HOPES for a single council in Cumbria are being delayed by Brexit, a council boss has said.

Lawrence Conway, the chief executive of South Lakeland District Council, was asked for an update on plans to scrap a number of local councils in the county.

Ulverston councillor Janette Jenkinson told him that SLDC needed to know what was going to happen next in the process.

In December, county council leader Stewart Young wrote to James Brokenshire MP, the Secretary of State for Local Government requesting talks, but did not receive a reply until February.

Unitary authorities – or devolution – could see Cumbria’s seven councils reduced to just one or two.

Mr Conway said: “Devolution has been on the agenda for some time now. The Government has been promising a devolution framework for some time so that we know what principles might be considered.

“Unfortunately because of other business, there continues to be a delay so we’re not really sure of the framework it wishes to work with – whether it be a combined authority, a mayoral authority, or a combination of what we already have as a two-tier collaboration.

“We are still waiting and there has been some Press recently about the relevant minister being asked to give an update and I think it’s quite clear that we won’t be getting anything until Brexit has been sorted out,” said Mr Conway.

In December, county council leader Stewart Young wrote to James Brokenshire MP, the Secretary of State for Local Government requesting talks, but did not receive a reply until February.

The Government has said it plans to produce fresh guidance for councils on how they go about the process but the information has not been forthcoming so far.