LEADING Cumberland Council members will gather at the first ever meeting of the Cumberland Council executive next week.

The Cumberland Council leadership will meet at 10.30am on Wednesday June 15 as they prepare to take over from the existing county and borough councils in Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland.

Senior councillors will be advised about the financial arrangements for a Shadow Authority like Cumberland.

The new unitary council covering Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland is currently operating alongside the existing county and borough councils until Vesting Day, April 1 of next year, when it takes over as the single responsibility authority in the area.

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Councillors will be informed about a direction from the Government restricting the county and borough councils from making certain transactions during the shadow year.

The new Cumberland Council will therefore be asked to give general consent to a series of decisions the district council may need to make before Vesting Day.

These include, to “dispose of any land/property if the market value of the land does not exceed £1,000,000.

“Enter into any capital contract where the consideration payable or maximum consideration payable under that contract does not exceed £5,000,000.”

General consent will also be given for the councils to “enter into any non-capital contract” where the consideration payable does not exceed £5,000,000.

These can include contracts for educational or care placements.

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Payment of investment and administration costs, the activities of Cumbria Local Government Pension Scheme and transactions relating to treasury management activities will also be authorities for the outgoing councils if the recommendation is approved by councillors on Wednesday.

The report set to be laid before councillors next week reads: “This General Consent will be kept under review by the Shadow Executive and amended or developed as necessary in the light of experience and practical application.”

Westmorland & Furness Council will be expected to carry out the same process for the existing councils in Eden, South Lakeland and Barrow-in-Furness.

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