Council supports increasing number of members

Cumberland council's executive committee supported a proposal to increase the number of councillors at the next election

Proposals to increase the number of councillors serving on a local authority by 20% have been backed.

Cumberland Council is in discussion with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England over potential changes to its size and make up ahead of the next local election in 2027.

During an update on the process this week, the executive committee agreed to recommend the number of councillors be increased from 46 to 55.

The authority said that would help it "improve its democratic link" with residents and it "would not necessarily mean an increase in costs".

The final say on the size of the council would rest with the boundary commission, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said, and a second phase of the process would draw the boundaries of each ward based on the number of elected representatives.

'Greater focus'

A council document said increasing the numbers would result in "better decisions being made".

It added: "It will allow a reduction in the number of committees and groups that each councillor may be required to serve on.

"This will increase the time for preparation, enabling a greater focus and more insightful contributions to decisions on, and scrutiny of, key issues in the area."

A council spokesman said a higher number of councillors would not automatically mean higher costs.

"Any future decision on councillors allowances will be guided by the Independent Remuneration Committee," they added.

A similar process is underway in Westmorland and Furness.