COUNCILLORS are set to vote on plans for a new authority to take over the running of south Cumbria.

The councils in Morecambe Bay - South Lakeland District Council, Barrow Borough Council and Lancaster City Council - have created a plan to join together as a unitary authority.

If the plans get the go ahead the two Cumbrian authorities will break free from Cumbria County Council control and will receive funding directly from central Government to spend on local services. Councillors in Barrow will be asked to vote on the plans on November 5.

Barrow Council chief executive Sam Plum said in a report: "If approved the councils will present the option to Government demonstrating how a unitary council will be an effective driver of economic, social and environmental benefits for the area’s residents, businesses and visitors, realise the strategic potential of the area and enable transformation of public services.

"The proposal acknowledges the historic and current associations between places and communities across the Morecambe Bay area. This strengthens the rationale for the organisation of local government at a scale and footprint readily identified by residents and businesses."

Services which are provided now by the county council could become the responsibility of the new authority along with how much residents will be asked to pay for it.

The meeting is also expected to look at how much it will cost to combine three local authorities into one and any savings that can be made to taxpayers.

The Government has invited any authorities in Cumbria to submit proposals for a single tier of local government.

It is expected Cumbria County Council will have its own competing ideas, the report said.

And it added: "It is likely that options will be proposed by other district councils for two unitary councils based on combinations of the geographic footprints of the existing district councils. The range of the other proposals will not become clear until November 9."