The delay to the reorganisation of Local Government in Northamptonshire will provide more time for the county’s local authorities to deliver a “fully considered” political strategy for the county, according to the president of the Wellingborough & East Northants Chamber of Commerce.
Simon Toseland, Chamber President, says the government’s decision to delay the election of councillors for the two new authorities – West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire – due to the coronavirus pandemic will provide the existing eight local authorities with the time they need to create a secure political strategy for the county.
Councillors for the two new authorities were due to be elected in May. The elections have been postponed for 12 months due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Simon Toseland, said: “I hope that the understandable delay to the implementation of the new framework gives the Local Authorities time to make sure that they deliver a fully considered and more reaching political strategy for the county.”
Had the elections taken place when originally planned, those elected would have been working behind the scenes for a year as ‘shadow councillors’ before fully taking on their roles on launch day in April next year.
It now means that the county’s existing councillors, most of whom will have served two additional years on top of their four-year term when they were elected in 2015, will now help to shape the creation of the two new unitary authorities.
Together Martin Griffith, leader of Wellingborough Council, Tom Beattie, Leader of Corby Council, Richard Auger, leader of Daventry District Council, Steven North, leader of East Northamptonshire Council, Russell Roberts, leader of Kettering Council, Jonathan Nunn, leader of Northampton Borough Council, Matt Golby, leader of Northamptonshire County Council and Ian McCord, leader of South Northants Council issued a joint statement.
They said: “Because of the delay to these elections, the current councillors across all district, borough and county councils, as elected representatives, will form these new organisations on an interim basis until elections are held on the 6 May 2021.
“The coronavirus is likely to have a profound impact on our society. Its impact on local government reorganisation in Northamptonshire is minor in comparison to the hardships and tragedies impacting our communities. However we welcome the clarity the government intends to provide so that work can continue on the creation of two new unitary councils. “
Councillor Wendy Brackenby, who represents the Thrapston Ward on Northamptonshire County Council and is also a councillor on East Northamptonshire Council, has been appointed as the new cabinet member for local government reorganisation.
Cllr Brackenbury will be responsible for overseeing the transition to the two new unitary authorities.
Simon Toseland added: “The examples set by the public and private sectors working more closely during the coronavirus pandemic, will hopefully form a mantra for both in the future.”