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Annual meeting, Council - Thursday 15th May 2025 5.00 pm

May 15, 2025 View on council website
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Summary

The West Northamptonshire Council meeting scheduled for 15 May 2025 included the election of a chair and vice-chair, the appointment of a leader, and the allocation of seats to committees based on political balance. Councillors were also expected to note the names of the leaders and deputy leaders of the political groups, as well as the members of the Cabinet.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

The meeting was scheduled to begin with the election of the Chairman of West Northamptonshire Council, followed by the appointment of the Vice-Chairman.

Appointment of Leader of the Council

The council was expected to appoint the Leader of the Council.

Committee Proportionality and Appointments

The council was scheduled to discuss committee proportionality and the appointment of members to committees and other bodies. According to the report pack, the council is required to allocate seats on committees and sub-committees to political groups to give effect, as far as possible, to a number of principles:

  • Not all the seats on the Committee or sub-Committee are allocated to the same political group
  • The political group having a majority of seats on the Council should have a majority on each Committee and sub-Committee
  • The number of seats on the Council’s Committees and sub-Committees allocated to each political group bears the same proportion to the total number of such Committee seats as the number of members of that group bears to the membership of the full Council
  • Seats are allocated on each Committee and sub-Committee in the same ratio as exists on the authority.

The report pack notes that the council may only depart from these principles if no member votes against it.

The report pack also clarifies that these political balance provisions only apply directly to committees and sub-committees, and not to the Cabinet, Cabinet sub-Committees, joint Committees that exercised functions of the Cabinet, and the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The report stated that following the election on 1 May 2025, the political makeup of the council was 42 Reform UK, 17 Conservative, 9 Labour, 6 Liberal Democrat and 2 Independent councillors (un-grouped).

The following table shows the proposed allocation of seats between the committees:

Committee Reform UK Conservative Labour Liberal Democrat Independent /ungrouped Total
Alcohol & Gambling Licensing Committee* 7 3 1 1 1 13
Taxi & General Licensing Committee* 7 3 1 1 1 13
Strategic Planning Committee 7 3 2 1 0 13
Non-Strategic Planning Committee 7 3 2 1 0 13
Adult Care, Public Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee 6 3 1 1 0 11
Place & Resources Scrutiny Committee 6 2 1 1 1 11
Children, Education and Housing Scrutiny Committee 6 3 1 1 0 11
Senior Appointments 4 1 1 1 0 7
Audit and Governance 4 1 1 0 0 6
Democracy and Standards 5 2 1 1 0 9
Pensions Committee 4 2 1 0 0 7
Total 63 26 13 9 3 114

*both Committees share the same membership.

Calendar of Meetings 2025-26

The council was scheduled to approve the calendar of meetings for 2025-2026. The draft calendar included dates for full council meetings, cabinet meetings, scrutiny committee meetings and other committee meetings.

