WORKINGTON MP Mark Jenkinson is calling on the new Cumberland authority to 'help taxpayers by cutting council tax'.

In April 2023, Cumberland will be the only council for residents in the current Allerdale, Copeland and Carlisle districts.

Mark Jenkinson MP has launched a campaign encouraging the unitary authority to 'pass on the savings delivered as part of local government reform and to protect frontline services'.

In recent years, local authority funding from the Conservative Government has been much higher than budgeted for, which allowed Cumbria County Council to bank nearly £10m while increasing council tax by the same amount, Mr Jenkinson claimed.

Mr Jenkinson said: “As part of this investment, roads budgets have increased but we're not seeing the benefit here in Cumberland, with the bulk going to Labour and Liberal Democrat boroughs in South Cumbria.

“Meanwhile, the Government continues to help vulnerable families with schemes delivered through councils such as the Household Support Fund.

“If the new authority is serious about helping those who are struggling, they should cut council tax. This is within their gift, and such a move would complement the central Government schemes launched to help people manage the cost of living.

“From day one we should see the buck-passing stop, we should see much-reduced duplication and we should immediately start to see the financial benefits of streamlining local government.”

In addition, the Workington MP also launched a survey to gain a broader understanding of the views of his constituents.