The Council met on Monday 19 January 2026 to discuss the proposed West Northamptonshire Local Plan and the appointment of key officers. The meeting's agenda included a significant item regarding the approval to consult on a draft of the West Northamptonshire Local Plan, which outlines the council's strategy for development, housing, and environmental protection up to 2043. Additionally, the council was scheduled to consider the appointment of a Monitoring Officer and a Chief Officer.

West Northamptonshire Local Plan – Approval to Consult on a Draft Plan

A key item on the agenda was the West Northamptonshire Local Plan (WNLP), with a report presented by Councillor Thomas Manning, Cabinet Member for Planning. The report outlined the necessity for the council to prepare and maintain a Local Plan, which details plans for the area, including site allocations for development, areas to be protected, and policies for determining planning applications. The current plans, the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy Local Plan Part 1 (WNJCS) and associated Part 2 Plans, were adopted in 2014 and between 2020 and 2023 respectively. However, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) mandates a review of these plans every five years to ensure they remain up-to-date.

The proposed WNLP aims to replace the existing plans and set out the council's vision and objectives for the area up to 2043. This draft plan has been developed following several previous consultations, including an Issues Consultation in 2019, an Options consultation in 2021, and a draft plan consultation in 2024. A recent update to the NPPF in December 2024 increased the council's housing need by approximately 20%, necessitating additional time for evidence gathering and option reconsideration.

The report detailed the structure of the draft plan, which includes chapters on:

• Introduction: Outlining the planning context and the stage of plan-making (Regulation 18).
• Spatial Portrait, Vision and Objectives: Providing context on the area's population, housing, economy, and environment, and setting out a Spatial Vision and 17 Spatial Objectives.
• Spatial Strategy: Establishing a framework for policies and site allocations, prioritising urban regeneration and the use of brownfield land.
• Placemaking: Setting out policies for achieving Net Zero, creating excellent places, promoting health and wellbeing, and ensuring community and sports facilities and open spaces. This chapter includes policies on sustainable design, placemaking, health impact assessments, and the designation of Local Green Spaces.
• Making Great Places – Northampton, Daventry, Brackley, and Towcester: Detailing spatial strategies and specific site allocations for housing and employment in these key settlements. This includes proposals for new housing developments, regeneration schemes, and employment sites.
• Growth at Long Buckby Station: Proposing growth including homes and employment land, aiming to improve the station's offer and encourage active travel.
• Making Great Places – Rural: Addressing the rural context, proposing a settlement hierarchy, and setting out a rural housing requirement.
• Homes: Detailing the scale of new housing required, including an increase of approximately 9,000 homes due to recent planning reforms, and outlining policies on affordable housing, self-build, and accommodation for Gypsies, Travellers, and Travelling Showpeople.
• Employment: Forecasting employment growth and setting out policies for safeguarding and allocating employment sites, including strategic industrial and warehousing locations.
• Built and Natural Environment: Covering policies for protecting and enhancing the historic environment, landscapes, and biodiversity, including adjustments to Green Wedge designations and policies for the Upper Nene Gravel Pits Special Protection Area.
• Transport: Outlining plans for transport schemes to support growth, referencing the West Northamptonshire Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) and the Local Transport Plan (LTP).
• Infrastructure: Reaffirming the need for infrastructure delivery alongside housing and job growth.
• Implementation: Describing the monitoring framework for assessing the plan's effectiveness.

The report recommended that the Council approve the draft West Northamptonshire Local Plan for public consultation, undertake a call for sites, and delegate minor editorial changes to the Head of Planning Policy and Specialist Services. A recommendation was also made to give further consideration to a proposed Local Green Space designation at Pineham Lock.

Appointment of Monitoring Officer and Chief Officer

A report presented by Councillor Andrew Last, Cabinet Member for HR and Corporate Services, concerned the appointment of key officers. The report recommended that the statutory responsibilities of the Monitoring Officer be permanently placed within the role of Corporate Director Law and Governance, with Sarah Hall recommended for permanent appointment to this role. Ms Hall had been undertaking these responsibilities on an interim basis since September 2024.

Additionally, the report recommended the appointment of Rebecca Hutson to the role of Service Director Communications & Strategy. This role reports directly to the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Services and was created as part of a restructure of the Resources Directorate, which aimed to deliver significant financial savings. The restructure consolidated services previously under Corporate Services, Assistant Chief Executives, and Finance. The report stated that both recommended appointments were in compliance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and followed appropriate HR processes.