Cumbrian councils vote for devolution

A Mayor will be coming to the county in May 2027, now that Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council have officially agreed to form the Cumbria Combined Authority next year.

Enhancing the devolution promise is a commitment to £333m in government funding, distributed over the course of the next 30 years.

The final decision was made by Westmorland and Furness’s cabinet and Cumberland Council’s executive on 14 October.

“Supporting devolution shows that we are forward-looking, ambitious and ready to seize opportunities for our residents and communities,” said Cumberland Council Leader Cllr Mark Fryer.

Westmorland and Furness Council Leader Cllr Jonathan Brook added: “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.”

As per its devolution deal, the Cumbria Combined Authority will have powers over transport, skills, spatial planning, police, and fire.

The combined authority will be charged with delivering a local growth plan and a local nature recovery strategy. It will also have the power to establish mayoral development corporations and work with Homes England on investment strategies.

Cumbria is one of six areas that made up the government’s Devolution Priority Programme. Others included Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, and Hampshire and the Solent.

Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cheshire East Council, and Warrington Council moved forward with their devolution deal last month. The Cheshire and Warrington agreement included an investment of £651m over the next 30 years.