With more than 12 months to go before vesting day for the two new councils of Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness, work is continuing at pace to enable this opportunity to become the reality our residents now wish to see.

What we call day zero relates to the important but short-lived joint committees that will be established to support the process for transferring to two new shadow authorities. This will also ensure the elections are well managed and shadow authorities supported for their new members.