Cumbria's six district councils are set to join forces in a bid to attract Government money.

Councillor Alan Smith, Allerdale council leader, told colleagues at a meeting last night that plans were being drawn up to create a combined authority.

By joining together they hope to attract devolved funding from central government.

Coun Smith said the county council had chosen not to join the scheme but could work with the combined authority on joint projects.

The work follows meetings between Cumbrian council leaders and the Government about a possible devolution deal.

Coun Smith said there had not been a meeting with Government since early summer but the leaders were keen to make progress.

He added: "It gives the Government the message that we're looking to work with them to fetch things into the county."

Coun Smith hopes a draft plan, drawn up by the councils' chief executives, will be ready for approval by the end of the year.

Each district council would have to vote on the proposal.

He hopes to see the new authority in place early next year.

Coun Smith said: "We can't afford to stand still on this. We need West Cumbria to be in the Northern Powerhouse. It's really jobs really we are looking for."

The move comes after the possibility of a unitary council for Cumbria were rejected.
Each council within the combined authority would retain its autonomy on local issues.