CUMBRIA’S seven councils could be slashed to just one in controversial plans which are back on the agenda this week.

More than 80 county councillors meet on Thursday to decide whether to back making a formal approach to the Government in 2019.

The “unitary authority” or "single council" process could involve Cumbria being run by either one or two new councils - instead of seven.

Currently, Cumbria is run under a “two-tier” arrangement which involves a county council and six local councils.

The local councils provide services in South Lakeland, Eden, Barrow, Copeland, Allerdale and Carlisle. But having just one council in charge could save an estimated £28.3 million a year in local government spending.

Savings of £16.8 million every year could also be found if the county had only two councils, according to a report to go before councillors in Kendal.

But there are major critics to the idea – particularly in Cumbria which has to provide services across the third largest county in England.

Home to half-a-million people, the county is also one of the country's least populated counties which drives up the costs of delivering and providing services to remote areas.

The issue of a unitary authority, or single council was last taken seriously more than 10 years ago under the then Labour Government and deputy prime minister John Prescott.

It floundered because agreement could not be reached by councillors in Cumbria on how the county could be divided up - either on a north-south, or east-west split.

At a meeting of Cumbria’s full council in Kendal a proposal by county leader Stewart Young seeks to take the idea to Government.

Councillors are being asked to give consent for Cumbria County Council to approach James Brokenshire MP, the secretary of state for Local Government.

The council plans to “seek the Government’s views on the potential for local government reorganisation in Cumbria, and to propose working with them to develop proposals for consideration.”

The issue will also go on the agenda of the county council’s ruling cabinet which is run by a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition, headed by council leader Mr Young.

The proposals follow talks which have taken place this year at behind-closed-doors meetings involving every council leader in Cumbria.

They are said to be “supportive of change” but a stumbling block could be that there is little common ground in the district over how it could work.

In addition, the Government criteria specifies that the idea must “command a good deal of local support".

Among the benefits being suggested by the county council is “increased efficiency of public services, simplification of the public service map for Cumbria and the county having a “single voice” to attract funding and investment into the county.

The proposal is back on the cards after a number of other counties in England have won agreement from the Government to reduce the council footprint in their areas.

Counties such as a Oxfordshire, Dorset, Northamptonshire have all tabled proposals to switch to a unitary area.

Buckinghamshire also plans to cut its councils from five to one.

Leicestershire County Council is also exploring the idea – but plans to keep its city council. Nottinghamshire County Council is also consulting with the public.

The timetable is pressing because the Government has said it would help speed up any application in those areas where not all local authorities agree - provided any bid is made before March 31.