Westmorland and Furness Council
Council logo
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 2023
Preceded byCumbria County Council
Leadership
Chairman
Matt Severn,
Liberal Democrats
since 17 May 2022[1]
Jonathan Brook,
Liberal Democrats
since 17 May 2022[2]
Structure
Seats65 councillors
Westmorland and Furness Council composition
Political groups
Administration (36)
  Liberal Democrat (36)
Other parties (29)
  Labour (15)
  Conservative (11)
  Independent (2)
  Green Party (1)
Length of term
4 years (from 2023)
Elections
First past the post
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
2027
Meeting place
County Hall, Busher Walk, Kendal, LA9 4RQ[3][4]
Website
www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Westmorland and Furness Council is the local authority for Westmorland and Furness in the north-west of England. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council combined although the council is legally a distrcit council and the area has no county council as set out in the change order. Westmorland and Furness Council was first elected in May 2022, operating as a shadow authority until it replaced Cumbria County Council, Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council, Eden District Council and South Lakeland District Council on 1 April 2023.

Politics

See also: 2022 Westmorland and Furness Council election and Westmorland and Furness Council elections

Westmorland and Furness has 65 councillors,[5] It was first elected in May 2022 and operated as a shadow authority until taking up its powers on 1 April 2023.[6]

Composition

At the 2022 council election, the Liberal Democrats secured a majority on the council with 36 out of 65 councillors. Labour have 15 councillors, the Conservatives have 11 councillors, the Green Party have 1 councillor and 2 councillors were elected as independents.[7][8]

Affiliation Members
Liberal Democrats 36
Labour Party 15
Conservative Party 11
Independent 2
Green Party of England and Wales 1

Leadership

Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The first leader is Jonathan Brook, a Liberal Democrat, who was also the last leader of South Lakeland District Council.[9][10]

Councillor Party From To
Jonathan Brook Liberal Democrats 1 Apr 2023

Composition of predecessor bodies

The combined composition of the three merging district councils going into that election was as follows:[11]

Affiliation Members
Liberal Democrat 44
Conservative Party 35
Labour Party 28
Independent / Other 14
Green Party of England and Wales 3
Vacant 1

References

  1. ^ "Leader selected for new Westmorland and Furness Council". The Westmorland Gazette.
  2. ^ "Liberal Democrats elect new group leader for Westmorland and Furness Council - Cumberland and Westmorland Herald". 8 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Agenda for Shadow Authority for Westmorland and Furness Council on Tuesday, 17th May, 2022, 2.30 pm". westmorlandandfurness.moderngov.co.uk. 17 May 2022.
  4. ^ "New Cumbria councils to hold inaugural meetings - cumbriacrack.com".
  5. ^ "Elections - May 2022". New Councils for Cumbria.
  6. ^ "The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022".
  7. ^ "Westmorland and Furness". www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.
  8. ^ "Westmorland & Furness result - Local Elections 2022". BBC News.
  9. ^ "Liberal Democrats elect new group leader for Westmorland and Furness Council - Cumberland and Westmorland Herald". 8 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Council minutes". Westmorland and Furness Council. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  11. ^ "English Councils 2021". Open Council Data UK. Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.

External links

Ceremonial county of Cumbria
Unitary authorities of England
Categories