COUNCILLORS are demanding to know the true cost of the disaggregation of hosted services following the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Cumbria.

Last year two new unitary authorities were formed to replace seven former councils – Cumbria county, Carlisle city, Allerdale, Copeland, Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland.

Officers at both councils – Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness – are currently working on the division of hosted services between them.

Members of the joint overview and scrutiny committee, which is made from councillors from both unitary authorities, received a progress report on the process at a meeting in Voreda House in Penrith on Friday (June 21).

However, after members had noted the contents of the report Cumberland councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) asked if they would be told of the total cost of the disaggregation process because it represented a "huge amount of work".

Jo Atkinson, Cumberland Council's director of business, transformation and change, said he had made an accurate observation and the matter would be taken back to each council's chief executives and finance officers with a formal report brought back in September.

Cumberland councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes (Maryport North, Labour) said that the decision to create two unitary authorities, instead of just one, by central government was "remiss" and added: "Cost should have been high on the agenda."

Cumberland councillor Mike Hawkins (Mirehouse, Labour) said it had been pursued for "political reasons" and cllr Dobson said that the intervention by the government had been "unwelcome". He added: "Disaggregation took away the benefits and we should understand the true costs."

During the presentation of the progress report Mrs Atkinson highlighted services which had already been disaggregated as well as the expected dates for completion of the remaining services. She said: "Everything appears to be going to plan."

Cumberland councillor Martin Harris (Dearham and Broughton, Labour) asked about progress with the adults’ urgent care team, which according to the report is due to be completed in Cumberland by the end of September this year or by the end of March next year at the latest. He asked: "Is it going to plan because these dates look optimistic?"

He said that, because it was a 24-hour service, it relied heavily on expensive agency staff and, as he was heading to a recent council meeting, he saw a picket line formed by staff from that service who were taking industrial action over terms and conditions.

Mrs Atkinson said it was "no secret" about the industrial action, because it had received media attention, the end result would not be a replica of the current model, and it was expensive if there were staff absences. She added: "I am confident that the service is on track for the disaggregation date."

Westmorland & Furness councillor Shirley Evans (Kendal Nether, Lib Dems) observed that most of the predicted dates were either "spot on" or even completed before the deadline.

Committee chairman, Westmorland & Furness councillor Mark Rudhall (Penrith North, Lib Dems), asked about the County ICT disaggregation which was predicted to be by at least March 31 next year.

He highlighted the issue of cyber-attacks and added: "They need to be disaggregated when we have a robust system. Is it set in stone or can it be put off?"

Mrs Atkinson pointed out that it was the only hosted service with an "at least" deadline and added: "All of our accreditations are up to date."

She told members that a lead officer for cyber security had been appointed for both Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness and she gave the example of a cyber-attack on Redcar and Cleveland. She said: "It took them offline for months and months and months."