2016-06-29 |
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New Chairman for Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
Craven District Councillor Carl Lis has been elected to head the Authority for the third time, taking over from former barrister and circuit judge Peter Charlesworth, who is leaving as a Member after completing his term of office.
Carl Lis, who represents the Ingleborough Ward, has been Deputy Chairman for the past 12 months and has been an Authority Member for 20 years.
Carl Lis
He is also Chairman of Ingleborough Community Centre Management Committee, Ingleton Rural Community Association, Ingleton Scout Executive and Ingleton Football Club, and is also chairman of the Ingleton Primary School Board of Governors.
Coun Lis, who was awarded
an OBE in the 2009 New Years Honours for his services to the communities
of North Yorkshire, said:
“I am pleased that the members have shown
their trust in me again by electing me as chairman.
“I love the National Park and I love being involved in the National Park Authority and I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the years in terms of the landscape, our local communities and visitors.
”Peter Charlesworth has done an absolutely fantastic as chairman and my intention is to continue with the good work he has done. His work on the new boundary extension that comes into being on August 1 and his ability to guide us through quite a number of contentious debates has been tremendous.”
At the same meeting, the Authority's Member Champion for Natural Environment, Ian McPherson, was elected Deputy Chairman of the Authority.
Mr McPherson is a South Lakeland District Councillor and is a Sedbergh Parish Council appointee and the current Cumbrian parishes’ representative on the Authority.
From 1 August, when the boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park is extended to take in parts of Cumbria and Lancashire, he will represent all the ‘new’ parishes as well as his current three until his term of office ends in 2018.
The Authority also has two new Members.
Secretary of State appointee Neil Swain, from Upper Dunsforth near Boroughbridge, to replace Mr Charlesworth.
Mr Swain is a chartered surveyor who runs his own business specialising in rural estate management, reflecting his interests in farming and land use as well as all kinds of country pursuits and walking.
The Authority has also welcomed back North Yorkshire County Council appointee Stuart Parsons who replaces John Ritchie.
Mr Parsons represents Richmond West on both the town and district councils and the whole of Richmond on North Yorkshire County Council.
His interests include serving as a Trustee on Richmondshire Landscape Trust, the Georgian Theatre Royal and the Richmond School Trust.
