“Shocking” inequalities need to be addressed by the new authority, a councillor has said.

Cumberland Council is set to take over as the single responsible authority in Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland by 2023, replacing the existing county, city and borough councils in the area.

The new authority is currently serving as a Shadow Authority until next April, carrying out important preparatory work, including taking-on and transforming 200 services currently delivered by the existing councils.

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Cumberland Council’s scrutiny committee, which is tasked with acting as a “critical friend” to the leadership, met for the second time on Wednesday.

The discussion centred around the evolving Cumberland Plan – a document that will inform the themes, vision and priorities of the new authority.

And one councillor called for a focus on the “shocking” disparity in opportunities between towns, districts and the city in Cumberland.

Elected member for Egremont Sam Pollen said that priorities set out in the current version of the Cumberland Plan are “bold and brave” and welcomed the focus on protecting the vulnerable.

But he said: “We’ve got to accept that we have not had equality of opportunities for our communities in fact we’ve had the absolute opposite. I think it’s been shocking personally.

“The lack of equal opportunities in our towns and communities has been absolutely shocking and it’s something that this council needs to address, I’m sure will address.”

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The themes set out in the Cumberland Plan include the unitary authority acting as a listening, compassionate council with a “local by default” approach which was welcomed by the cross-party panel.

Policy expert Nick Hardy, who has worked on the Cumberland Plan said: “The direction of travel that the council is looking to embark upon is one where it really is a listening organisation, it really is about empowerment it really is about responding to the needs of the residents of Cumberland.”

Deputy leader of the new authority Lisa Brown said: “It’s really key to the executive that this is led by the community and the community’s response to this council plan will be taken into consideration.”

Green Party councillor for Belah Helen Davison said that she is “delighted” to hear that the new authority will be a “listening organisation” with a focus on empowerment.

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