The Chairman of Craven District Council is elected each year at the Annual Council Meeting, which is usually held in May.  The Chairman is the first citizen of Craven and represents the community of Craven at events throughout the District, in other parts of North Yorkshire and, occasionally in the neighbouring areas of Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

The Chairman for 2010/11 Municipal Year is Councillor Paul Whitaker.

Councillor Whitaker represents the Skipton North Ward as one of its two members and was first elected to the Council in 1989.

He is a Conservative Member and sits on Council Committees as follows:

Licensing Committee
Licensing and Appeals Sub-Committee
Policy Committee
Standards Committee

Councillor Whitaker was born in Leeds and came to Craven at the age of 16 to work as a farm man at Winterburn.

Councillor Whitaker’s objectives are to challenge the constant desire by others to overdevelop and change Craven and Skipton. His interests are, as well as his Council work, the protection of the natural environment and he is fasinated by sources of renewable energy; some of which he has installed in his home.

In his spare time, Councillor Whitaker enjoys doing a little "do it yourself", going to the Skipton Little Theatre, short country walks and going on holidays.

Councillor Whitaker's chosen charity is Diabetes UK.