Question 1: To what extent do you agree or disagree that establishing a Mayoral Combined Authority over the proposed geography will deliver benefits to the area?
Answer: Strongly agree
Please explain your answer.
A Mayoral Combined Authority will bring powers, funding, and freedoms and flexibilities from central government that enable decision-making to take place in Cumbria, rather than in London. That direction of travel is very much welcomed.
Cumbria is the right geography for a Mayoral Combined Authority at this time. Firstly, Cumbria is a well-established economic geography. A Mayoral Combined Authority for Cumbria will build on the existing partnership landscape and key relationships. The newly established Cumbria Economic Growth Board brings the voices of local businesses and anchor institutions together. The Council and our partners, through Enterprising Cumbria, have recently agreed a new 20-year economic strategy for Cumbria ‘Going for Growth’ which will be a building block for what we want to achieve through the establishment of a Cumbria MCA.
We also recognise that all our neighbouring sub-regions within England have their own Combined Authority arrangements in place. Cumbria must not be left behind in having the arrangements in place to secure investment and powers to unlock economic, environment and social benefits for all communities and businesses across Cumberland and Cumbria.
In establishing a Cumbria MCA, we would want to work with Government to design an Authority that meets the needs of Cumbria and enables us to achieve our ambitions for inclusive economic growth, environmental resilience and enhancement, and better outcomes for our communities.
This means an MCA in a large rural and sparsely populated area without a large city driving the local economy. Cumbria is not a City Region like Greater Manchester, the West Midlands Engine, or even the North East Combined Authority area. It is an area with particular challenges related to productivity, population, economic diversity, skills and strategic infrastructure. It has significant funding challenges related to the cost of delivery of public services over a large geographical area with relatively low population density.
This is a great opportunity to create an MCA that builds on existing collaboration and institutions, and adds value to the ambitious plans and projects that we already have in place. A Mayor working with two new and ambitious local authorities has great potential to unlock sustainable and inclusive growth.
Economic growth in Cumbria must be focused on addressing inequalities between and within our communities. Our Cumberland Council Plan sets out clearly our commitment to supporting local economies that work for everybody, and the importance of community wealth building approaches to maximise the benefits for economic growth for all parts of our local community. We have put health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. Without a focus on health and wellbeing we won’t achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
In establishing a Cumbria MCA we would also focus on the needs of protecting and enhancing Cumbria’s unique landscapes and natural environment, the importance of our natural capital to the UK economy and our long-established excellence in the clean energy and defence sectors. It will be critical that an MCA is funded and supported fully to deliver benefits for local people. Sufficient capacity funding from government to establish and support the work of the MCA will be critical to maximise the opportunities for economic growth in Cumbria. The initial capacity funding for 2025/26 recently confirmed by the Government is welcomed and we will seek early confirmation of future capacity funding following the Government’s Spending Review in early Summer.