Councils say sure to new Mayor-led authority

Cumbria may have a brand new Mayor-led strategic authority, unlocking substantial extra powers and funding to drive financial regeneration throughout the county.

At conferences at this time (14 October), each Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils gave their closing consent to the Government’s devolution proposals, paving the best way for a brand new period of domestically primarily based determination making and alternative.

The new authority may have a spread of powers and funding not obtainable to the 2 current councils, together with entry to a Cumbrian Mayoral Investment Fund of £333 million over the following 30 years.

Agreement to devolution additionally signifies that Cumbria may have a voice alongside different areas on the Council of Regions and Nations and the Great North Mayors’ group, our bodies that may form debates on vitality, transport, rural development and defence.

Cumbria Combined Authority (CCA) might be established in early 2026, working for a 12 months with out a Mayor, earlier than Cumbria’s first Mayoral election in May 2027.

The Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, Cllr Jonathan Brook, mentioned:

“Devolution gives access to greater powers and resources that will help unlock the huge potential of the whole area. It will ensure that we have access to considerable opportunities to drive forward our area for the combined benefit of residents, communities and businesses.

“This decision helps shift funding and powers currently exercised by central government closer to those people affected.”

The Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, mentioned: 

“Supporting devolution shows that we are forward-looking, ambitious and ready to seize opportunities for our residents and communities.

“It is about shifting power and resources from Whitehall to Cumbria, giving us greater influence over issues we know matter most to our residents.

“We look forward to working with the Government and partners to make Devolution a reality.”

Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils will nonetheless ship the overwhelming majority of native authorities providers of their areas, as they do now. And each councils will proceed their work to combine and develop these providers in order that residents expertise the total advantage of native authorities reorganisation, which changed two-tiers of service-providing authorities with one.

They would additionally grow to be the 2 constituents of the brand new strategic authority for the entire space with two representatives every working with the Mayor.

Key strategic instruments and sources that may grow to be obtainable to Cumbria Combined Authority embody:

• Transport – accountability for a county-wide Local Transport Plan, administration of the Key Route Network, and affect over strategic roads and rail in addition to shaping bus and energetic journey technique, enabling a joined-up strategy to connectivity throughout rural and concrete areas.
  
• Skills and employability – switch of the Adult Skills Fund from central authorities, in addition to co-ownership of the Local Skills Improvement Plan and larger scope to align coaching provision with native financial wants.
  
• Spatial planning and housing – accountability for delivering a statutory Spatial Development Strategy, the facility to ascertain Mayoral Development Corporations, and joint funding planning with Homes England to assist regeneration and housing supply.
  
• Economic development – a statutory obligation to organize a Local Growth Plan, accountability for the Growth Hub and innovation assist, and stronger engagement with Government departments and businesses, and extra structured route for inward funding.
  
• Environment and local weather change – an obligation to assist supply of the forthcoming Local Nature Recovery Strategy, in addition to a possible convening position in relation to internet zero planning and vitality.
  
• Public security and resilience – switch of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner capabilities (by later authorized order) and new duties round information-sharing and resilience planning, giving Cumbria-wide oversight of public security.
  
• Health and wellbeing alignment – a statutory obligation to have regard to lowering well being inequalities, with Government signalling a possible future alignment of NHS commissioning footprints to Mayoral areas.

Today’s choices are the fruits of developments that began a 12 months in the past when the 2 councils have been invited to precise curiosity in devolution. Earlier this 12 months they utilized for and have been accepted, alongside 5 different areas, to affix the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme.

In the summer time, the Government revealed a report on its public session into devolution for Cumbria and confirmed the realm had met the statutory assessments for progressing. 

The councils, and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, have been collaborating on background work to evaluate the advantages and implications of consent. This work will now be stepped up to make sure CCA is in place to benefit from alternatives as they grow to be obtainable.

The Government has additionally confirmed £1m of capability funding over every of the following 4 years to assist arrange the brand new authority, recognising that it’ll take extra useful resource to allow work to progress shortly and easily.

Westmorland and Furness Cabinet papers for 14 October meeting

Cumberland Council Executive papers for 14 October meeting