From 1 April 2023 local government in Cumbria will change. The current six district councils and Cumbria County Council will be replaced by two new unitary authorities. The two new councils are Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council.
Government announced its decision to create two new unitary councils in July 2021. Since then work has been ongoing to develop and implement a transition plan.
All seven local authorities, supported by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, are collaborating on the complex operation to create the two new authorities. This entails a considerable amount of work to ensure that people in Cumbria receive the high level of service and delivery they expect and deserve.
All those involved in leading this project are committed to ensuring that local people are kept fully informed and engaged in this process as we move towards April 2023.
The decision has already been made to keep one LGPS Fund and the new Administering Authority will be Westmorland and Furness Council, but this won't affect how anyone's pension is administered as the same team will continue to manage the Fund for its 60,000 members.
LGR - Further reading and information
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LGR - Pension decisions and choices booklet (TUPE)
LGR Pension Decisions And Choices Booklet A4 16Page
LGR - Letter to Pensioners
March 2023 Cumbria LGR Letter Pensioners
LGR - Letter to Active Members (TUPE)
March 2023 Cumbria LGR Letter Active Members (TUPE)
LGR - Letter to Active non-TUPE and deferred
March 2023 Cumbria LGR Letter Active Non TUPE And Deferred
As a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme(LGPS), what will happen to my pension?
Under TUPE rules you will retain access to the LGPS, and your pensionable service will transfer.
Will I get a pension in my new authority?
From the 1 April 2023 you'll either work for Cumberland Council or Westmorland and Furness Council. As new employers they must automatically enrol any eligible staff into the Local Government Pension Scheme(LGPS).
If I have opted out of the LGPS or joined the 50/50 section of the scheme will that change?
You will be brought back into the main section of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) from the 1 April 2023. You are able to re-elect to join the 50/50 scheme after this date. If you would like to opt out of or rejoin the 50/50 section, please fill in the relevant forms on the forms and publications section.
Due to Pension Regulations, to encourage pension uptake, your payroll team will be unable to accept your completed form before 1st of April.
Are councillors eligible to join the LGPS?
Changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) regulations in England, from 1 April 2014, resulted in access to the LGPS being removed for councillors, elected mayors, the Mayor of London and members of the London Assembly. Those who were already members of the Scheme on 31 March 2014 were able to remain in the LGPS until the end of their term of office. They were not able to re-join the LGPS in any subsequent term of office.