Cumbria’s councils have asked for the planned election to appoint a mayor for the county to be postponed for 12 months.
Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council have written to the Government to request the deferral.
It was proposed the mayoral election would be held in May next year, but the authorities have asked that, if required, the election is held in May 2027.
The Government has yet to confirm that statutory tests have been met and that devolution in Cumbria can proceed.
If it can, both councils then still need to make a formal decision to agree to a Mayoral Combined Authority, which would then require an election.
If devolution goes ahead, it would mean a new mayor-led authority would be established alongside the existing two Cumbrian councils.
It would have additional strategic responsibilities, set out in law, covering transport and local infrastructure, skills and employment support, housing and strategic planning, economic development and regeneration, environment and climate change, health, wellbeing and public service reform and public safety.
The Government wants to transfer more decision-making powers and funding from Westminster to local areas.
In a letter requesting a deferral to Rt Hon Jim McMahon MP, Minister for English Devolution and Local Governance, the councils said: “This request is made in the spirit of constructive partnership and with a shared ambition to ensure the strongest possible foundations for a successful new governance model that delivers for the people of Cumbria.”
Local elections for Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council are scheduled for 2027.
The councils said holding a mayoral election on the same date would save around £1 million and would support a higher turnout of voters.
The deferral would also provide more time to prepare for the establishment of a new combined authority, in particular the emerging Industrial Strategy which sets out how Cumbria’s economy can grow in the future, it added.
It was announced that Cumbria was included in the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme in February this year.
Both councils were invited to join the Priority Programme after earlier expressing interest in exploring what greater devolution of powers could mean in Cumbria.
The Government has yet to report back on a public consultation exercise it held earlier this year.
