One of the 65 Westmorland and Furness Councillors has resigned as a Libdem councillor with immediate effect creating a vacancy on the council that is less than a year old.

Former Westmorland and Furness councillor Peter Endsor was elected in May 2022 to the new Westmorland and Furness Council with as a Libdem councillor with 2,486 votes for the Grange and Cartmel Ward. Serving as a shadow councillor until April 1st 2023 when Westmorland and Furness Council replaced the previous councils. 

It’s understood a by election is likely to be called to fill the vacant seat with any election expected to align with other elections taking place in the Westmorland and Furness district on the 2nd of May with the Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and a Penrith Town Council by election for Penrith West Ward also due to take place on May 2nd.

Westmorland and Furness Council attendance records show former councillor Endsor had not attended any council meetings since October 2023 despite serving on the councils Licensing Committee, Lakes Administration Committee, Regulatory Committee, South Lakeland Locality Board. He had also not attended any full council meetings since September 2023.

The resignation comes just before legislation would have resulted in the automatic removal of the councillor under a 6 month rule that states if a councillor fails to attend any meetings within a 6 month period without dispensation they automatically fail to remain an elected councillor.