Report No: PP35/20 Eden District Council Executive 20 October 2020 Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Portfolio: Leader Report from: Director of People and Place Wards: All Wards Open Public Item 1 Purpose 1.1 To agree working with Allerdale Borough Council, Carlisle City Council and Copeland Borough Council on developing options for unitary Councils and a combined authority for Cumbria to inform the formal submission of a proposal to the Secretary of State. 2 Recommendations 2.1 That Executive authorise the officers to work with Allerdale Borough Council, Carlisle City Council and Copeland Borough Council on the development of options for establishing unitary Councils and a combined authority for Cumbria. 2.2 That Executive approve the allocation of £25,000 from reserves to support this work. 3 Report Details National Position 3.1 During 2019 the Government announced the intention to begin another tranche of establishing new unitary authorities in England. Government also appears to be keen to agree devolution deals and establish combined authorities with elected mayors across England. Earlier this year the Government announced the intention to produce a Recovery and Devolution White Paper intended to utilise the benefits of local government reorganisation and devolution to accelerate recovery from the economic and social impacts of the COVID19 epidemic. 3.2 The content of the White Paper is yet to be confirmed but it is believed to contain important changes and clarifications such as the power of central government to mandate the creation of unitary authorities rather than by consensus, direction on whether new unitary authorities can cross existing county boundaries and new combined authorities being mayoral by default. The White Paper was intended to be released for consultation in September, but the latest intelligence suggested that this will now be delayed until after Christmas. Regional Position 3.3 Simon Clarke, then Minister for State for Regional Growth and Local Government met with Leaders and Chief Executives of Cumbrian Councils in July. He stated that Councils in Cumbria could ask him to invite proposals to create new unitary Councils in Cumbria. Shortly afterwards Leaders of Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland Councils wrote to the Minister asking for this process to start. 3.4 On 9th October Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government wrote to all Council Leaders in Cumbria formally inviting proposals for unitary local government for the area (Appendix 1). The Councils have been asked to make their own proposal or jointly with others. The invitation specifies that by 9 November 2020 at least outline proposals should be submitted, and full proposals by no later than 9 December 2020. 3.5 In advance of the formal invitation, the County Council produced a proposition and outline business case for a single unitary on the existing county boundary, which has been approved by their Executive and submitted to the Minister in September. It is important therefore that the District Councils produce an alternative proposition within the timescale which have been set out. This report seeks approval from the Executive to work with colleagues at Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland and to commit funding to support this work. The Devolution Members Working Group is supportive of this approach. 3.6 The Cumbrian District Council leaders are in agreement that, if reorganisation is to happen, then it should be based on two unitary Councils. Barrow Borough Council, South Lakeland District Council and Lancaster City Council are working together on a proposition for a unitary authority for the south of the area. Eden along with Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland have started work on exploring options that are complementary to the Morecambe Bay proposals as well as other options.

4 Policy Framework 4.1 The Council has four corporate priorities which are:  Sustainable;  Healthy, safe and secure;  Connected; and  Creative 4.2 This report relates to the sustainable and connected priorities. 5 Consultation 5.1 The Devolution Members Working Group have discussed, and are content with this approach. 6 Implications 6.1 Financial and Resources 6.1.1 Any decision to reduce or increase resources or alternatively increase income must be made within the context of the Council’s stated priorities, as set out in its Council Plan 2019-2023 as agreed at Council on 7 November 2019. 6.1.2 £25,000 from reserves can be allocated to support this work. 6.2 Legal 6.2.1 There are no legal implications at this stage. 6.3 Human Resources 6.3.1 There are no human resources implications. 6.4 Statutory Considerations Consideration: Details of any implications and proposed measures to address: Equality and Diversity None arising from this report. Health, Social None arising from this report. Environmental and Economic Impact Crime and Disorder None arising from this report. Children and None arising from this report. Safeguarding 6.5 Risk Management Risk Consequence Controls Required That the Council isn’t in A sub-optimal solution Support the exploration a position to respond to for residents and of options and an invitation to submit businesses in Eden in development of proposals for chosen by central businesses cases. devolution and local government. government reorganisation. 7 Other Options Considered 7.1 No other options were considered. 8 Reasons for the Decision/Recommendation 8.1 To ensure the optimal solution for devolution and local government reorganisation for Eden is identified.

Background Papers: None

Contact Officer: Les Clark – Director of People and Place

Appendix 1 – Letter from Robert Jenrick, 9th October 2020