Councillors to have say on Cumberland Council plan
The new local authority is set to take over in 2023
Councillors will be given a final opportunity to contribute to the vision for their new authority, set to take over in 2023.
Cumberland Council will govern Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland from April 1, 2023, on this day the existing county, city and borough councils will be abolished.
Elections on May 5 selected councillors for each area in the Cumberland patch and they are currently meeting as a shadow authority to carry out preparation work before taking over in 2023.
One of the key pieces of work for this formative period is to produce the Cumberland Plan.
The council’s plan sets out its vision, approach and priorities from Vesting Day (April 1) and beyond.
Leaders envisage the new unitary authority as an organisation that puts the health and wellbeing of residents “at the heart of everything that we do”.
Setting out the vision for the new council, the plan reads “Cumberland Council takes a fresh approach to the delivery of inclusive services that are shaped by our residents and communities.
“By enabling positive outcomes for health and wellbeing, prosperity and the environment, we will fulfil the potential of our people and our area.”
Cumberland Council’s scrutiny committee tasked with giving feedback on services and acting as a “critical friend” to the leadership, will meet again on Friday.
The scrutiny committee will be given an update on the development of the Cumberland Plan as well as a consultation process which gave residents the chance to influence it.
A report set to be heard by councillors this week reveals that over 69 per cent of those responding to the online survey strongly agreed/agreed that the plan sets out the right vision for Cumberland Council.
Over 74.5 per cent of those responding to the online survey strongly agreed/agreed that the Cumberland Plan sets out the right values.
The consultation, which scrutiny councillors will have the chance to comment on, saw 534 online survey responses, about two dozen handwritten comment cards and a number of detailed responses from organisations via email or letter.
Cumberland Council’s values, vision and focus was generally welcomed by those participating in the consultation.
Leading councillors of the new authority will give their approval to the latest version today (Tuesday) before the full council will be asked for its seal of approval at a meeting next Thursday.