Question 5: To what extent do you agree or disagree that working across the proposed geography through a Mayoral Combined Authority will improve local government services in the area?
Answer: Strongly agree
Please explain your answer.
The powers and funding to drive inclusive economic growth devolved through the Mayoral Combined Authority will put more levers to improve the lives of Cumberland’s residents in local hands and, as a result, address over time some of the factors creating rising demand for services and associated financial pressures.
A Cumbria Mayoral Combined Authority will enable Cumberland Council to be more ambitious in our joint working with Westmorland and Furness Council and partner organisations. We will be able to build on the effective collaboration already in place on a sub-regional, regional and national footprint where it adds the most value.
We are committed to ensuring a future Cumbria MCA focuses on where it can make the biggest positive impact on local economic growth and produces the most significant benefits for our residents. It cannot place additional cost burdens on local organisations or on local people that are not outweighed by the benefits of economic growth.
The powers, responsibilities and functions devolved to the MCA from the Government must be properly funded and enhance the delivery of public services in Cumberland and Cumbria.
The MCA provides a vehicle by which the local authorities and partners can work together to achieve the economic ambitions that we currently don’t have the powers or funding to do on our own.
It will enable collaboration through robust and transparent governance arrangements, with decisions made by the democratically accountable constituent members and the Mayor, to maximise the growth opportunities of devolved powers and funding.
Opportunities to join up additional local functions from a local level through a Cumbria MCA will be carefully assessed through local decision-making to ensure they are best carried out at MCA level.
In this way, the MCA has the potential to improve local government services through more effective and efficient strategic planning on the most vital economic, environmental and social challenges.
This can build on the collaborative arrangements which are already working effectively on a Cumbria footprint. These include the establishment of Enterprising Cumbria and the Cumbria Economic Growth Board which places engagement with our businesses at the heart of strategic economic policy and decision-making. Through these arrangements we have a joint economic strategy for the next 20 years in place, providing a good starting point for an MCA of a shared vision and shared strategic approaches.