Cumbria could be one of the areas included in the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) – for the delegation of central Government decision making powers and additional funding to local councils and a Cumbria Mayor to give them more local control over certain areas such as education, transportation, and health services
On the 9th of January, Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet members will decide whether or not to make a request to be included in the governments Devolution Priority Programme putting Cumbria on the fast track to securing devolution deal the county, with a view to unlocking the opportunities devolved powers would have as quickly as possible for the benefit of residents and communities across the region that would also see a Cumbria Mayor elected in May 2026 if things progress on the current expected timeline.
The Government published the English Devolution White Paper (EDWP) on 16th December 2024 setting out the proposed approach to achieving their devolution aims and the powers that will be included in a new devolution framework.
The Government has invited selected councils, including Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland council that have previously expressed an interest in devolution, to join their Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).
Government have set a tight deadline of 10th January 2025 for councils to decide whether to join the DPP or not with invitation to join the Devolution Priority Programme made on the 16th January giving councils just three weeks to reach a decision.
Westmorland and Furness Councils have called an extra ordinary meeting of its cabinet committee to decide on joining but it will also require the leadership of Cumberland Council to also agree to join the accelerated devolution programme for Cumbria to take part.
If both councils agree government is expected to carry out engagement between January and March on a deal for Cumbria then subject to a final decision by the two Councils in autumn 2025 the Government’s proposed timetable, could ultimately lead to Mayoral elections in May 2026 and creation of a new Mayoral Strategic Authority for Cumbria.
Penrith and Solway MP Marcus Campbell Savours has joined Cumbria MP’s from across Cumbria in signing a letter calling on political leaders to take forward the government offer and progress a devolution deal for Cumbria.
The Westmorland and Furness Cabinet report lists among the high significant priorities for a devolution deal the ability to introduce mayoral precept on council tax. The report states “This would allow for the introduction of additional income generation to support the funding of activity. Particularly beneficial in providing an option as a revenue income stream for administration costs of programme delivery.”
But states the additional council tax burden is unlikely to be supported by residents and will shape perceptions of a mayor.
The Westmorland and Furness Cabinet members will be asked to choose between two options next Thursday.
Option 1: Join the Devolution Priority Programme, resulting in the commencement of a Government led consultation on creation of a Mayoral Strategic Authority, noting a final decision will require further decision making by the Council in autumn 2025.
Option 2: Do not join the Devolution Priority Programme.
Among the risks the council has identified in progressing a devolution deal are that organisational capacity in the council is already stretched dealing with the legacy of the 2023 local government reorganisation, further disruption could have negative impacts on core council service delivery.
The council has also identified risk with the Cumbria geography as not the right one and the population too small for devolution to be successful.
Questions have been raised about the suitability and sustainability of Cumbria as a devolved geography as Cumbria’s population of approx. 500,000 would be well below the population threshold of 1.5 million people that Government has set for Strategic Authorities in the EDWP.
However government has described Cumbria as an exception to their rule due to its unique geography, The 1.5 million threshold is seen as providing the critical population mass needed for devolution to succeed and sustainable.
If the decision to not progress is taken officials believe it could be a decade before Cumbria gets another opportunity of devolution.
If the Councils decides not to join the DPP, officials have advised that Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland would be unlikely to receive Government support to progress devolution during this parliamentary period with a decision not to join the DPP would likely mean that devolution, of any form, in Cumbria would not be achievable until towards the end of the decade.
The Westmorland and Furness Cabinet will meet in Kendal the day before the government deadline for a decision, Cumberland Council leaders are meeting on the 7th January but do not have a decision on devolution included on the agenda currently throwing into question Cumbria’s chances of inclusion in the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme.
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