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Vitality of Penrith Group

The Vitality of Penrith Group (VoP) is a partnership project set up by the District Council designed to promote and enhance Penrith and the surrounding area. The partnership consists of local businesses, voluntary organisations, Eden District Council and other public sector bodies. Budgets and spending are managed through Eden District Council

Latest Projects:

Vitality of Penrith Working Arrangements

Membership of VoP is open to any individual or organisation in Penrith and district. VoP has decided to operate without a formal constitution or legal entity, preferring instead to work through the capacity and financial probity which comes automatically by commissioning projects in conjunction with the local authorities. The current strategy and action plan explain these arrangements in more detail.

Decision making is led by a Strategy Group made up of a Chairman supported by 4 'Champions' to lead various thematic working groups. A further two members are 'without portfolio'. The present position is set out below

Position	Name	Theme
Chairman	Vacant	N/A
Champion	Vacant	Community Engagement
Champion	Peter Ward	Environment and Public Realm
Champion	Vacant	Arts and Culture
Champion	Bob Clark	Economy and Marketing

The remaining positions are taken by the Penrith Chamber of Trade and Commerce leaving one place yet to be filled.

One remaining position is taken by Kelvin Dixon the President of the Penrith Chamber of Trade and Commerce; leaving one place to be filled.

The Strategy Group meets on a regular basis.

Communication and consultation with the wider group of members is intended on a least two occasions per year. The format for the wider VoP meetings are yet to be determined. Community events which have included community organisations were held on 13 December 2010 and 29 September 2011.

The Vitality of Penrith Strategy and Action Plan

The Core Strategy for Eden provides for substantial numbers of new houses in the next 20 years. New supermarket developments are nearing completion. The new supermarkets are perceived as a threat to independent traders and thus create a negative effect on the health of the town centre. The public regard the environment of the town centre as being in need of improvement.

A pressing strategic economic issue for the Penrith travel to work area (TTWA) is the current (and forecast worsening) skill and labour shortage. This must be addressed if the aspiration for a sustainable community is to be achieved. It is especially important if Penrith is to take full advantage of any plans to expand the existing employment areas and avoid becoming, predominantly, a commuter town.

The Penrith TTWA remains dominated by a low wage economy.

On the other hand the Penrith area offers opportunities around which to build a marketing campaign that can lead to a wide range of advantages from increasing the customer base to creating investment in skills and employment.

The Strategy and Action Plan for 2011 (PDF: 118Kb / 9 pages) deals with these issues in more detail.