Cumbria County Council is looking for five people to join the Cumbria Democracy Commission. The commission will look at how to improve public sector service delivery and recommend to the county council the best democratic and administrative structures to support those improvements. Press advertisements appear this week and anyone interested should apply to the council by the 8th April.
The Cumbria Democracy Commission will be chaired by Professor Phil Thomas, who will be remembered across the county for his role in chairing the county's independent inquiry into the Foot and Mouth outbreak.
County councillor Tim Stoddard, leader of the council says:
"We have made excellent progress in recent years modernising the county council, its services and how we make decisions. The Democracy Commission will build on that work and look at how we can improve the way in which we engage with local communities.
Phil Thomas did an excellent job in chairing the Foot and Mouth Inquiry and he brings an in depth knowledge of Cumbria and its communities. We are looking for a wide range of people to join him on the commission.
The commission will work independently of the county council with its recommendations going to the council's cabinet sometime in September. It is expected the Commission will meet in Cumbria approximately five times between April and September. The council will meet the cost of commission members' travelling expenses etc as well as paying a small honorarium on completion of the work.
Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Commission should apply either in writing or by email to Katie Watson, County Council Area Support Office, Penrith Library, St Andrew's Churchyard, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 7YA, katie.watson@cumbriacc.gov.uk