• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Monday, June 23, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Is outsourcing a strategic opportunity amid rising employment costs?

    Is outsourcing a strategic opportunity amid rising employment costs?

    Farms focus on cashflow following SFI scheme closure

    Farms focus on cashflow following SFI scheme closure

    MP asks for Government help over plans to replace M6 bridges

    MP asks for Government help over plans to replace M6 bridges

    Resurfacing work to start in Shap – road to be closed for 21 days

    Resurfacing work to start in Shap – road to be closed for 21 days

    Arrests after drugs raid in Penrith

    Arrests after drugs raid in Penrith

    New Kirkby Stephen shop blends retail with purpose

    New Kirkby Stephen shop blends retail with purpose

    New vicar appointed for churches

    New vicar appointed for churches

    Award for Eden writer

    Award for Eden writer

    Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply

    Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply

  • Sport
    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Is outsourcing a strategic opportunity amid rising employment costs?

    Is outsourcing a strategic opportunity amid rising employment costs?

    Farms focus on cashflow following SFI scheme closure

    Farms focus on cashflow following SFI scheme closure

    MP asks for Government help over plans to replace M6 bridges

    MP asks for Government help over plans to replace M6 bridges

    Resurfacing work to start in Shap – road to be closed for 21 days

    Resurfacing work to start in Shap – road to be closed for 21 days

    Arrests after drugs raid in Penrith

    Arrests after drugs raid in Penrith

    New Kirkby Stephen shop blends retail with purpose

    New Kirkby Stephen shop blends retail with purpose

    New vicar appointed for churches

    New vicar appointed for churches

    Award for Eden writer

    Award for Eden writer

    Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply

    Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply

  • Sport
    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest

Legal challenge launches over Cumbria council shake-up

by CWH
10 August 2021
in Latest, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Cumbria County Council says the planned reorganisation of local government is unlawful and has launched a legal challenge against the Government.

The Government announced last month it chose a structure which will see the county split into East – the area covered by Eden, Barrow and South Lakeland councils – and West – the area covered by Allerdale, Copeland and Carlisle councils.

Ministers and civil servants had considered four bids submitted by Cumbrian leaders.

Cumbria County Council wanted to see a single authority covering the whole of the county called One Cumbria.

It has written to Robert Jenrick, the minister for housing, communities and local government in the first step of launching a judicial review against the Government’s decision.

It said the decision was unlawful and pointed out that on the same day as the announcement for Cumbria, it had adopted a single authority approach for Somerset and North Yorkshire.

Reasons Cumbria County Council believes the decision is unlawful

In the letter to Mr Jenrick, it says the decision is unlawful because:

  1. It left out of account necessarily material considerations which his own guidance requires to be taken into account;
  2. It failed to conscientiously consider the consultation responses of CCC showing why the Two Unitary Approach did not meet the SoS’s own guidance and would not
  3. deliver that which his guidance required;
  4. It failed to understand or apply his own guidance in terms of the required scale of the new unitary authorities and provided no reason to depart from that guidance;
  5. It failed to recognise that the Two Unitary Approach is predicated around the creation of a mayoral combined authority to ensure co-ordination on key matters thus adding a new tier of local government administration, undermining the savings claimed and the need for which was a key reason why a Single Unitary Approach was appropriate here;
  6. For no valid reason, acted inconsistently with his approach in North Yorkshire where a Single Unitary Approach was adopted – in the case of North Yorkshire factors in favour of a Single Unitary Approach were relied on but the same factors equally applicable to Cumbria were ignored in the Cumbria Decision;
  7. It appears could have been motivated by the possible party political advantage that splitting Cumbria in two may secure for his party. If this was a factor in the decision, it would be an abuse of power and unlawful;
  8. Acted irrationally; and
  9. Failed to provide adequate reasons addressing the principal controversial issues

The Government has been invited to withdraw the decision and reconsider its proposals by Cumbria County Council.

The letter asks for a response by August 23.

Cumbria’s Liberal Democrats have released the letter as they said they did not back council leader Stewart Young in the bid.

Peter Thornton, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Cumbria County Council, said: “We have just 18 months to create two new Cumbrian councils from the seven existing councils.

“The county council Liberal Democrat Group believe that we should be concentrating on this task rather than expending time and money challenging the Government’s decision.”

Cumbria’s Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron, who represents Westmorland and Lonsdale, said: “Launching a legal challenge against the reorganisation plans will be a waste of public money and time and I would strongly urge Stewart Young to reconsider.

“Liberal Democrats in Cumbria passionately believe that we should instead be focusing on serving local residents and concentrating on working on the issues that matter to them like jobs, schools, social care and the environment.”

A Cumbria County spokesman said: “After careful consideration Cumbria County Council has taken the decision to issue a pre-action protocol letter to the Secretary of State following its decision to create two new unitary councils for Cumbria.

“The pre-action protocol letter is the first step towards ‘potentially’ pursuing a Judicial Review.

“Government will now consider the information in our letter and respond. We will then review their formal response before deciding on our next steps.”

Related Posts

Is outsourcing a strategic opportunity amid rising employment costs?
Expert advice

Is outsourcing a strategic opportunity amid rising employment costs?

22 June 2025
Farms focus on cashflow following SFI scheme closure
Expert advice

Farms focus on cashflow following SFI scheme closure

21 June 2025
MP asks for Government help over plans to replace M6 bridges
Latest

MP asks for Government help over plans to replace M6 bridges

20 June 2025
Resurfacing work to start in Shap – road to be closed for 21 days
Latest

Resurfacing work to start in Shap – road to be closed for 21 days

20 June 2025
Arrests after drugs raid in Penrith
Latest

Arrests after drugs raid in Penrith

20 June 2025
New Kirkby Stephen shop blends retail with purpose
News

New Kirkby Stephen shop blends retail with purpose

20 June 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Looking back through the archives

Looking back through the archives

20 June 2025
Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply

Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply

20 June 2025
Award for Eden writer

Award for Eden writer

20 June 2025
New Kirkby Stephen shop blends retail with purpose

New Kirkby Stephen shop blends retail with purpose

20 June 2025
Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

20 June 2025
Farms focus on cashflow following SFI scheme closure

Farms focus on cashflow following SFI scheme closure

21 June 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald