Last September following the collapse of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat administration, the Labour Group called for a politically proportionate Cabinet.

In the event the Labour Group took up their entitlement of five seats and ran the Council as a minority administration for nine months, whilst the other two groups refused to participate.

Since last September both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups have new leaders and a significant number of new councillors and we hope this will enable them to reconsider their position.

At the County Council Annual General Meeting on 18th June, the Council will elect a Leader. Who that Leader is will depend entirely on the votes of the Liberal Democrats and the six Independent members. They will decide the outcome by either voting or abstaining.

Once a Leader has been elected, the Labour Group would wish to see a politically proportionate Cabinet.

The Labour Group is prepared to take up its allocation of seats in such a Cabinet and calls on the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Groups to participate by also taking up their seats.

We do so because we believe this represents the best way forward for Cumbria. It will require members of all political groups to work together, identifying areas of agreement and being prepared on occasion to put aside differences. The Council faces some very difficult decisions over the next four years and the outcome of the election requires us all to work together to ensure effective and stable governance of the County.

Cllr Boaden is submitting a motion to a meeting of Carlisle City Council next Tuesday (13th January) which asks the Council to rule out any proposal that threatens the future of the popular park.

Cllr Boaden said today:

“It is utterly appalling that the Council would engage in any discussions about developing Clark’s Field. Our own Local Plan identifies it for leisure purposes, which is designed to protect it from any inappropriate and unwanted development.

“There is a strong feeling against this in the local area and the campaign led by Eric Martlew MP has won support from many others including local Tory County Councillor Alan Toole.

“The whole proposal smacks of the usual desperation of this Tory Council. They will do anything to raise money to cover their financial fallings.

“I say ‘hands off our parks’ and I hope the Council will join me in re asserting the status of Clark’s Field as an important leisure and recreation facility for all local residents, particularly our young people.”