Carlisle city councillors will today consider extending sharing their chief executive with Eden District Council.

In December, they agreed to share Dr Jason Gooding on a temporary basis. At a meeting today they will be recommended to extend the term, from May 31 until the end of the year.

An EDC spokesperson said: “Eden District Council’s Human Resources and Appeals committee met recently to approve a recommendation to extend the current arrangement for the sharing of Carlisle City Council’s chief executive, Jason Gooding, until the end of December 2021.

“The committee felt this would provide much needed continuity to EDC’s Corporate Leadership Team until such time as there was likely to be more clarity over the position with local government reorganisation (LGR).

“Any extension of the arrangement for Jason Gooding’s time will be subject to agreement from Carlisle City Council and discussions have begun to secure this agreement.”

The city council report states: “It is expected that the intention of Government will be known in July of this year.

“If, for example, local government reorganisation (LGR) is not to proceed then EDC can go ahead with recruitment of a chief executive and have one in post a few months later, depending on notice periods and other factors.

“The proposed extension therefore allows plenty of time for a handover.

“Under these circumstances it is unlikely that the arrangement will run until December.

“Alternatively, if LGR is to proceed then all local authorities in Cumbria will be working towards service and organisational alignment. The selected option may or may not bring Carlisle and Eden together, which will obviously inform members’ intentions and instructions going forward.”

Extension of the agreement would mean Carlisle City Council would continue to receive £1,000 per week from EDC in payment for services.

Should the city council agree it, the extension will be subject to agreement by full council at EDC, which covers the Eden Valley, part of the Lake District, and part of the North Pennines, including Alston.

The initial sharing proposal was first made following the departure of EDC’s former chief executive, Rose Rouse, last August.