LARAC has announced that Cathy Cook is to become the eleventh Chair of LARAC, taking over from Carole Taylor in January 2022. Cathy, who is Senior Advisor at ReLondon, is currently one of the two Vice Chairs of LARAC. Cathy has vast experience of working for and with local authorities during her career.
The role of LARAC Chair is limited to a maximum four-year term and Carole comes to the end of her four years in January 2022, when Cathy will take over at the helm.
Replacing Cathy as Vice Chair is James Ward of Kingston upon Hull City Council, a unitary authority in East Yorkshire. James is the Yorkshire and Humber Regional representative for LARAC and has been a member of the Executive since July 2019.
Cathy Cook, incoming Chair said, said “It is a privilege to become the next LARAC Chair at a crucial time in its development. I am looking forward to working with the wider industry on the important policy developments that will come forward in the next couple of years and representing our local authority members. With so much change and uncertainty it is even more important that LARAC works hard on behalf of its members, and I intend to give them the best representation possible. I am pleased that James will be taking on the role of Vice Chair to work with me, and Durk, the other Vice Chair, in what is an exciting time for LARAC.”
Praising the work of Carole, Cathy said “Carole has steered LARAC through some turbulent times whilst also overseeing a sustained period of growth. She has represented local authorities with great skill and has ensured that the voice of LARAC and our members has been heard in the debates and discussions that have taken place. She has overseen the production of both sets of LARAC consultation submissions and the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, all huge efforts in their own rights, let alone taken together.”
LARAC has confirmed that Carole will remain as North West Regional Representative on the Exec, as position she has held since 2002, making her the second longest standing member of the Exec.
Carole Taylor, outgoing Chair said “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Chair of LARAC and feel as an organisation we have grown over the past four years, continuing the work of previous Chairs before me. The past two years in particular have been tough for our members and that shows no sign of easing. Cathy knows the industry extremely well and I am pleased she is taking on the role of Chair and I know LARAC will continue to grow under her leadership”.
Looking forward to his role as Vice Chair, James Ward said, “local authorities will need to be at the heart of the discussion on policy development for consistent collections and EPR on packaging and I am keen to ensure that our members input meaningfully to these discussions.”
One of Cathy’s first tasks will be to oversee the development of a new four-year Business Plan for LARAC, with the existing one due to finish at the end of 2021 and lead the transition to a new structure in response to the forthcoming staffing changes in LARAC.
