Cumberland Council has held its first official meeting, making some key decisions on its future leadership.
On April 1, the new unitary authority took responsibility for all council services previously provided by Allerdale Borough Council, Carlisle City Council, Copeland Borough Council and Cumbria County Council.
Prior to this date a shadow authority was responsible for taking the decisions that were needed to set the new council up.
The first ever chair of the new council is Councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes and the vice chair Councillor Abdul Harid.
At its meeting in Carlisle yesterday, councillors also elected Mark Fryer as leader. He will be responsible for the leader’s portfolio which includes the strategic direction of the council, economic development, and external relationships.
Lisa Brown was appointed as statutory deputy leader of the council with the governance and thriving communities portfolio, with Emma Williamson appointed as deputy leader with the children’s and family support portfolio.
Other executive members and their portfolios are:
- Elaine Lynch with the Lifelong Learning and Development portfolio
- Martin Harris with the Adult and Community Health portfolio
- Denise Rollo with the Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Place portfolio
- Barbara Cannon with the Financial Planning and Assets portfolio
- Chris Southward with the Digital Connectivity and Customer Focus portfolio
- Bob Kelly with the Cumberland Policy and Regulatory Services portfolio
- Anne Quilter with the Vibrant and Healthy Places portfolio
Councillors also agreed who would be the chair and vice-chair for the various committees on the council. These include:
- Anne Glendinning was appointed as chair of the Planning Committee, with Roger Dobson as vice chair
- Mike Hawkins was appointed as chair of the Regulatory and Licensing Committee, with Geoff Mitchell as vice chair
- Markus Campbell-Savours was appointed as Chair of the Audit Committee, with David Moore as vice chair
- Gillian Troughton was appointed as Chair of the Standards and Governance Committee, with Tim Pickstone as vice chair
In other appointments Lucy Patrick was elected as the Chair of the Business and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, with David Moore as as vice chair. The Chair of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee is Carni McCarron-Holmes with Helen Davison as vice chair.
Chris Willis was appointed as Chair of the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, with Jeanette Whalen as vice chair; and Tony Markley was appointed as Chair of the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, with Helen Tuckeras vice chair.
Councillors also adopted amendments to the council’s constitution, which outlines the governance arrangements for the new authority.
This was originally agreed at the Shadow Authority meeting of January 26 with any further amendments delegated to the monitoring officer. Councillors agreed these amendments this week, as well as the scheme of delegation.
