Request to defer mayoral election to save money

Both Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness councils are already holding elections in 2027

A request has been made to delay a proposed mayoral election in a bid to save money.

Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness councils have written to the government to request the proposed 2026 mayoral election in Cumbria is deferred to the following year.

The authorities said holding the election would cost about £1m, but holding it in conjunction with the already planned local elections in 2027 would "save significant resources".

"This request is made in the spirit of constructive partnership and with a shared ambition to ensure the strongest possible foundations for a successful new governance model that delivers for the people of Cumbria," the letter to the government said.

The authorities said the government was yet to confirm that the proposal for devolution in Cumbria could go ahead.

If permission was to be given, then both Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness councils would also have to make a formal decision on a Mayoral Combined Authority, before an election can take place.

"The deferral would also provide more time to prepare for the establishment of a new combined authority, in particular the emerging industrial strategy which sets out how Cumbria's economy can grow in the future," the councils said.