That is the verdict of county council leader Stewart Young, ahead of crunch talks on the so-called Cumbria Deal on Monday.
A delegation from the county is set to meet special Government advisor Jim O’Neill.
If an agreement is made, the devolution deal would give Cumbria’s leaders never- before-seen control over Cumbria’s economy and public services, opening the door to thousands of jobs.
Last September, a bid was made by a 14-strong group – whose members include all of the county’s major council leaders – leaving the agreement in the hands of Government officials. Since the bid was submitted, details on its progress have been sparse with high-level negotiations taking place.
But in an update to Cumbria County Council’s cabinet, Mr Young said: “Since then we have had a number of meetings with Government officials and ministers and we have been waiting for a formal written response and that arrived a week gone Monday.
“As a result we have been invited to send a delegation to London and we intend to have a discussion with him about what the Government might be offering us.
“I have to say we are quite a long way apart in terms of what we are asking for. But it is a live negotiation and the chief executive [Diane Wood] and I will be taking part.”
Leaked documents in November showed a number of ideas for the devolution deal are being considered, including a directly elected mayor to sit atop a new “combined authority”.
Also in discussion was a £450m windfall for the county over a 15-year period, which would be used for investment and to upgrade infrastructure and a refinancing of the Private Financial Initiative at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle.
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