fine or prosecution. "When wild camping leads to litter, fire damage, or abandoned gear, it will not be tolerated. "I urge everyone to camp responsibly, please follow Leave No Trace principles, and use designated sites to help protect our landscapes for everyone to enjoy." Andrew Wright, United Utilities woodland officer, added: "Unfortunately, we regularly find trees that have been hacked down by wild campers. "As well as destroying habitats, they are also creating a fire risk, which is extremely dangerous. "We work together with the council, National Park, and other partners to engage with visitors and remind them that camping is only allowed in designated areas and urge them to leave only footprints." The public is encouraged to report any instances of environmental vandalism.
