Council appoints Leader and Deputy to new combined authority

Westmorland and Furness Council has approved its Leader and Deputy Leader as its representatives on the new Cumbria Combined Authority (CCA).

The combined authority is due to start life early in 2026 once legislation has made its way through Parliament. It is a new partnership of Cumbria's two unitary councils, Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland, working for the whole county.

There will be an election in May 2027 for a Mayor to lead the authority. Until that time, it will be steered by political leaders from the two unitary councils.

At its meeting last week, Westmorland and Furness Council agreed that Leader Cllr Jonathan Brook and Deputy Leader Cllr Andrew Jarvis would be its representatives. A first meeting of the new authority is expected to take place in March.

Cumberland Council leader Mark Fryer is expected to represent Cumberland Council along with his deputy leader and will along with Westmorland and Furness representatives establish and run the combined authority until 2027 when a Mayor is elected and join the new Cumbria combined authority.

CCA will make decisions on strategic plans and investments in Cumbria and will be granted new powers that currently sit with the government.

This will include powers to create a single plan for transport in Cumbria, bringing vital investment across networks; unlock regeneration and housing projects and drive environmental resilience.

Cumbria will receive at least £333 million of funding over the next 30 years to fund priority programmes, as well as access to bid for further investment.

Cllr Brook said: "Focus in the first 12-18 months of the new authority will be on laying the foundations in key areas such as transport and planning, skills and employment and business and innovation.

"It will also be on supporting existing Cumbria-wide activity, such as refreshing the case for upgrading the Energy Coast Rail Network, ensuring Cumbria is represented as part of the first Great North Investment Summit and strengthening the case with government about Cumbria getting a fair share of funding."

Appointments to positions that will review the performance of the new authority - the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Audit Committee - will be made at a later date. Matching appointments will be made by Cumberland Council.