Barrow Council to contribute nearly £2m to bring about new east and west Cumbria authorities

Councils in the county are due to be replaced by two authorities covering the western and eastern halves of Cumbria.

According to a report the cost of implementing the change is due to be between £17.6 million and £23.8 million.

But annual savings for the authorities could be between £19.1 million and as much as £31.6 million.

Barrow Council has already set aside £450,000 to support local government reorganisation.

An implementation reserve, to 'record, manage and monitor spend on the implementation of the new authorities' is due to be established

The council is due its share of £1.6 million into to the fund.

The money will be drawn from the council's contingency reserve, a report said.

The agenda for a meeting of Barrow Council next week said: "It is proposed that a County-wide Implementation Reserve be established, hosted by Cumbria County Council, in order to effectively and efficiently record, manage and monitor spend on the implementation of the new

authorities.

"This is the preferred choice of the LGR programme board supported by the finance and commercial programme board, especially given the level of contribution being made by the County Council.

"It is further proposed that all seven Cumbrian authorities contribute to the reserve with the County Council contributing 50 per cent and the remaining 50 per cent split equally between the district authorities.

"Therefore, the Council’s contribution will be up to £1.6m.

"Following approval by the individual authorities, it is proposed that the reserve be established for January 2022."

Councillors will vote on whether to establish the implementation reserve in a meeting on December 7.

The costs of implementing the change in local government structure in the county could be incurred over a three year period.

Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland are to due to a form a new authority by 2023 that would be known as Westmorland and Furness.