A LEADERSHIP team has been appointed for the Conservative group on the new Westmorland & Furness Council.

The new unitary authority will takeover in Eden, South Lakeland and Barrow-in-Furness on Vesting Day: April 1, 2023.

Members were appointed to a Shadow Authority on election night last Thursday and will serve alongside the existing county and borough councils for the next 12 months until the transition is complete.

When the Shadow Authority has complete its preparation work, the existing councils will be abolished and Westmorland & Furness Council will become the only authority on its patch.

Councillor Hilary Carrick has been selected, unopposed as the leader of Westmorland & Furness Council's Conservative Group at its inaugural meeting in Kendal on Monday.

Cllr Carrick was elected as the authority's member for Hesket and Lazonby last week.

She is currently leader of the Tory group on Cumbria County Council as well as the authority's representative for Penrith North.

Her deputy is Cllr Matt Brereton, who won the High Furness seat for the Conservatives in last week’s elections.

READ MORE: Lib Dems elect Jonathan Brook as group leader for Westmorland and Furness Council

Cllr Carrick said: "I am delighted to have been elected as leader of the new Conservative group. The Conservative group on Westmorland &Furness will be working very hard to try to ensure that the new authority delivers for our residents."

The Conservatives will be the opposition group after taking 11 seats in the election in contrast with the 36 won by the Liberal Democrats.

For more details on the local government shake-up taking place in Cumbria, visit: https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/