Cumbria Combined Authority
Cumbria Combined Authority | |
|---|---|
The area of the combined authority | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 24 February 2026 |
| Leadership | |
Chair | Mark Fryer, Labour since 18 March 2026 |
| Seats | Cumberland Council 2 Westmorland and Furness Council 2 |
| Meeting place | |
| Eden Rural Enterprise Centre, Redhills, Penrith | |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Cumbria Combined Authority is a combined authority comprising the unitary authorities of Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council. It was established on 24 February 2026, and covers the ceremonial county of Cumbria, whose county council was abolished in 2023. The authority will have a directly elected mayor, with elections to be held in May 2027.
Background
Discussions for a devolution deal for the county began before Cumbria County Council's 2023 abolition, with Michael Gove, the then Secretary of State for Housing, Local Government and Communities expressing his wish to extend devolution to the county, once the process of establishing new councils had completed.[1]
The 2023 restructuring of local government in Cumbria saw the county split into two authorities, essentially East and West, creating the Cumberland, and Westmorland and Furness, authorities.[2] These two new authorities replaced Cumbria County Council, which ceased to exist on 1 April 2023. Its duties, including roads, schools and social services, fell to the newly created authorities.
Devolution deal
A deal put to Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council in 2025 included more powers and funding for transport, skills and housing through a Devolution Framework, which would transfer some powers currently held by the UK Government to the new combined authority.[3] Five voting members of the combined authority would exist, with four coming from the two councils and one being the directly-elected mayor.
The deal was accepted by both councils on 14 October 2025.[4] A £1 million package from the government was allocated to help establish the combined authority, as well as access to a Mayoral Investment Fund of £333 million over the course of 30 years. The authority will be established in early 2026, operating for a year without a mayor.[5] There is precedent from past newly-formed combined authorities that an interim mayor be appointed, but it is unknown if this will happen in Cumbria.
The combined authority was established on 24 February 2026 by secondary legislation made on 23 February 2026.[6][7]
Structure
Mayor of Cumbria
The 2027 Cumbria mayoral election, on 6 May 2027, will elect the first Mayor of Cumbria.[8]
The mayor will be a member of the Mayoral Council for England and the Council of the Nations and Regions.
Combined Authority Board
Each constituent authority nominates two members to the Combined Authority Board.[9]
- Board members
| Name | Nominating authority | |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Fryer | Cumberland Council | |
| Lisa Hinton | Cumberland Council | |
| Jonathan Brook | Westmorland and Furness Council | |
| Andrew Jarvis | Westmorland and Furness Council | |
- Chair
- Mark Fryer, since 18 March 2026
References
- ^ Kenyon, Megan (25 January 2023). "Gove hints at next round of county deals and confirms Oflog chair". Local Government Chronicle (LGC). Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ "Cumbria councils to be replaced by two authorities". BBC News. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ "Cumbria devolution consultation". GOV.UK. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ "Cumbria councils agree mayoral devolution plan". BBC News. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ "Councils say yes to new Mayor-led authority". Cumberland Council. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ "The Cumbria Combined Authority Order 2026" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. 23 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
- ^ Jonny, Manning (24 February 2026). "Cumbria Combined Authority formally created by government". BBC News. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
- ^ Hatmaker, Julia (14 October 2025). "Cumbrian councils vote for devolution". Place North West. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ https://www.cumbria-ca.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-03/Draft%20Minutes%20CCA%20Board%2018%20March%202026.pdf