Revealed: First West Northants Council meeting costs more than £8k

Meeting is being held at Franklins Gardens on Thursday night

By Natalie Bloomer

Franklins Gardens in Northampton

The first face-to-face meeting of West Northamptonshire Council, which is being held at the home of Northampton Saints on Thursday, is costing £8,360.

Government rules mean that councils are no longer permitted to hold virtual meetings and will instead meet in-person while being socially distanced. A failed legal challenge against the rules reached the High Court last month. 

The council says the cost is being covered by the funds provided by the Government to respond to Covid19.

NN Journal has previously reported that the two new unitary councils do not have a council chamber big enough to hold the new number of councillors. This raises the possibility that venues such as Franklins Gardens could continue to be used. 

In the North, the council has hired the Kettering Conference Centre for their first meeting next week. NN Journal has asked the local authority to confirm how much it is costing but is waiting for a response.

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