New town councils elected
Labour has partly made up for their disappointing unitary election results by taking control of the new Northampton and Corby town councils
By Sarah Ward
On Saturday four brand new town councils were elected in Northamptonshire.
Kettering, Corby, Northampton and Wellingborough town councils will now provide a variety of minor services (they have the same powers as a parish council) with the big, expensive services such as adult social care and highways coming under the control of the two new unitary authorities.
We take a look at which party has taken control of each new town council and what services they plan to deliver.
Northampton
The town council will be the largest in the country (representing 130,000 residents) and has already negotiated the magnificent Northampton Guildhall as its meeting place (at a rental cost of £180,000 per year). A £48 annual precept (for a band D property) was decided in February, which means the council should have an income of around £1.8m a year to spend. It will have five paid members of staff and will keep the mayoral function (Rufia Ashraf will take on the civic role). Th…