A CONSULTATION on locally-led proposals for unitary local government submitted by councils in Cumbria has been launched by Government.

Following a formal invitation from Government last October to councils in Cumbria to submit proposals for reorganisation, the Local Government Secretary has received four proposals for consideration.

The consultation published on February 22 seeks views on these locally-led proposals. One is from Cumbria County Council as well as three joint proposals, one from Allerdale Borough Council and Copeland Borough Council; another from Barrow Borough Council and South Lakeland District Council; and a third from Carlisle City Council and Eden District Council.

The consultation asks a number of questions about each proposal to help inform the Local Government Secretary’s decision, including:

• Whether the proposal will provide greater value for money

• Views on the proposed geography of the council

• Whether the proposal will impact local police, fire and rescue, and health services

Subject to Parliamentary approval, it is expected that any new unitary council to be fully operational from April 2023 with transitional arrangements expected to be in place from 2022 including elections in May 2022 to the shadow or continuing councils.