Penrith East - County Councillor Patricia Bell
I have been privileged to be a Councillor since 2006. I was an EDC councillor 2006-2011 for Carleton and then a Cumbria County Cllr for East Penrith since 2007. I am very grateful for the good reception I have received on the doorstep during all that time. I have met some great people and some really interesting characters.
I see my job as a Councillor as keeping residents as well informed as possible and listening to what they want to achieve in their communities. I also follow up on local problems and play my part in County wide work.
During my time as Councillor I have chaired the Scrutiny Board for Communities and Place and held the portfolios for Communities and Public Health, Finance and Strategic Planning. I am currently the portfolio holder for Health and Care, which includes Adult Services.
Locally I have helped local residents to improve play areas in Carleton and Scaws, install a defibrillator, get one new footpath and improve others and worked with residents to save some of our open spaces.
In the past I worked as a teacher and for the police as an diversity adviser. And in my free time I enjoy swimming, mountain biking, gardening and playing saxophone.