COUNCILS of different political persuasions have clashed over their financial legacies as they prepare to handover to a new authority.

Cumbria County Council, Carlisle City Council and the borough councils of Allerdale and Copeland are set to be replaced by the new Cumberland Council from April 1, 2023.

The new unitary authority will hold the powers of both a district and county council as will the new Westmorland & Furness Council in Eden, South Lakeland and Barrow-in-Furness.

And the existing rulers have clashed over decisions during their tenures which will have a ripple effect for the new council.

Cumberland Council is set to inherit £386 million in debt accrued from Cumbria County Council’s direct borrowing, as well as a further £111 million in other long term liabilities.

And the Labour-Liberal Democrat administration has been accused of allowing the debt to rollover for 25 years, hampering the new council.

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Conservative deputy leader of Carlisle City Council Gareth Ellis said: “The debts of Cumbria County Council are going to be an albatross around the new council’s neck. A toxic legacy of a dysfunctional authority.”

Cllr Ellis, who is also a member of the county council’s Tory opposition group said: “It’s a dirty little secret nobody talks about. Council borrows money to build something shiny and new, but doesn’t have a repayment mechanism, so it spends years paying the interest only.

“And since very few councillors are there 25 years later, it’s filed away as someone else’s problem.”

But leader of Cumbria County Council Stewart Young said: “As well as paying interest on our borrowings each year, we are required to pay back a percentage of the capital balance, which we do.”

Cllr Young said that the deputy leader of the city council “is misinformed.”

He said: “The county council's debt is not and never has been an albatross around our neck, and it won't be for the new councils either”.

READ MORE: £34 million shortfall ahead for Cumbria's new councils in 2025

Cllr Ellis said: “There’s only one council that has more assets than debts and that’s Carlisle City Council.”

At last reporting the debt set to be divided up between the two new councils included: £34.48 million Barrow Borough Council; £16.56 million from Allerdale Borough Council, £13.29 million from Carlisle City Council and £12.80 million from South Lakes District Council.

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