THE leaders of Cumbria's main councils are hoping plans for devolution in the county will be mentioned by the Chancellor on Wednesday.

The county's six district councils and county council are in discussions with the Government over funding that is due to be devolved from 2018.

Before it will allow the county to take control of the funding, the Government wants Cumbria to bring in an elected mayor.

The mayor's role would cover the county and be separate from the running of the councils.

Allerdale council leader Alan Smith said he or she would be responsible for the devolved funding and would take on the role currently given to the police and crime commissioner.

The decision on whether to accept the proposal would have to be made by the seven councils, not just the people negotiating with Government on their behalf.

Coun Smith said he hoped there were be further progress from Government on the ongoing discussions early next week.

That, he said, would allow Chancellor George Osborne to announce those negotiations in his Spending Review and Autumn Statement on Wednesday.

Coun Smith added: "We have said we'll talk to the Government about it.
"We need to get the best deal for the people out there, the council taxpayers."

He does not know whether there is any prospect of any funding being devolved to Cumbria before 2018.