The final annual meeting of South Lakeland District Council has confirmed the councillors will oversee the running of services in the district for the next 12 months.
Councillor Jonathan Brook will remain as council leader and all but one cabinet role will stay unchanged in what Coun Brook described as “an important period of continuity.’’
The annual meeting yesterday was the last before the authority is dissolved on April 1 next year, along with Cumbria’s five other district councils and Cumbria County Council, to be replaced by two new unitary councils.
From that date, Westmorland and Furness Council will deliver all services in the Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland areas, and Cumberland Council will deliver services in the Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland areas.
Councillor Brook – who was also elected this week as the leader of the new Westmorland and Furness Council – said that it was key that the transition to the new council was as seamless as possible, and the best way to ensure SLDC’s positive legacy, was through a consistent approach at this critical time.
He said: “This is an important period of transition and we want to make sure that services are maintained through this process and improved thereafter. We want to end SLDC well and provide the best possible foundation for the new council.
“Our cabinet has a strong track record of delivery on key priorities and it is vital that this knowledge and experience is retained, so that we can try to ensure that we finish as many of the SLDC projects we’ve already started, as possible. We will also need to work with counterparts in the new authority and to provide strong and consistent support for that smooth handover.’’
The only change in the SLDC cabinet sees Councillor Eamonn Hennessey replace Councillor Phil Dixon in the Customer and Locality Services portfolio role.
The full cabinet:
Leader and Promoting South Lakeland and Innovation portfolio: Councillor Jonathan Brook
Deputy leader and Finance and Assets portfolio: Councillor Andrew Jarvis
Housing Portfolio: Councillor Helen Chaffey
Economy, Culture and Leisure portfolio: Councillor Robin Ashcroft
Climate Action and Biodiversity portfolio: Councillor Dyan Jones
Health, Wellbeing and Poverty Alleviation portfolio: Councillor Suzie Pye
Customer and Locality Services portfolio: Councillor Eamonn Hennessey
Councillor Tom Harvey remains as leader of the Conservative group and will also shadow Councillor Brook’s Promoting South Lakeland and Innovation portfolio.
Other Shadow Cabinet portfolio holders:
Shadow Finance and Assets portfolio and Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group: Councillor John Holmes
Shadow Housing Portfolio: Councillor Pat Bell
Shadow Economy, Culture and Leisure portfolio: Councillor Roger Bingham
Shadow Climate Action and Biodiversity portfolio: Councillor Kevin Holmes
Shadow Health, Wellbeing and Poverty Alleviation portfolio: To be confirmed
Shadow Customer and Locality Services portfolio: Councillor Janette Jenkinson
Councillor David Webster will remain as leader of the Labour group.
Councillor Pete McSweeney was also re-elected as chairman of the council and Councillor Matt Severn was re-elected as vice-chairman.
