EDEN District Council has elected a new chairman, vice chairman and re-instated its four council leaders.

In the first sitting of the new Council Eden District Council following the May 1 election, chairman Coun Allan Bewley (Ind, Penrith South) opened the meeting by announcing the election of a new chairman. Coun Mrs Mary Herbert (Ind, Long Marton) was nominated and duly elected.

Coun Herbert said: "It is a great honour to be elected chairman and I will wear the chain with pride. I have had an excellent tutor in Coun Bewley and hope to continue his great work."

Mrs Herbert then extended a warm welcome to all new councillors and, commenting on the work of the council, she said: "We are a hard working and quietly achieving council and will continue to best serve the people of Eden"

Coun Mrs Herbert then presented Coun Bewley with a memento of his time in office, a replica of the Penrith seal.

Coun Allan Bewley, the retiring chairman of Eden District Council, expressed his thanks to members for their support over the previous year. He said: "This will be a pleasant reminder of a very happy year and I look forward to serving on the council for another four years."

The newly-elected chairman then invited nominations for vice chairman of the council and Coun Roy Fisher was duly elected. He thanked members for their nomination and said: "I will support Mrs Herbert all I can this year."

The joint council leaders who chair the four main policy committees were also elected at the meeting and are as follow: chairman of resources committee - John James Moffat (Ind. Ravenstonedale); chairman of environment committee - Bryan Metz (Ind. Alston Moor); chairman of community and economy committee - John Malcolm Smith (Ind. Brough); chairman of establishment committee - Colin Nineham (Ind. Penrith West).

The scrunity committee, which examines decisions taken by the policy committees, elected John Bernard Thornborrow (Ind. Orton with Tebay Ward) to be chairman.

May 21, 2003 09:30