Chairman of the council

Last Updated: 21 December 2022

The Chairman and Vice-Chairman attend community events and functions. You can invite them to your event and find out what events they have attended recently.

The Chairman of the council is Councillor Pete McSweeney.

Councillor Matt Severn is the Vice-Chairman of the council.

Guidance for organisers of events

The Chairman will be pleased to consider invitations to attend events such as official openings or social functions. Should you wish to invite the Chairman to your event, please read the following guidance notes.

If you have any questions about what is expected, please contact the Member Services Assistant for further information.

Telephone: 01539 793 441

Email: chairman@southlakeland.gov.uk

Invitations to the Chairman

We deal with invitations in the order that we receive them. As engagements are often offered many months in advance, it is best to make your request as soon as possible, but at least 14 days in advance.

It should be noted that the Chairman might not be able to accept invitations without sufficient notice.

Send an invitation to the Chairman

Attendance of the Chairman at functions

Organisers must ensure that the Chairman is met on arrival and looked after appropriately during the visit.

The Chairman is the civic head of the district and should be addressed as the Chairman or Madame Chairman as appropriate.

Official engagements undertaken by the Chairman
Date Engagement
22 November 2022 University of Cumbria Graduation Ceremony, Carlisle Cathedral
11 November 2022 Armistice Day Service, Market Place, Kendal
24 September 2022 Kendal Torchlight Reception and Parade, Kendal Town Hall and Abbot Hall Park
18 September 2022 Commemoration Service for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Holy Trinity Parish Church, Kendal
11 September 2022 South Lakeland Proclamation of King Charles III, held at Kendal Town Hall, following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
28 August 2022 Sea Sunday Civic Service, Aldingham St Cuthbert’s Church
21 July 2022 University of Cumbria Graduation Ceremony, Carlisle Cathedral
20 June 2022 Armed Forces Day Flag Raising, Kendal Town Hall
1 June 2022 Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Green Canopy Oak Tree Planting Ceremony, Queens Park, Windermere
19 May 2022 Mayor Making Ceremony, Kendal Town Hall
25 April 2022 University of Cumbria Graduation Ceremony, Carlisle Cathedral
18 March 2022 South Lakeland Partners' Networking Dinner, Castle Green Hotel
13 March 2022 Mayor's Sunday Parade, Kendal Town Hall
11 March 2022 Kendal Rotary's Technology Tournament 2022, Kendal Leisure Centre
25 September 2021 Kendal Torchlight Parade, Somervell Garden & Kendal Town Hall
8 September 2021 Westmorland County Show, Lane Farm, Crooklands
5 September 2021 Civic Sunday Service, Coronation Hall, Ulverston
25 May 2021 Mrs Olive Clarke OBE, Tree Planting Ceremony to celebrate Cumbria’s support for the Queen's Green Canopy Project, Kaker Mill Farm, Milnthorpe
8 November 2020 Remembrance Sunday, Kendal Market Place and Kendal Parish Church Service
12 September 2020 Kendal Torchlight 2020: Programme Launch, Think Global Act Local, Kendal Birdcage
13 March 2020 Kendal Rotary Technology Tournament, Kendal Leisure Centre
27 January 2020 Holocaust Memorial Day, The Lake District Holocaust Project, Windermere (Attended by Cllr Robin Ashcroft on behalf of the Chairman)
8 December 2019 The Lake District Holocaust Project, Windermere
23 November 2019 The Westmorland Youth Orchestra Performance, Dallam School, Kendal
10 November 2019 The Kendal Remembrance Parade and Church Service, Kendal
9 November 2019 Hairspray The Musical, Kendal Amateur Operatic Society
3 November 2019 The Royal British Legion-Annual Service of Remembrance, St Pauls Church, Rusland
2 November 2019 Castlefield and Greenbank Play Area opening, Ambleside
10 October 2019 The Lakes International Comic Art Festival & VIP International Dinner
1 October 2019 CAMRA UK Cider Pub of the Year Celebration, The New Union Pub, Kendal
28 September 2019 Torchlight Street Party, Kendal
27 September 2019 Torchlight Carnival, Kendal
12 September 2019 Westmorland County Show, Lane Farm, Crooklands
1 September 2019 Official opening of Abbot Hall Playground, Kendal
25 August 2019 The Annual Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, Grasmere Sports Field
14 July 2019 Sea Sunday Service, St Cuthberts Church, Aldingham
7 July 2019 Mayor’s Sunday Parade, Kendal Town Hall
6 July 2019 Summer concert ‘A Summer Sing with Amabile’, St Thomas’ Church Kendal
Official engagements undertaken by the Vice-Chairman
Date Engagements
14 October 2022 Gooseholme Bridge Opening, Kendal
11 September 2022 Proclamation Service of King Charles III, held at Carlisle Courts and Cathedral, following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
28 August 2022 The Annual Grasmere Lakeland and Sports Show, Grasmere Sports Field
5 June 2022 Kendal Salutes the Queen Service, Kendal Parish Church
2 June 2022 Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon Lighting Event, New Road, Kendal
12 March 2022 Kendal Town Football Club v Mossley AFC. Parkside Road Stadium, Kendal
10 May 2022 Digital Surgery, The Politics Project & Kirkbie Kendal School, via Zoom
7 November 2021 Royal British Legion Annual Service of Remembrance, St Paul’s Church, Rusland
19 September 2021 Mayor of Allerdale’s Civic Service of Celebration, All Saints Church, Wigton
16 September 2021 Mayor Making Ceremony, Kendal Town Hall
14 August 2021 The Lake District Holocaust Project, The Lakes School, Cumbria. An event to mark the 76th anniversary of the arrival of the Windermere Boys in Cumbria
9 March 2020 Commonwealth Flag Raising Day, Kendal Town Hall
27 November 2019 Degree & Award Ceremonies, Carlisle Cathedral
16 July 2019 Graduation Ceremony and Procession, University of Cumbria