Friday Brief: North unitary venue hire cost tops West by thousands

Plus familiar faces take the important positions on new councils, calls for action on fly-tipping and a new appeal launched to tackle food poverty

North Northamptonshire Council spends more than £14k on one meeting

Kettering Conference Centre was also used for this month’s elections

North Northamptonshire Council is shelling out £14,400 + VAT to hold its first meeting at the Kettering Conference Centre next week.

Government rules, which mean councils are no longer able to hold virtual meetings, have forced local authorities to hire out venues big enough for attendees to socially distance. 

In Northamptonshire there are currently no council chambers big enough to hold the number of councillors at each new unitary council. So even without Covid restrictions, alternative venues may be needed going forward.

Earlier in the week we reported that West Northamptonshire Council were paying £8,360 to hire Franklins Gardens for their first meeting, which was held last night.

A spokesperson for North Northamptonshire Council said:

“In response to the Government statement that virtual council meeting powers will not be extended and COVID-complianc…