Decision details

The Director of Customer and Commercial Services presented a report providing an update regarding Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). He reminded Members that as part of the LGR process, South Lakeland District Council would be abolished in March 2023, with the new Westmorland and Furness authority covering the footprint of Eden, Barrow and South Lakeland districts. He added that assets and responsibilities of the Council would be transferred into the new Westmorland and Furness authority. Clarity had been sought from the Department of Housing, Levelling Up and Communities (DHLUC) specifically in relation to matters pertaining to the lake and the Council had been advised that such matters would be subject to a supplementary order or directions from Government.

The Director of Customer and Commercial Services noted that a number of questions had been raised by the Council for response from external legal advisors and DHLUC and that once responses had been received a further report would be raised with the Committee.

In response to a question regarding when the additional Order would be made, the Legal, Governance and Democracy Lead Specialist (Monitoring Officer) informed Members that meetings between Chief Executives and the Government had been frequent since the start of the LGR process. She added that a request for further information on the Consequential Order had already been made. As a result of this communication, the DHLUC representative was aware that a meeting was required on the Lake due to the complex history and a requirement for an understanding of the background.

In response to a question regarding the Lake Administration Committee’s ambition for the Lake beyond South Lakeland District Council, the Legal, Governance and Democracy Lead Specialist (Monitoring Officer) reminded Members that the assets of the authorities involved in the LGR process would be transferred to the new authority and asked Members to be mindful of the remit of the Lake Administration Committee. She added that a meeting on the Lake had already been requested from DHLUC and that a follow up request would be made expressing the urgent need for a meeting on this matter.

Members felt that the Lake was a key priority in terms of any material issues that need to be clarified in the additional order and requested an amendment to the recommendation for this Agenda Item.

After discussion on the wording of the amendment, the proposed new recommendation would read as follows:-

(1)  the current position in the update report be noted by the Lake Administration Committee; and

(2)  meetings with government be requested urgently to ensure clarification of the content of the Consequential Order.

Following further discussion regarding the SCO the Legal, Governance and Democracy Lead Specialist (Monitoring Officer) reminded Members that although clarification would be sought on the additional Order, with the SCO it had been communicated that it was not a consultation.

The amendment to the recommendation was proposed and seconded, a vote took place and it was

RESOLVED – That

(1)  the current position in the update report be noted by the Lake Administration Committee; and

(2)  meetings with government be requested urgently to ensure clarification of the content of the Consequential Order.