Penrith and The Border MP Neil Hudson is meeting with the leadership of Eden District Council to hear how the authority can support Government ambitions to spread opportunities to rural areas like Eden.
Council leader Virginia Taylor and deputy leader Mary Robinson will discuss the opportunities to be gained from partnership working and giving an overview of the council’s Inspiring Eden plans to achieve rural excellence.
Opportunities for partnership working are looking to be identified, especially in relation to key strategic levers like the Levelling Up agenda, UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Inspiring Eden strategy for rural excellence.
The Government’s Levelling Up paper sets out its ambition to increase opportunities more equally across the UK; whilst its Shared Prosperity Fund looks to back its levelling up commitment to all parts of the UK, both socially and economically.
Inspiring Eden details the council’s ambition to transform Eden into a centre of rural excellence that uplifts, diversifies and modernises the rural economy as an exemplar for rural living in the 21st century.
Eden District Council has committed a £780,000 investment, this coming financial year, to drive delivery of the programme and to lever in other funding, such as the Levelling Up Fund to deliver the ambitious plan.
Inspiring Eden sets out the overarching vision for rural excellence and details the 14 work streams which will deliver a number of programmes and projects, across a range of themes. There is close alignment with the Government’s levelling up and shared prosperity agendas in terms of focus on place, people, business and skills.
Coun Taylor said: “We look forward to working with Dr Hudson to accelerate economic development in Eden and realise the ambitions for a 21st century rural economy set out in Inspiring Eden.
“Partnership between local and national government is built in to delivery of the Shared Prosperity Fund, and Mary and I are really happy to be working together with Neil on this.”
Coun Robinson, who is also portfolio holder for economy and enterprise, added, “There has never been a more important time to recognise the challenges facing our rural communities.
“Inspiring Eden reflects our ambition to help local people and businesses through some of the most difficult times in living memory. I am very keen we support the local land based industries – in particular the farming and rural communities – which are part of the district’s DNA and that are facing significant challenges over the coming months and years.
“I am also very keen that we grasp the opportunities around decarbonisation and that this becomes the golden thread in everything we do.”
Dr Hudson said: “From when I entered Parliament I have said I am really keen to work cross party for the best for our area. I look forward to discussing the Conservative Government’s Levelling Up agenda with the EDC leadership.
“Recently, I held a Commons Debate on support for levelling up rural communities in Cumbria and I am keen to work with all stakeholders to help provide our communities with the best services that are tailored to their specific needs. I will be urging EDC to work constructively with me and our Government so that public funds are spent wisely and fairly across Eden.”
For more information on Inspiring Eden, the council’s economic plans to achieve rural excellence, email econ.dev@eden.gov.uk
