Eden District services proposes to share more services

A proposal that Eden District Council should share some services with another authority is to be considered.

If proposals are agreed it would share a joint chief executive and management team with Carlisle City Council.

Eden District Council said the plans had been put forward in order to "bridge the council's existing financial deficit" of £800,000.

The council has already agreed to share some services with South Lakeland Council from 1 April.

These include IT and revenues and benefits services.

'Independence preserved'

Eden District Council's leader, councillor Gordon Nicolson, will be reporting to Eden District Council's transformation board on 30 March.

The board advises the council in selecting an appropriate partner to share services with.

As part of this process the board was established to advise the council in selecting an appropriate partner to share services with.

The report by Councillor Nicolson will be considered by Eden Council's Transformation Board on Wednesday, the authority's executive on 5 April and full council on 14 April.

Eden Council Leader, Councillor Gordon Nicolson, said: "We are looking for a long-term partnership that will sustain any change in political control at either of our councils.

"I want to make it clear that the independence of Eden District Council will be preserved and the position of members to determine the policies and actions of the council will not be affected."

Union and non-union staff at Eden Council have been consulted.