THE year 2023 will see a huge overhaul of local government in north Cumbria which will transform the way services are delivered.

From April 1, gone will be Cumbria, Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland councils, and in their place will be a single new unitary authority: Cumberland.

Carlisle City Councillor Lisa Brown is also deputy leader of Cumberland council has said that the new council will be a 'fantastic opportunity' for Carlisle, as the city joins a bigger network of councils.

She said that closer links to west Cumbria will bring particular economic opportunities.

Cllr Brown said: "It widens our opportunities within Cumberland, obviously with Britain's Energy Coast and Sellafield it allows us to join the conversation and to look at how we can start working together with them.

"Sometimes it has been quite easy to just look at things as Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland. After April 1, we can't think like that anymore; we need to start working right across the Cumberland region with bigger organisations."

Cllr Brown said that 'preliminary discussions' have already been started looking at how some of the county's wider opportunities can be 'brought over' into Carlisle.

She said: "I think this just gives Carlisle a really big opportunity - because of its situation next to the M6 and because of the transport links that it has. I think this has just come at a really vital time for Carlisle and for Cumberland.

"I think there is just a lot of potential and this council is about unleashing that."

The new council will see the four councils of Cumbria County Council, Allerdale Borough Council, Carlisle City Council and Copeland Borough Council brought together under on new Cumberland Council on the councils vesting day of April 1 2023.

READ MORE: 'Copeland will always be heard', says Cumberland Council deputy leader

Deputy leader Lisa Brown is working alongside deputy leader Emma Williamson to support leader Mark Fryer in the running of the new council.

Talking about the formation of the new authority, Cllr Brown said: "It's really exciting, but we know there is so much work to do.

"I mean there is literally dozens of meeting for us to attend every week, we know that the officers are working towards getting us to April 1 - there is so much dedication there.

"It is challenging because it's not an easy thing to bring four councils together in 11 months - but we are really confident in the dedication of the officers to get us there by April 1.

"It's a really exciting time now to see it all starting to come to life."

READ MORE: Cumberland leader Mark Fryer talks 100 days until Vesting Day