Time for all to see the truth

Cumbria First Offers to Boost Local Democracy

In today's world, democracy means two important things: being transparent and open, letting people participate in the decision making. But in Cumbria, some big changes have made it harder for regular folks to participate in council meetings and find out what decisions are been made that affect them and the local communities.

Instead of having many local leaders close to home, we now have just two big councils trying to cover a huge area. That means meetings often happen far away, making it tough for many of us to be a part of important decisions that affect our lives.

But here's the good news! We're living in a time where technology can help solve this problem. It can bring council meetings right to your fingertips, no matter where you are in Cumbria. You can see and hear what's going on just like you're there in the council room.

That's where Cumbria First comes in. We care a lot about Cumbria and making sure democracy works for everyone. We want to help fix the problem of a disconnected democracy by offering our local councils, Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council, a special gift – technology that makes it easy to be part of local democracy putting people in the council meetings delivering and open and transparent local government for the communities across Cumbria. And guess what? We're not charging a penny for it!

Our goal is simple: We want everyone in Cumbria, no matter where you live, to be a part of local democracy and deliver openness and transparency on the decisions that shape our communities. We believe that if our councils embrace technology, they can engage with us all better and create an open and transparent democratic Cumbria for all.

So, here's our invitation: Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council, let's collaborate and make our democracy stronger. Let's bring transparency and openness into local government. Let's make sure the people and communities across Cumbria always comes first!

Where is the transparency in Cumberland council

In 2022 as a party committed to Putting Cumbria First. We forecast the mess that would unfold with the new unitary councils that is now becoming evident to all.

Our members and party pledge to hold the new councils to account and stand up for people and place outside the toxic mess of the new councils.

Our members have over the last few months worked to scrutinise and hold Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council to account on issues effecting people and communities across Cumbria.

Today we announce our latest challenge to the new councils over failure of transparency required by all councils under the local government transparency code.

The local government transparency code promotes democratic accountability and makes it easier for local people to contribute to the local decision-making process.

The transparency code sets out the minimum data that local authorities should be publishing, the frequency it should be published and how it should be published.

Both Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council via the councils own websites states the council “is committed to making its finances clear, so that everyone can see exactly how it is spending money.

As part of this commitment to provide financial transparency, Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council both state they will publish all expenditure over £250 (excluding VAT).”

Yet the new councils  have now existed as the local authority since the 1st of April 2023 representing over 5 months that Westmorland and Furness council and Cumberland Council have had a duty to publish their expenditure and spending on procurement cards. To date both councils have failed to publish any of the required data under the transparency code.

Members of Cumbria First have submitted questions to be asked at the full council meeting of both councils asking the leader’s of both councils to explain why the respective Council failed to disclose its expenditure to date for public scrutiny what is the council covering up with its lack of transparency on its expenditure?

Team Cumbria remain committed to our pledge of Putting Cumbria First and holding to account local and national government on issues that effect you and your family and our Cumbria.