THE leader of an upcoming unitary council has vowed the authority will 'empower local communities'.

Cllr Jonathan Brook stressed the Westmorland and Furness area was 'unique' and said services would be shaped to 'recognise and embrace' the differences between towns and villages. 

Westmorland and Furness Council is to begin operating when Cumbria County Council, Barrow Borough Council, South Lakeland District Council and Eden District Council are abolished next year. 

Cllr Brook is currently the leader of a shadow unitary authority that is overseeing preparation and planning ahead of vesting day on April 1, 2023.

A council plan is currently being put together. 

A South Lakeland District Council spokesman said the plan would outline 'how the council intends to realise the benefits offered by local government reorganisation by doing things differently', how it will 'prioritise its activities and services to achieve its strategic aims', and the 'values and principles that will underpin how it works'.

Tackling climate change and 'empowering and working with communities' are among the priorities being discussed.

READ MORE: Challenges facing upcoming unitary authority laid bare

Cllr Brook said: “Our vision is one that guides the council to ensure that transition and transformation over the next five years enables Westmorland and Furness to be a great place to live, work and thrive now and in the future."

The draft council plan was noted by a meeting of the shadow authority's overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday.

Comments from the committee formed part of the initial feedback. 

This feedback will, along with views from conversations with stakeholders over the coming month, be considered by a meeting of the shadow authority's cabinet in October. 

A report produced ahead of the overview and scrutiny committee meeting outlined a number of challenges that the unitary authority would face. 

Dan Hudson, strategy lead specialist at South Lakeland District Council, said a sparse population 'presents challenges in terms of sustaining and delivering services to small and widely distributed communities'.

"Sparseness and rurality also present challenges in terms of public transport, connectivity more generally and broadband connectivity," he said.

Mr Hudson also said the Westmorland and Furness area had 'an ageing population and a declining workforce'.