Council to discuss mayoral devolution plan

A council will consider whether to join a regional devolution programme.

Cabinet members for Westmorland and Furness Council will discuss the plan at Kendal Town Hall on Thursday.

If it agrees to join the programme it will kickstart a government-led consultation process on the creation of a strategic mayoral authority, with any final decision requiring council approval in Autumn 2025.

It means Cumbrian residents could be asked to go to the polls in May 2026 to elect a mayor.

The county is one of a few areas in the North not to have a devolution deal.

Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council jointly wrote to the government in October to express interest in one.

A report revealed a deadline of 10 January to respond to an invitation to join the devolution priority programme.

The report added the proposed new strategic authority would be in addition to the existing councils in Cumbria, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

At a cabinet meeting in December the leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, Liberal Democrat Jonathan Brook, said the proposals were "without doubt" the biggest change to local government in 50 years.

He added any decisions would "need to be taken through council with full public consultation".

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