CUMBRIA County Council’s elections will not take place this year after a consultation on the future of local government was launched.

County council elections were due to be held in May this year, but have now been pushed back 12 months.

This will avoid the possibility of the electorate being asked to vote for councils while they are being given the opportunity to express their views on the abolition of those councils.

It also avoids members potentially being elected to serve short terms. Planned by-elections for Allerdale Borough Council will take place in May, however, as will town and parish council elections.

A number of possibilities for the future of governance in Cumbria have been put forward. The county council favour a single unitary authority for all of Cumbria, whereas three other proposals advocate two authorities.

Commenting on the announcement, Stewart Young, Leader of Cumbria County Council said: “This day has been a long time coming and I am personally delighted that it is here.

“At long last the Cumbrian people and its many organisations, partners and businesses have been offered the opportunity to influence and shape the future of local government in our county. Removing layers of unnecessary bureaucracy and streamlining seven councils down into a local model that makes much more sense to our residents.

“I can only hope that despite everything else that is going on at the moment, that people try and make the time to make their views and opinions known so that any final decision by government can be informed by what people want locally.”

Carlisle and Eden’s preferred option is to form two new authorities on the footprint of the existing Eden, Carlisle and Allerdale councils in the north and Copeland, Barrow and South Lakeland councils in the south.

Leader of Eden District Council, Coun Virginia Taylor, added: “Eden and Carlisle are in agreement that, if reorganisation is to happen, then it should be based on the two unitary councils outlined in our joint submission to the Government.

“Our proposal also supports the establishment of a mayoral combined authority that has a genuine strategic purpose and provides the basis for the devolution of powers away from Westminster and to the people of Cumbria.

“I encourage residents to make sure their voices are heard by participating in the Government’s consultation.”

Elsewhere, Allerdale and Copeland have also submitted a proposal for two councils – this time split east/west.

Mike Starkie, Mayor of Copeland, said: “It is crucial that Copeland and Allerdale remain part of the same authority in any future model. We have made a compelling case for change with the two-unitary model we propose.”