LAST Wednesday the long-awaited response from the Success Regime was announced.

It is clear that the tireless campaign of those who have fought valiantly to save our services and the comprehensive responses to the consultation from local authorities and concerned residents throughout Cumbria have been listened to.

While the announcements may fall short of the hopes and expectations of many, I do think it gives us something to build upon. I certainly do not feel that the campaign for first class healthcare has come to an end but I feel there is enough for the campaign to take a different direction.

I spoke to both west Cumbrian MPs, Sue Hayman and Trudy Harrison, and we were in agreement that they, myself, the various dedicated campaigners, local authorities, industry, trade unions and the community at large need to come together behind a positive campaign that sends a message around the country that Copeland is a fantastic place to live and work. I believe future opportunities for professional people are as good here as anywhere in the UK and that will encourage recruitment to our hospital and enhance the services it provides.

I am meeting again this month with all the key industry leaders from nuclear, utilities, rail, mining, health, construction, education etc and one of the key focuses will be on developing a collective recruitment plan that drives the Choose Copeland theme. This borough has so much going for it and we really need to collectively talk the area up and grasp the opportunities that will come off the back of the Moorside development as a foundation for Copeland to fulfil its great potential. We need to get the message out about all the positive aspects of the borough and we have a clear plan to address the areas where we are falling short or need to improve.

Last week I was in London to meet with Sajid Javid, the minister for local government and communities, to discuss among other things Copeland becoming part of the pilot for the business rates retention scheme that will be rolled out across the country in 2020. With Sellafield the UK’s second largest rate payer after Heathrow there is potentially significant upside benefits of us becoming part of the pilot. The opportunity was also taken to put forward proposals as to how Copeland which is so strategically important as the Centre of Nuclear Excellence can work in partnership with the government for mutual benefit.

One of the positives of the recent by-election is that those in the corridors of power know where we are, are more aware of how important Copeland is to the country’s energy and growth policies and, most importantly, what our issues are. Last week I presented to the minister a proposed solution to a number of them.

Last week I was also delighted to be welcoming to Copeland representatives from 15 local authorities from around the country who are part of the New Nuclear Local Authority Group when I host the nuclear conference at Summergrove. The conference will provide a great opportunity for local authorities to share experiences and best practice for developing new nuclear power stations.