The Chairman of Cumbria County Council is elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Council. The current Chairman is Councillor Tom Clare, who was elected on 24 April 2008. Councillor Clare lives in Kendal and is the County Councillor for the electoral division of Kendal Castle and was elected to this division in 1997. He is a former Mayor of Kendal and has served on the Executive of the Friends of the Lake District.
The role of Chairman is as the main figurehead for the Council and his post is seen as non-political and aims to promote public involvement in the Council's activities and raise its profile.
The Chairman welcomes the opportunity to attend local or national functions in the County although it may not be possible to attend every event to which he is invited. The Chairman represents the Council at events from both within and outside the County Council, District Councils throughout Cumbria and neighbouring County Councils.
If anyone wishes to invite the Chairman to an event held by your charity, club, association, internal unit please contact the Chairman's Secretary, Sandra Peacock on 01228 226353 or by email at sandra.peacock@cumbriacc.gov.uk giving details of the event, date and time, venue or alternatively by post to:
The Chairman of Cumbria County Council
c/o Chairman's Secretary
Member Services Unit
The Courts
Carlisle
CA3 8NA
The Chairman's Secretary will then send all details to the Chairman and reply on his behalf. If the Chairman is unable to attend, invitation may be passed to the Vice-Chairman if appropriate. As the Chairman is based in Kendal, visits to the office in Carlisle are on an ad hoc basis.
During periods of leave or illness, Lynn Harker will cover the role of Chairman's Secretary and she may be contacted on 01228 226351.
Our current Vice-Chairman is Councillor Alan Bobbett who may deputise in the Chairman's absence. Councillor Bobbett also lives in Kendal.
A new Chairman will be elected at the Annual General Meeting to be held next year.