A NEW mayor has been sworn in at a ceremony in Cockermouth Town Hall. This will be the second time that Coun Alan Smith, one of the longest serving councillors, has taken on the role. The mayoress will be his wife, fellow councillor Christine. Coun Julie Laidlow stood down after two years in the role. Her term was extended by a year as a result of the pandemic. "I want to say a huge thank you to all my fellow councillors for all their support and town clerk Sheila Brown, Kirstie Goodger and Amy Pattinson for all their hard work which ensured everything ran smoothly.