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor Alison Eastwood
Councillor Alison Eastwood  Chairman of the Council •  Conservative •  Rural South Northamptonshire
Profile image for Councillor Rufia Ashraf
Councillor Rufia Ashraf  Labour •  Dallington Spencer
Profile image for Councillor Fiona Baker
Councillor Fiona Baker  Conservative •  Brackley
Profile image for Councillor Phil Bignell
Councillor Phil Bignell  Conservative •  Campion
Profile image for Councillor Rebecca Breese
Councillor Rebecca Breese  Conservative •  Middleton Cheney
Profile image for Councillor Muna Cali
Councillor Muna Cali  Labour •  Castle
Profile image for Councillor Pinder Chauhan
Councillor Pinder Chauhan  Conservative •  Hunsbury
Profile image for Councillor Stephen Clarke
Councillor Stephen Clarke  Conservative •  Cogenhoe and The Houghtons
Profile image for Councillor Fiona Cole
Councillor Fiona Cole  Conservative •  Hackleton and Roade
Profile image for Councillor Julie Davenport
Councillor Julie Davenport  Independent •  Far Cotton, Delapre and Briar Hill
Profile image for Councillor Rupert Frost
Councillor Rupert Frost  Conservative •  Woodford and Weedon
Profile image for Councillor Enam Haque
Councillor Enam Haque  Labour •  Castle
Profile image for Councillor Jonathan Harris
Councillor Jonathan Harris  Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group •  Liberal Democrats •  Brixworth
Profile image for Councillor Rosie Herring
Councillor Rosie Herring  Conservative •  Middleton Cheney
Profile image for Councillor Stephen Hibbert
Councillor Stephen Hibbert  Conservative •  Weston Favell and Abington Vale
Profile image for Councillor Keith Holland-Delamere
Councillor Keith Holland-Delamere  Labour •  Blackthorn and Rectory Farm
Profile image for Councillor Rosie Humphreys
Councillor Rosie Humphreys  Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group •  Liberal Democrats •  Braunston and Crick
Profile image for Councillor Cecile Irving-Swift
Councillor Cecile Irving-Swift  Conservative •  Rural North East
Profile image for Councillor Andrew Kilbride
Councillor Andrew Kilbride  Conservative •  Weston Favell and Abington Vale
Profile image for Councillor Daniel Lister
Councillor Daniel Lister  Leader of the Conservative Group •  Conservative •  Long Buckby
Profile image for Councillor Charles Manners
Councillor Charles Manners  Conservative •  Rural South Northamptonshire
Profile image for Councillor Peter Matten
Councillor Peter Matten  Conservative •  Daventry North East
Profile image for Councillor Ian McCord
Councillor Ian McCord  Independent •  Deanshanger and Paulerspury
Profile image for Councillor Charles Morton
Councillor Charles Morton  Conservative •  Long Buckby
Profile image for Councillor Bob Purser
Councillor Bob Purser  Deputy Leader of the Labour Group •  Labour •  Abington and Phippsville
Profile image for Councillor David Smith
Councillor David Smith  Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group •  Conservative •  Rural South Northamptonshire
Profile image for Councillor Zoe Smith
Councillor Zoe Smith  Labour •  Abington and Phippsville
Profile image for Councillor Hayley Adkins
Councillor Hayley Adkins  Reform UK •  Duston
Profile image for Councillor Farzana Aldridge
Councillor Farzana Aldridge  Labour •  Kingsley and Semilong
Profile image for Councillor Mark Arnull
Councillor Mark Arnull  Leader of the Council and Leader of the Reform UK Group •  Reform UK •  Kingsthorpe North
Profile image for Councillor Nigel Berrill
Councillor Nigel Berrill  Reform UK •  Kingsthorpe North
Profile image for Councillor Joanne Blythe
Councillor Joanne Blythe  Reform UK •  Headlands
Profile image for Councillor Glenn Butcher
Councillor Glenn Butcher  Reform UK •  Hunsbury
Profile image for Councillor Richard Butler
Councillor Richard Butler  Cabinet Member for Highways & Transport •  Reform UK •  Brackley
Profile image for Councillor Adrian Cartwright
Councillor Adrian Cartwright  Reform UK •  Headlands
Profile image for Councillor Vincent Clive
Councillor Vincent Clive  Reform UK •  Duston
Profile image for Councillor Laura Couse
Councillor Laura Couse  Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Public Health and Regulatory Services •  Reform UK •  Nene Valley
Profile image for Councillor Ivan Dabbs
Councillor Ivan Dabbs  Reform UK •  Deanshanger and Paulerspury
