Agenda and minutes

At the start of the meeting, the Assistant Director Governance advised that this meeting was being hosted remotely using conferencing software which allowed Members, Officers and public attendance whilst being able to protect themselves and others, whilst observing the Government's lockdown measures.

The Assistant Director Governance also stated that all votes during this meeting would be taken through an informal recorded vote, though would not be noted as such in the minutes.

A Roll Call of all those Members in attendance remotely was then taken.

No apologies for absence were made at this meeting.

To receive declarations of the existence and nature of any private interests, both disclosable pecuniary and any other registrable interests, in any matter to be considered or being considered.

No declarations of interest were made at this meeting.

To receive questions and representations from the public under Rules 3 and 4 of the Executive Procedure Rules of the Constitution.

No questions or representations from the public had been received under Rules 3 and 4 of the Executive Procedure Rules of the Constitution.

To receive questions and representations from Members under Rule 5 of the Executive Procedure Rules of the Constitution.

No questions or representations from Members had been received under Rule 5 of the Executive Procedure Rules of the Constitution.

To consider a report from the Director of People and Place which is to follow.

The Assistant Director Governance stated that due to the significance of this item that it be considered a key decision. Due to the urgency surrounding the decision, under Rule 6.3 of the Constitution’s Access to Information rules, agreement had been sought and obtained from the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to allow the decision to be taken.

Members considered report F45/20 from the Interim Director of Corporate Services which sought to identify the Executive’s preferred option for the configuration of Local Government Reorganisation in Cumbria, in response to the Government’s invitation to submit proposals for unitary local government.

Proposed by Councillor Taylor
Seconded by Councillor Sharp

and RESOLVED that:

1.            Executive approve Eden District Council’s preferred option for the configuration of Local Government Reorganisation in Cumbria as being the creation of two unitary authorities with a North – South configuration that would see Eden, Allerdale and Carlisle forming on unitary authority and Barrow, Copeland and South Lakeland the other.

2.            This option is referred to a special meeting of Council on 2 December 2020 for consideration and endorsement and that this forms the basis of the submission to Government on or before 9 December 2020.

Other options considered: The other options considered are set out with paragraph 3.6 of the report.

Reasons for decision: To ensure the optimal solution for Local Government Reorganisation for Eden is identified.

There were no items which the Chairman felt were urgent.

The date of the next scheduled meeting to be confirmed as 15 December 2020.

The next scheduled of this committee was confirmed as 15 December 2020.