AN historic £450 million deal to transfer more power and responsibilities to Cumbria has been agreed – and a new supremo will hold the purse strings.

Government ministers have accepted the ground-breaking ‘Cumbria Deal’ bid from the county’s most influential leaders, and pending agreement from the county council and each of the six districts, it would come into effect in 2018. All seven local councils would be retained, but a new overarching ‘combined authority’ board would be formed made up of the seven leaders, with a new mayor elected to lead it. The powerful mayoral role would be combined with that of the police and crime commissioner.

The ambitious Cumbria Deal bid was submitted in September by 14 of the county’s leaders. It was agreed, in principle, by Lord Heseltine and Baroness Shirley Williams this week.

The £450m devolution deal runs for 15 years, although further deal bids can be made in the future.

The proposals amount to what would be a transformation of public life, helping to create up to 30,000 new jobs in Cumbria by 2024.

Experts also predict that if successful the proposals could boost the county’s economy by an eye-watering £1.3billion.

Details of what powers could be transferred by the government to the new combined authority – and subsequently to local authorities including Copeland – are yet to be negotiated, but it is proposed to include:

- a full-scale merger of emergency services such as police, fire and ambulance;

- increased integration between the county’s health and social care services;

- transfer of the courts;

- a government buyout of the Cumberland Infirmary’s private finance deal which critics says is financially crippling hospital services locally;

- the relaxing of planning rules and removal of borrowing limits to allow the building of affordable housing, and the greater freedom for local authorities to tackle housing shortages;

- greater freedom to invest in and promote local apprenticeships;

- maximising growth in the tourism, nuclear and rural sectors;

- more local retention of business rates.

Copeland mayor Mike Starkie said: “The council is happy to continue to play an active part in positive dialogue in conjunction with the other Cumbrian councils. Before any final decision to proceed into signing a deal, it will have be approved by the full council. I will work to ensure any deal is in the best interests of Copeland.”