Welcome, Furness & Westmorland

Late last night, the Government announced plans to implement the proposal for two unitary councils, on an East/West geography, for the whole of the administrative county of Cumbria. 

Barrow, South Lakes and Eden will form an Eastern Unitary Authority, taking on the duties currently undertaken by the county council, and Allerdale, Copeland and Carlisle will do the same in the West.

While there have been strongly held views on all sides as to what the eventual outcome of this review should look like, this reform will provide strong and efficient local government for many years to come and it should be welcomed. 

I know that many people locally backed ‘The Bay’ option, others East/West, and some (including myself) North/South. Regardless though, this reorganisation will bring significant benefits to the region, giving local leaders the tools to help level-up opportunity and increase prosperity across their communities. 

It will ensure strong, joined-up, and effective local government across Furness and Westmorland, and strengthen Cumbria’s voice as a whole. It opens up discussions on a devolution deal which will be incredibly beneficial for our communities, and provides a stepping stone to electing a Mayor for Cumbria. Those watching the growth in investment and influence of the North East under Ben Houchen will see why that matters so much to us here.

The existing councils and their partners will now work collaboratively and constructively together to drive forward the process of establishing unitary councils while plans are laid before Parliament for approval. 

Read the Written Ministerial Statement here:

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2021-07-21/hcws234