Question 7: To what extent do you agree or disagree that working across the proposed geography through the Mayoral Combined Authority will support the interests and needs of local communities and reflect local identities?
Answer: Strongly agree
Please explain your answer.
The establishment of a Cumbria MCA will lead to improved strategic leadership, policy and decision-making on key long-standing policy challenges. A focus on inclusive sustainable growth and addressing inequalities should be at the core of the MCA arrangements. This will support the interests and needs of local communities by securing economic growth that benefits all communities.
The proposed MCA, with the two constituent councils working with the directly elected Mayor, means direct democratic accountability to local communities is embedded within all decision-making through the Councillors and the Mayor.
Cumberland Council is working with our communities in new ways to ensure that we listen to our communities and work with them, rather than ‘do to them’. Our Community Panels provide for engagement and decision-making at the most local level.
Cumbria’s rich heritage of diverse communities with their own different identities is a fundamental strength in how communities support each other. In Cumberland this is reflected in how differently each of our Community Panels works and the issues they focus on – ensuring a diversity of views in decision-making.
These approaches are the foundation for council decision-making and service design, and will be embedded in the Council’s input to strategic decision-making within the MCA.
Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness, whilst relatively new councils, have already established effective collaborative relationships on key issues, including on economic growth through Enterprising Cumbria.
Whilst the size of the proposed Cumbria MCA poses some challenges in respect of capacity and diversity of input into decision-making, it does mean that we can create a lean, focused strategic authority which is close to the local communities it serves.