A NEW authority for Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland, has appointed its chief executive ahead of its April 2023 launch.

Cumberland Council is set to take over from the existing city, county and borough councils in the area on Vesting Day, April 1 2023.

Councillors of Cumberland are currently meeting as a Shadow Authority, operating alongside the existing councils for a brief time whilst carrying out important preparatory work.

And at its second meeting as a Shadow Authority on Friday morning, councillors agreed to appoint Andrew Seekings as the authority’s chief executive.

READ MORE: Cumbrian mental health service sees surge in demand amid staffing struggles

Mr Seekings is currently chief executive of Allerdale Borough Council and has served as the interim chief exec for Cumberland during its formative months.

Before agreeing Mr Seekings for the role of CEO, the council agreed the recommendation that the CEO’s salary be set at £170,000.

Councillors then agreed that Mr Seekings be appointed CEO, applauding as he returned to the room.

Cllr Helen Davison raised concerns that the CEO's salary had been agreed as a "rubber stamp" exercise.

"We were told that there's a detailed explanation, there are a lot of figures in appendix one but I feel it hasn't been very clear as to the unitary authorities we're preparing with, whether it is they are actually the same size and have a similar demographic to the authority we're setting-up." 

"Given that we're being asked to rubber stamp, effectively, the amount of money that's being paid, it would be nice to have more information about that so we could actually have the informed decision."

READ MORE: Plans for Carlisle's Lake District Airport revealed

Leader of the council Mark Fryer said: "The adoption of the pay policy statment is required to enable that appointment. The salary was agreed by the senior appointments committee and then it was benchmarked across other councils through the LGA (Local Government Association."

Cllr Fryer has called the CEO an "excellent leader and a highly skilled and experienced local government professional."

Mr Seekings said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Cumberland’s first Chief Executive.

“I believe passionately in local government, and its role in creating the conditions for people and places to thrive.

“Local Government Reorganisation gives a real opportunity to take the best of what we already have and combine that with new ways of working to build a new council that will be ready to improve outcomes across the new Cumberland area."

READ MORE: BT workers hold two day strike in Carlisle over pay