LEADERS have cooled on the idea of appointing a Mayor of Cumbria despite taking a step towards devolution this year.

Local elections on May 5 saw voters select their representatives for two new unitary councils of Cumberland in the west, Westmorland & Furness in the east.

The new councils set to take up the baton from the existing county and borough councils on April 1 2023, will have decision-making responsibilities for every aspect of local government.

Unitarisation is a key part of the Levelling-Up agenda, designed to cut out bureaucracy, devolving power from Westminster to communities and giving areas like Cumbria a seat at the top table when bidding for investment.

READ MORE: Northern Powerhouse Partnership calls for Cumberland devolution

The east-west split was proposed by Conservative leaders with the next natural step being the creation of a Combined Mayoral Authority.

Unitary mayors like those in Tees Valley, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire are designed to provide strong leadership for their area with the power to bring about change.

But leaders are now reluctant, faced with the work of redesigning services as well as deciding who handles county-wide services.

Cumberland Council deputy leader Lisa Brown said: “At the minute we don’t even know where headquarters for the new authorities are going to be.

“Let’s just make sure it works best for the residents of Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness.

“We want to transform services, we want to make services in Cumberland the best they possible can be, making the best of the talent we’ve got in the executive and our membership.

“It feels like they’re missing the really exciting stuff that could be happening with this new unitary authority to focus on the next big politician.”

Leader of the new Westmorland & Furness Council Jonathan Brook recently told the Local Government Chronicle that "we would need some convincing that a mayoral combined authority joining these two bodies back together again is the most appropriate course of action."

READ MORE: Government Levelling-Up boss - There WILL be a Mayor of Cumbria

But John Stevenson, Member of Parliament for Carlisle, is set to speak on devolving powers to places at the first Northern Research Conference next month.

The group is founded by Conservative MPs elected in Red wall territories in the North of England, Scotland and Wales.

And Mr Stevenson said that a Mayor of Cumbria would lead to the best possible infrastructure and leadership in the area. 

“What I would say to the new councils of Cumbria is, do you want Cumbria to be left behind?

“The elected mayor is at a completely different level, it’s about skills for the county, offering leadership to the county.

“It’s linked to the two new authorities but it’s also separate to the new authorities.”