Councils to explore the option of devolution in Cumbria

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to hand greater powers to regional leaders following a meeting with metro mayors.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has also confirmed that the government is committed to expanding devolution to more areas.

Devolution decentralises certain powers and decision-making to give regions more control over what happens on matters such as transport, planning, and housing.

Cllr Mark Fryer, leader of Cumberland Council, said: “We are open and eager to working with the new Government to explore devolution for our area, and we hope to be having discussions with the new minister just as soon as we can.

"Devolution is an exciting prospect, and we are keen to see how it can enhance our collaborative efforts and drive positive change for the people of Cumberland.”

This was reiterated by the leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, Cllr Jonathan Brook, who said that both councils had confirmed to the government their commitment to joint working across boundaries earlier this year.

He added: “We also accepted an offer of support to begin to explore devolution for the area.

“We are keen to work with the new government and happy to continue conversations about how we can best work together to support economic growth for the benefit of our residents, businesses and communities.

“We also welcome this week’s stated intention to put greater emphasis on shifting some decision-making from Westminster to the regions and look forward to seeing how this develops."

The government will establish a Council of Nations and Regions which will bring together the Prime Minister and leaders of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as the mayors of combined authorities. 

It will give regional leaders the opportunity to have their say on key issues on a national platform. 

Julie Minns, MP for Carlisle, said: "I fully support the new Government's commitment to transfer power from Whitehall, and into local communities like ours.

"Labour has learned the lessons from the Tory experiment with devolution that started with the abolition of Regional Development Agencies and descended into a series of disconnected competitions for small centralised funding pots."

Former MP for Carlisle John Stevenson has expressed his belief that Cumbria is falling behind by not having a combined authority with an elected mayor, which is what most devolution deals includes.

A combined authority would bring together Cumbria's two unitary councils which would be headed up by a mayor - similar to the Tees Valley and Greater Manchester set-ups.

Mr Stevenson said: "The biggest and fundamental mistake we have made as a county, not just Carlisle, is not having a mayor.

"The obvious example is Teesside where they are really powering on.

"But you can look at the other parts of the north, all have devolution with mayors and I think they are moving forward in a way that we are not."