MAYOR’S OFFICE TECHNO HITCH?

CRUMBRIA: 18.3.2026

THERE seemed to be a bit of a cock-up today on the old talking shop front.

Plebs had been promised that they could tune in for the first ever meeting of the Crumbria Combined Authority – the vast new bureaucracy of the Mayor’s office.

Yay!

The trouble is, not everybody could join the unmissable watchalong by using the Microsoft Teams link.

It appears that certain “organisational” security settings by the CCA – may have accidentally locked the virtual door on some random members of the public.

However, not everyone missed out. A successful live stream was, in fact, under way for some.

They included CCA officials watching from another room at Redhills, Penrith, while the real meeting went on next door!

Best not to rely on the CCA organising any drinks gatherings on licensed premises.

***A historic moment in Cumbria’s history.***

If you’ve not yet had the pleasure, the CCA is the vast new pen-pushing bureaucracy being erected around Crumbria’s incoming Mayor.

Arrival time? In 415 days!

John Barradell OBN — **John Barradel, chief exec.**

The whole Mayor’s office will cost an eye-watering £11.2M a year to run when nearly 60% of the Crumbrian public told a consultation they didn’t want it.

It’s chief executive, paid £155,000-a-year, is a silver-haired and silver-tongued professional civil servant.

He’s supported by a Spin Doctoress on nearly £60k. Mass media attendance at today’s meeting?

Just the one!

It also plans to spaff £3.7M on an expanding cast of supporting staff that the Mayor’s office will need — assuming it can find them.

Two top positions at the trough failed to attract candidates.

That problem is now being sent back to a special panel to work out why nobody took the bait.

Expect the panel’s answer to be what the Public Sector always does in times of unfilled vacancies.

Offer the next candidates BIGGER wonga.

***

In other news from today’s meeting, the chairmanship of the CCA has gone to Labour.

Cllr Mark Fryer, leader of Labour-daft Crumberland Council, got the nod ahead of Cllr Jonathan Brook, Lib Dem leader of Wokemoreland & Farcical Council, and a new convert to bulldozing town centres.

Our money had been on ‘nice guy’ Brook to get the chairmanship. While he’s not exactly the most passionate orator in local politics, he looks like Abraham Lincoln next to Cllr Fryer.

Mind you, if Crumbria needed a Labour bruiser to kick down doors in Whitehall and scare the dinner money out of civil servants, Fryer would be undoubtedly your #1 pick.

Although Crumberland Council has a somewhat mixed accountancy record and hasn’t exactly covered itself in glory. Why he’s now “the Man” to preside over £11 million for Crumbria from Government has yet to be convincingly set out.

Cllr Fryer occupies the chair until a Mayor arrives in 13 months’ time. Nay word yet on his special ‘allowance’ for doing so.

Cllr Lisa Hinton — **Labour’s Lisa Hinton**.

Supporting roles were handed to fellow Crumberland Labour councillor Lisa Hinton (new photo due soon), and Lib Dem brain box, Cllr Andrew Jarvis, of Wokemoreland Council.

For seen-it-all-before cynics like the Chronic, let’s hope today’s techno teething troubles are not a sign of how the Cumbria Mayor’s office intends to operate going forward.

Blank screens, confused faces and total darkness.

***

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PENRITH TOWN NEWS: Cumbria’s New Combined Authority Holds First Meeting

READ MORE: CUMBRIA’S GRAVY TRAIN MAYOR

READ MORE: CUMBRIA SAYS ‘NO’ TO MAYOR

The tell-tale public consultation results

These results are from the 1,200+ members of the public who took part, and the four parish councils and two town councils which bothered to fill in last year’s Government questionnaire.

Q1: To what extent do you agree or disagree that establishing a Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) will deliver benefits to the area?

Public: 58% disagree. Parish councils: 100% disagree.

Q2: To what extent do you agree or disagree with the proposed governance arrangements for the MCA?

Public: 59% disagree. Parish councils: 75% disagree.

Q3: To what extent do you agree or disagree that an MCA will support the economy of the area?

Public: 56% disagree. Parish councils: 75% disagree.

Q4: To what extent do you agree or disagree that an MCA will improve social outcomes in the area?

Public: 57% disagree. Parish councils: 50% disagree.

Q5: To what extent do you agree or disagree that an MCA will improve local government services in the area?

Public: 61% disagree. Parish councils: 75% disagree.

Q6: To what extent do you agree or disagree that an MCA will improve the local natural environment and overall national environment?

Public 63% disagree. Parish councils: 100%.