A recently elected Allerdale councillor has been appointed to the authority's ruling executive following the resignation of a long-standing member.

Former Cockermouth School development manager Joan Ellis will be responsible for governance and people resources on the eight-person, Labour-led group.

She was selected by council leader Alan Smith after Coun Phil Tibble decided to step down after two six-year spells as an executive member.

Coun Ellis, 63, of Papcastle, will be responsible for areas including democratic, electoral and legal services, licensing and people resources.

Her appointment comes eight months after she was elected to represent Cockermouth's Christ Church ward in a by-election to replace long-standing Conservative councillor Margaret Jackson, who stepped down.

Coun Ellis, whose career included many years in senior management roles, said: "I'm delighted that the leader has asked me to be on the executive. I feel very honoured to work on behalf of the people of Allerdale.
"It's a big role and a steep learning curve for me but I have got the capacity and the enthusiasm to undertake the role.

"The portfolio is a big one but I have the support of officers and other executive members and members of the council."

Coun Tibble, 66, was a member of the council's first executive and has been involved in projects including the redevelopment of Workington town centre as well as the building of the town's new leisure centre and the refurbishment of the Carnegie Theatre and Arts Centre.

He has also overseen significant IT changes in the council, which did not have a website, or a computer for each employee, when he started.

Having retired from his job as an ambulance driver 18 months ago, he said he decided to step down from the executive to focus on his family commitments and other interests.

He will remain as councillor for Clifton ward.

The Labour member, of Seaton, said: "I'm pleased with what we have done as an executive and a council when we have been in control.

"I'll continue to enjoy my time as a back-bench councillor. I'm sure Joan will do well."

The council's other executive members are leader Alan Smith, deputy leader Mark Fryer, who is responsible for economic growth, Coun Barbara Cannon (corporate resources), Coun Mike Heaslip (locality and environmental quality), Coun Bill Jefferson (tourism and culture), Coun Konrad Hansen (transformation) and Coun Carni McCarron-Holmes (housing, health and well-being).