The Chairman of Cumbria County Council is elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Council.  The current Chairman is Councillor Roger Bingham, who was elected on 18 June 2009.  Councillor Bingham is a Westmorland man, born at Milnthorpe, the son of a doctor, educated at Heversham Primary and Grammar Schools before going to Cambridge and other Universities. 

He lives in Ackenthwaite, Milnthorpe and is the County Councillor for the Electoral Division of Lower Kentdale being first elected to this Division in 1997.   He was a former Cabinet Member for Culture and Chairman of Learning and Recreation and currently sits on the County Council Management Group, South Lakeland Local Committee, Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, Development Control and Regulation Committee, Chairman of Archives Advisory Group and a member of Yorkshire Dales National Park and, of course, Chairs each County Council Meeting.

Councillor Bingham is one of Cumbria’s most experienced Councillors and has been a South Lakeland District Councillor for Burton and Holme since 1984 and has also been a Parish Councillor for Milnthorpe for over 29 years, never once missing a meeting.   He was a former Chairman of South Lakeland District Council between 2001-2003.

He is a professional historian and author of ten local books, and a founder member of the Holme and District History Society and is a well known public speaker.   He is a long serving Church of England Lay Preacher being ‘licensed’ to Heversham Church but serves in many other Churches.

Councillor Bingham is a Director of Theatre by the Lake, a long serving member of Prism Arts and Cumbria Deaf Association now known as Deaf Vision.

THE ROLE OF CHAIRMAN

The Chairman is 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, held across the County.  Although, it may not be possible to attend every event to which he is invited.   The Chairman represents Cumbria County Council at events both within and outside the County Council in District Councils throughout Cumbria and neighbouring County Councils.

If anyone wishes to invite the Chairman to an event please can you contact the Chairman’s Secretary, Sandra Peacock, on 01228 226253 or by e-mail on sandra.peacock@cumbriacc.gov.uk, or by post: Member Services & Scrutiny, The Lonsdale Building, The Courts, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8NA.

The Chairman of Cumbria County Council, C/o Chairman's Secretary, Member Services & Scrutiny, The Lonsdale Building, The Courts, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8NA.

If the Chairman is unable to attend, invitations may be passed to the Vice-Chairman, Councillor Bert Richardson, if appropriate.

Our current Vice-Chairman is Councillor Bert Richardson who may deputise in the Chairman's absence.  Councillor Richardson lives in Greystoke, Penrith with his wife, Dorothy.   He was a member of Cumbria County Council from 1989 to 1993 and then re-elected as County Councillor for the Electoral Division of Greystoke and Hesket since 2001.

Born in Caldbeck, he attended the village school, and for one year at Wigton School before transferring to Caldew School on its opening.   In his early teens Bert decided to go to music school and learned to play the piano accordion, and in 1965, along with Alan Barnes, he competed in the all Britain Duet Championships and won first prize for two consecutive years describing this as ‘a wonderful experience’.   Bert still has a great interest in Scottish and Irish dance music.

After leaving school Bert began working in his late parents’ shop and post office in Caldbeck, and following his father’s death in 1975 was appointed sub-postmaster of Caldbeck.   He   received a long service award from the Post Office for twenty-five years’ continuous service to the people of Caldbeck and surrounding area and has enjoyed meeting people from all over the country through his work.

Bert and his wife, Dorothy, decided to retire in 2002 and now enjoy travelling.   They have visited most European countries and also visited New York and Quebec, Canada which they weren’t able to do when running the business.

Bert is also a Past Chairman of Keswick Golf Club and an Honorary Life Member, still playing when time permits.   Other interests are politics and supporting Carlisle United.

Bert has said “It is a great honour for me to be a member of Cumbria County Council and to serve as Vice-Chairman … it is a privilege to serve the Greystoke and Hesket Ward and the County as a whole”. 

If anyone wishes to invite the Vice-Chairman to an event please can you contact the Chairman’s Secretary, Sandra Peacock, on 01228 226253 or by e-mail on sandra.peacock@cumbriacc.gov.uk , or by post:

The Chairman of Cumbria County Council, c/o Chairman’s Secretary, Member Services & Scrutiny, The Lonsdale Building, The Courts, Carlisle CA3 8NA