A war of words has again erupted between the Deputy Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council Cllr Patricia Bell, Libdem and Mark Jenkinson MP for Workington and Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for the next General Election for the new Penrith and Solway constituency.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has confirmed that a review will take place for Westmorland and Furness Council and is set to start in July 2024.
The Local Government Boundary Commission will be conducting reviews starting in 2024 for both Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council following the structural change by government for Cumbria that took effect on the 1st of April this year.
In response to an earlier article by Penrith.Town regarding the boundary commission review of the councils.
Cllr Bell Made a statement saying “The boundary review does NOT have the power to look at the boundary between Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness.”
In direct response to Cllr Bells statement Mark Jenkinson MP said “Patricia Bell not a bit of wonder your party is nicknamed the ‘Fib Dems’.”
“The commission has the power to review the council boundary at the same time. No review has yet been launched - but the councils should request they do.”
Cllr Bell responded to Mark Jenkinson MP saying, “Split hairs if you like, but as it stands the review is not empowered to carry out a review of the boundaries.”
Following the public exchange the Local Government Boundary Commission has now stepped in to clarify the situation.
A spokesperson for the Local Government Boundary Commission for England said:
“If two local authorities both ask that their mutual boundary be adjusted, the Commission is able to consider their request and carry out a ‘Principal Area Boundary Review’ (PABR). We do not routinely instigate these reviews – they must be requested by the two authorities or the Secretary of State.”
We also asked the commission to clarify a report that Westmorland and Furness Council would be refusing to conduct parish council community governance reviews during the boundry commission review at the request of the commission.
In response to the question the spokesperson for the Local Government Boundary Commission for England said:
“The Commission does not have the power to change local parish boundaries, that is the responsibility of the local authority.”
“We strongly advise that Community Governance Reviews (CGRs) should wait until the Commission has completed its review of local government ward boundaries to avoid confusion between the two reviews.”
“Should a subsequent CGR change any boundaries, the local authority can then request ward boundaries be amended, if necessary.”
It’s understood that a motion could come before both Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council in the new year calling for both councils to formally request the Local Government Boundary Commission for England carry out a Principal Area Boundary Review as part of its wider review of both councils.
The review could see the new council wards change as well as the number of councillors that could remain the same increase or potentially be reduced.
Any changes that the review concludes are required will be implemented at the next council elections in May 2027.
The public will get to have their say from August time as the commission opens its consultation process for the public to get involved in shaping the changes to the council and the boundaries or wards and if a Principal Area Boundary Review is requested the external council boundaries that could see Penrith returned to Cumberland or the two councils could even be merged into one council.
What do you think should the review consider all options including the external boundaries of the new councils?
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