At its first full council meeting since the county council elections on June 4th, Cumbria County Council today determined the political administration that will be running the council.

The council voted for Cllr Jim Buchanan (Conservative) to be the new Leader.

Cllr Roger Bingham (Conservative) was elected new Chairman of the council and Cllr Bert Richardson (Conservative) was elected the new Vice Chairman.

On being appointed Chair, Cllr Bingham, who first started as a parish councillor in 1972, said:

"It is an honour, a privilege and - I hope - a pleasure to become Chairman of the county council. I hope that the long apprenticeship I have served in local government will help me serve this council well, and in turn help us all to serve the people who have elected us."

Cllr Bingham, a writer, historian and former school teacher, has previously held the positions of Leader and Chairman of South Lakeland District Council and has been a county councillor since 1997.

The Leader of the council elects the Deputy Leader and Cabinet under the 'strong leader' democratic framework that has now been adopted by the council. Cllr Buchanan appointed Cllr Stewart Young as Deputy Leader and named a nine-member Cabinet consisting of five Conservative members, three Labour and one Independent member.

The Leader has Cabinet responsibility for the chief executive's office (including strategy, policy and performance, corporate strategy, partnerships and communications) and also has responsibility for adult social care.

The other Cabinet appointments are as follows:

Deputy Leader - Cllr Stewart Young (Labour). Cabinet portfolio: Finance and Resources (including property, procurement, scrutiny, member services, legal and premises).

Cabinet member responsible for communities (including community services, community safety, localism): Cllr Oliver Pearson (Independent)

Cabinet member responsible for safer and stronger (including Fire & Rescue, trading standards, emergency planning and culture): Cllr Gary Strong (Conservative)

Cabinet member responsible for economy and highways: Cllr Tony Markley (Conservative)

Cabinet member responsible for environment and transport (including waste): Cllr Tim Knowles (Labour)

Cabinet member responsible for organisational development (including HR, IT, equality, health and safety, change management): Cllr Liz Mallinson (Conservative)

Cabinet member responsible for schools and learning: Cllr Duncan Fairburn (Conservative)

Cabinet member responsible for children's social care: Cllr Anne Burns (Labour) 

Cllr Jim Buchanan, Leader of Cumbria County Council, said:

"We have entered a new era for Cumbria County Council and the Cabinet I have appointed has the right balance of skills and expertise to drive the council forward through what will undoubtedly be challenging times, given the squeeze on public finances and the current economic climate.

"The fact that no one party has overall control of the council must not be a barrier to progress and all councillors, whatever their political affiliation, must work together in the best interests of Cumbria. We cannot lose sight of the bigger challenge of delivering more for less." 

Cllr Stewart Young, Deputy Leader of Cumbria County Council, said:

"The Labour group has accepted the Leader's invitation to be part of the new Cabinet and we look forward to working together with our new colleagues in Cabinet in the best interests of the people of Cumbria."

Cllr Trevor Fee, Leader of the Independent group, said:

"It is right and fitting that there is an independent voice at Cabinet. The communities portfolio held by the independent member is an extremely important one which ensures that the council's policies and services are delivered at a local level."

ENDS

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