Profile image for Councillor Mark Deakes
Councillor Mark Deakes  Reform UK •  Billing
Profile image for Councillor John East
Councillor John East  Reform UK •  Dallington Spencer
Profile image for Councillor Cameron Emery
Councillor Cameron Emery  Reform UK •  Headlands
Profile image for Councillor Ronald Firman
Councillor Ronald Firman  Reform UK •  Hunsbury
Profile image for Councillor David Gaskell
Councillor David Gaskell  Reform UK •  Kingsthorpe South
Profile image for Councillor Susan Gaskell
Councillor Susan Gaskell  Reform UK •  Moulton
Profile image for Councillor Kamala Guliyeva
Councillor Kamala Guliyeva  Reform UK •  Daventry South
Profile image for Councillor Charlie Hastie
Councillor Charlie Hastie  Cabinet Member for Housing •  Reform UK •  Woodford and Weedon
Profile image for Councillor Silas Hays
Councillor Silas Hays  Reform UK •  Billing
Profile image for Councillor Trefor Hughes
Councillor Trefor Hughes  Reform UK •  Nene Valley
Profile image for Councillor Nicholas Humphries
Councillor Nicholas Humphries  Reform UK •  Kingsley and Semilong
Profile image for Councillor Fartun Ismail
Councillor Fartun Ismail  Labour •  Castle
Profile image for Councillor Jeffrey Johnson
Councillor Jeffrey Johnson  Reform UK •  Blackthorn and Rectory Farm
Profile image for Councillor Sally Keeble
Councillor Sally Keeble  Leader of the Labour Group •  Labour •  Dallington Spencer
Profile image for Councillor Debra King
Councillor Debra King  Reform UK •  Campion
Profile image for Councillor Andrew Last
Councillor Andrew Last  Cabinet Member for HR and Corporate Services •  Reform UK •  Brackley
Profile image for Councillor Adrian Little
Councillor Adrian Little  Reform UK •  Towcester
Profile image for Councillor Anthony Lock
Councillor Anthony Lock  Reform UK •  Daventry South
Profile image for Councillor Alexander McMurtry
Councillor Alexander McMurtry  Reform UK •  Daventry South
Profile image for Councillor Thomas Manning
Councillor Thomas Manning  Cabinet Member for Planning and Communities •  Reform UK •  Talavera
Profile image for Councillor Craig Morris
Councillor Craig Morris  Reform UK •  Nene Valley
Profile image for Councillor Anthony Owens
Councillor Anthony Owens  Reform UK •  Far Cotton, Delapre and Briar Hill
Profile image for Councillor Scott Packer
Councillor Scott Packer  Reform UK •  Talavera
Profile image for Councillor James Petter
Councillor James Petter  Deputy Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader of the Reform UK Group and Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure •  Reform UK •  Far Cotton, Delapre and Briar Hill
Profile image for Councillor Caroline Phillips
Councillor Caroline Phillips  Reform UK •  Kingsthorpe South
Profile image for Councillor Richard Pipes
Councillor Richard Pipes  Reform UK •  Daventry North West
Profile image for Councillor Daniel Rainbird
Councillor Daniel Rainbird  Reform UK •  Kingsthorpe North
Profile image for Councillor Jasmine Rainbird
Councillor Jasmine Rainbird  Reform UK •  Duston
Profile image for Councillor Kathryn Shaw
Councillor Kathryn Shaw  Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education •  Reform UK •  Upton
Profile image for Councillor Andrew Simpson
Councillor Andrew Simpson  Liberal Democrats •  Braunston and Crick
Profile image for Councillor John Slope
Councillor John Slope  Cabinet Member for Finance •  Reform UK •  Moulton
Profile image for Councillor Adam Smith
Councillor Adam Smith  Independent •  Hackleton and Roade
Profile image for Councillor Nigel Stansfield
Councillor Nigel Stansfield  Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste •  Reform UK •  Parklands
Profile image for Councillor Michael Stratton
Councillor Michael Stratton  Reform UK •  Upton
Profile image for Councillor David Tarbun
Councillor David Tarbun  Liberal Democrats •  Towcester
Profile image for Councillor Stewart Tolley
Councillor Stewart Tolley  Liberal Democrats •  Towcester
Profile image for Councillor Christine Ware
Councillor Christine Ware  Liberal Democrats •  Naseby
Profile image for Councillor Peter York
Councillor Peter York  Vice-Chairman of the Council •  Reform UK •  Moulton
Anna Earnshaw
Sarah Hall
Martin Henry
Rebecca Purnell
Paul Hanson
Tracy Tiff
Ed Bostock
Ryan Ikavnieks
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