Cumbrian Conservatives hit out at county council leader over Local Government Reform

Speaking at Carlisle Racecourse last Thursday, Leader of Cumbria County Council Stewart Young commented on the latest developments in the Local Government Reform saga.

The council had that week received a Structural Change Order from the UK Government, proof that they can legally reform how the county is governed.

The SCO confirmed that the one unitary authority governing Carlisle, Copeland and Allerdale will be titled Cumberland Council and the authority governing Eden, South Lakeland and Barrow will be titled Westmorland and Furness Council.

Cllr Young fears that ministers have already made up their minds about some aspects of the reorganisation, including abolishing the name "Cumbria."

But senior figures of Cumbria's Tory contingent have criticised the Labour leader's assessment of the situation.

Mayor of Copeland Mike Starkie said: "That's not true, Cumbria will continue to exist as a ceremonial boundary. It's absolutely not the case at all, the proposal put forward by Copeland and Allerdale is for a combined mayoral authority."

MAYOR: Mike Starkie

Leader of Allerdale Borough Council Mike Johnson and Mr Starkie put forward the two council model when the Secretary of State asked for views on how the new system of Local Government in Cumbria should look.

Cllr Young has previously supported the idea a single unitary authority in Cumbria. Members of the council's Labour Group feel that the idea of a two council Cumbria has come from Government to consolidate Tory power in the region, this is the basis of a Judicial Review against the decision.

Mr Starkie said: "He had his opportunity but a lot of Stewart's views are in the minority. He's like a man standing in the sea trying to push the tide back."

But Cllr Young said: "The draft SCO states that 'The County of Cumbria is abolished as a Local Government area'. Whether Cumbria remains as a ceremonial County has not yet been confirmed, but I certainly hope it does, as it would make no sense to have two Lords Lieutenant and two High Sheriffs."

Mr Starkie said: "The Liberal Democrats are supporting two unitaries and want to get on with it. Stewart's not even supported in his Judicial Review by his Cabinet." He called the legal challenge "a wilful waste of money" given some Labour members acknowledge that ministers may have their way in the end.

Cllr Young said: "Regarding the Judicial Review, it is true that 30 out of 84 county councillors, mostly Conservative, were against it at a special Council meeting called in August, but there is growing support amongst the public, once they realise what is happening eg Penrith Town Council who recently voted to support the JR.

"As for being a waste of money, the real waste of money is creating two authorities rather than one, which will mean a missed opportunity to save millions of pounds a year as County services are split into two, requiring a doubling of senior officers in each case.

"And if the Conservative plan for a combined authority with an elected Mayor was ever to come about, there would be the extra costs of an added layer of officers, which council taxpayers will have to pay for."

The Conservative leader of Allerdale Council has also cast doubt on the idea that Cumbria will cease to exist after LGR.

And in a letter to The Whitehaven News this week, Copeland Council's Portfolio holder for Nuclear and Corporate Services David Moore said: "Recently, the council by a large majority voted against Cllr Young's plans for a Judicial Review. Which he continues in contempt of democracy to pursue in what is a wilful waste of taxpayers money and officers' time."