The Executive of Cumberland Council are scheduled to meet on Tuesday 14 October 2025 to discuss a range of topics, including the Carlisle Station Gateway project, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and the creation of a Mayoral Combined Authority for Cumbria. They will also be reviewing the council's financial and corporate performance, and the strategic risk register. The meeting will be held at Cumbria House in Carlisle.

Here's a closer look at what the agenda shows will be covered:

Mayoral Combined Authority for Cumbria

The Executive are scheduled to discuss a report submitted by Councillor Mark Fryer, Leader of the Council, regarding the creation of a Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) for Cumbria¹. The report seeks approval in principle for the establishment of a Cumbria Combined Authority (CCA) and consent to the laying of the Statutory Instrument, the Cumbria Combined Authority Order 2026. The report pack states that the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is expected to obtain Parliamentary approval in 2026, at which point the CCA will become known as the Cumbria Mayoral Strategic Authority. The report outlines the process and proposal to establish the CCA, assessing the associated benefits, opportunities, costs and risks. The report pack notes that a debate on this matter was held at a full Council meeting on 7 October 2025, and that a record of the debate will be tabled at the Executive meeting for members to consider. The report also proposes that Councillor Mark Fryer, Leader of the Council, establishes a cross-party Member Working Group on Devolution to advise on the devolution programme and its implications for Cumberland Council and Cumbria.

Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Contract

Councillor Denise Rollo, Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places Portfolio Holder, is expected to present a report concerning amendments to the Original Permission to Procure for the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Contract. The original permission to procure was approved on 8 April 2025. The report pack states that the proposed changes are material and require further approval by the Executive. The proposed amendments include:

• Inclusion of wording in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) to reflect the possibility of receiving more match funding than initially anticipated.
• The contract now includes the use of an annual concession fee per concessionaire, replacing the previous approach of a bay fee per charge point.
• A minimum revenue share per charge point is to be introduced, commencing from Year 3 of the Contract.
• The ITT has been amended to include wording that the Council, at its own discretion, can utilise a small percentage of LEVI pilot funds to progress sites that may be considered difficult to deliver but are of strategic value to the Council.
• The ITT also includes a provision stating that both successful and unsuccessful tender bids will be returned to the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) for the purpose of capturing findings and informing future funding processes.
• The ITT will outline to bidders that an assessment of their economic financial standing will be required prior to any bid evaluations, and this will be applied on a pass/fail basis.
• With the combined funds for this contract potentially exceeding £7 million, the ITT scoring emphasis has been changed, with the commercial section changing from 20% to 30%.

Carlisle Station Gateway Project

The Executive are scheduled to consider a report submitted by Councillor Mark Fryer, Leader of the Council, and Councillor Barbara Cannon, Financial Planning and Assets Portfolio Holder, regarding the construction contract award and issue of Implementation Notice in relation to the Carlisle Station Gateway Project. The report provides an update on project progress and recommends delegating authority to the Director of Place and Economy to award construction contracts for the delivery of the main works led by Cumberland Council (Court Square (South) and George Square) and to issue an Implementation Notice to the Office of Road and Rail and rail industry consultees (Network Rail and Avanti West Coast) prior to works commencing on land owned by Network Rail. The report pack notes that the Carlisle Station Gateway project is a £28 million regeneration proposal to revitalise Carlisle Railway Station and the surrounding area, with funding from Borderlands, Network Rail and Cumberland Council.

Cumbria-wide Addictions Service

Councillor Justin McDermott, Public Health and Communities Portfolio Holder, is expected to present a report regarding the procurement of a Cumbria-wide Addictions Service on behalf of Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Council. The report pack notes that the service will run for up to 10 years, with an initial 6-year term and optional extensions of up to 4 years, commencing on 1 October 2026. The report seeks permission for Cumberland Council to act as the lead authority for the procurement and to enter into associated contracts with the successful provider(s) on behalf of both local authorities. The report also seeks delegated authority for the Director of Public Health, Customer and Community Wellbeing to approve the subsequent award of the Cumbria-wide contract, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Communities and in conjunction with Westmorland & Furness Council. The report pack states that the estimated maximum advertised value of Cumberland's contribution to the Cumbria-wide contracts over the full 10-year term will be circa £50.4 million, with the total maximum value being estimated up to £80 million.

Quarter 1 Council Plan Delivery Plan Performance Report

Councillor Lisa Hinton, Deputy Leader and Adult Social Care Portfolio Holder, is scheduled to present a report detailing the corporate performance for Cumberland Council for Quarter 1 2025/26, covering the period from 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025. The report pack notes that progress on the Council's priorities is measured through a blend of actions and performance metrics, reported quarterly and annually to the Executive and Overview and Scrutiny Committee, in line with the Performance Management Framework. The report pack states that there are 85 key activities detailed in the Council Plan Delivery Plan, of which 79 were rated green (on track) and 6 amber (just off track) in Quarter 1. In terms of performance as measured by key performance indicators, 26 of the 49 attributed a RAG rating were green (on target), 13 were amber (close to target) and 10 were red (off target).

Finance Report - Quarter 1 (April to June) 2025

Councillor Barbara Cannon, Financial Planning and Assets Portfolio Holder, is expected to present the council's financial performance against budget for the period April to June 2025, along with the forecast position to 31 March 2026. The report pack notes that the Quarter 1 projected outturn is showing a potential adverse outturn of £12.005 million, representing a 3.4% adverse position against the council's current £357.614 million net budget. The report pack states that if this position remains unchanged, it would require an unbudgeted contribution from general fund balances of £12.005 million, reducing them below the level for Adequacy of Reserves. The report pack also notes that an underspend of £111.394 million is forecast against the £339.638 million Capital Budget at Quarter 1, with £111.392 million of this underspend relating to budgets which are subject to reprofiling adjustments.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Annual Report

Councillor Barbara Cannon, Financial Planning and Assets Portfolio Holder, is scheduled to submit the Annual RIPA report. The report seeks annual approval of the policy document, which sets out how Cumberland Council will comply with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA). The report pack notes that the council rarely makes use of the powers available under RIPA, and that no authorisations have been applied for or granted in the last year.

Strategic Risk Register Progress Report - July 2025

The Adults and Community Health Portfolio Holder is expected to present the Strategic Risk Register progress report, highlighting updates to the Strategic Risk Register as at 31 July 2025. The report pack notes that the Audit and Risk Committee requested that a Strategic Risk Register progress report be submitted to the Executive after each Audit and Risk Committee review.

Other items listed on the agenda include:

• Apologies for absence
• Declarations of interest
• Exclusion of press and public
• Minutes of the previous meeting
• Public participation
• Executive announcements
• Individual Portfolio Holder Decisions
• Reference from the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee