Councillor Doug Lawson, Green Party Member for the Penrith Carleton ward was elected by councillors as the new Chair of Penrith Town Council and Penrith Town Mayor.

Councillor Lawson served previously as Penrith Mayor until May 2021 when the outgoing town mayor Cllr Charlie Shepherd became the fourth Mayor of Penrith. Cllr Lawson and Cllr Shepherd shook hands and a mayors medal for servivec was presented to Cllr Shepherd by Cllr Lawson as the new Penrith Mayor.

Councillor Mark Rudhall, Liberal Democrat Member for the Penrith East ward was elected the new Deputy Chair of Penrith Town Council.

Councillor Doug Lawson, speaking of his appointment, said:

“I am immensely proud and honoured to be the new Chair of Penrith Town Council in what is my third non-consecutive term as Chair.”

The role of Penrith Town Mayor is a purely ceremonial role and carries no powers and is not linked to the elected mayors some areas have such as London.

The inaugural meeting also saw Chair’s and members appointed to the town councils various committees with 7 members appointed to the councils Finance committee:

• Chair – Cllr Charlie Shepherd

• Members: Cllr Daniel Jayson, Cllr Scott Jackson, Cllr Roger Burgin, Cllr Ron Kenyon, Cllr Mark Rudhall, Cllr Doug Lawson.

7 members elected to the councils Planning committee:

• Chair – Cllr Scott Jackson

• Members: Cllr Hilary Snell, Cllr Charlie Shepherd, Cllr Daniel Jayson, Cllr Deborah Holden, Cllr Valerie Bowen, Cllr Jeff Thomson.

And 6 members to the councils new Communities committee:

• Chair – Cllr Hillary Snell

• Members: Cllr Paul Donald, Cllr Barbara Jayson, Cllr Valerie Bowen, Cllr Ron Kenyon, Cllr Scott Jackson