Local Government Reorganisation and Borderlands Growth Deal

What will local government changes in Cumbria mean to the future of the Borderlands Growth Deal?

In 2019 a head of terms was agreed between for the Borderlands Growth Deal and in 2021 the Scottish Government the UK Government and the partnership signed the Borderlands inclusive growth deal that delivers a shared, strategic approach designed as a coherent package of activity to be delivered with fresh investment in the region. Jointly funded by up to £350 million from the Scottish Government and UK Government.

The Borderlands region comprises the five local authority areas of Carlisle City, Cumbria County, Dumfries and Galloway, Northumberland County and Scottish Borders.

The Borderlands authorities have been working together since 2014 to develop a strong working relationship, and a joint strategy to secure investment for priority projects that will accelerate economic growth for the benefit of individuals, businesses, and communities across the region.

On the 1st April 2023 two of the signatories of the heads of terms and the inclusive growth deal that form 2 of the 5 local authorities that make up the Borderlands growth deal area will cease to exist.

Carlisle City Council and Cumbria County Council along with the other district councils in Cumbria will be scrapped and two new Unitary covering the current local government area of Cumbria will take over with the local government area of Cumbria scrapped with Cumbria only remaining as a ceremonial area.

Given the City council has its own stake in the partnership and the funding and Cumbria County council is the partner covering the rest of Cumbria.

How will the change to local government impact the Borderlands growth deal and the partnership, its heads of terms and the signed government growth deal and the £350 million it agreed to deliver into the Borderlands region.

Carlisle has seen large scale investment pledged to deliver infrastructure and projects in the City from the Borderland’s because the city has its own partnership stake in the Borderlands currently.

From April 2023 if the new unitary councils become new Borderlands Partners, they will have to deliver across there entire council service area meaning Carlisle for one will lose the focus and investment levels from Borderlands funding in the future.

The UK Government and Scottish Government may take the opportunity to revisit the Borderlands inclusive growth deal and the pledged £350 million.

It may even move to change the geographical areas that are part of the growth deal partnership.

The question is when will the Borderlands Partnership, UK Government and the Scottish Government start to think about and plan for this because the 1st of April 2023 will be to late to start.

It would be easy to think this is government and the councils they will have it all sorted.

Unfortunately as other issues around the Local government changes show they are far from sorted and have not looked at the wider impacts of Local Government Reorganisation and the changes underway.