COUNCILLORS have received an update on the mammoth body of work to replace the seven existing Cumbrian councils with two unitary authorities.

Local government in Cumbria is changing, by Vesting Day, (April 1, 2023) Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council and the borough councils of Allerdale and Copeland will be replaced by Cumberland Council.

In Eden, South Lakeland and Barrow-in-Furness, the existing councils will be replaced by Westmorland & Furness Council.

The new councils are first operating as Shadow Authorities, briefly co-existing with their predecessors until the transition work is complete.

READ MORE: Cumberland Council leadership hears call to consider services overhaul

At the first meeting of Cumberland Council’s scrutiny meeting on Monday, councillors received a progress update on the work to reorganise local government in the area.

The status of each workstream was represented with a traffic light system.

And one of the projects where there are no issues is corporate and enabling services, which includes records management, health and safety admin and business support.

Work remains on-track around communication with the public and engaging with residents on the LGR process.

ICT is one of the workstreams represented with an amber rating. Whilst ICT requirements for the Shadow Authorities were in place and managed on time, “a number of risks” remain around ICT.

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All efforts are currently focussed on making the authorities “safe and legal on day one” but following Vesting Day, the new councils will have the opportunity to transform how services are delivered.

The next meeting of Cumberland Council’s executive on July 13, will see leading councillors consider branding.

Initial blueprints of services will also be considered as well as a UK Shared Prosperity Investment Plan and the Cumberland Council Plan.

Shadow Authorities take control of spending in the area with existing councils required to seek approval from them before entering into new contracts and capital spending.

The Cumberland Council leadership will be asked to approve payments for the districts and county council over the coming weeks.

READ MORE: Carlisle MP John Stevenson says county council are 'not supporting bus services'

At a meeting on September 20, the leadership will receive the outcome of a Community Governance Review.

The review has been launched following a petition calling for a parish council in Stanwix Urban.

A Council Tax Reduction Scheme is due to be presented to the Shadow Executive on October 27.