Thread by @mattfmc

Thursday 6th May - local elections are just around the corner...

What are they for? Who are they electing? Why vote?

Your (very long) guide if you live in Northamptonshire:

#LE2021

Northamptonshire was once made up of eight local authorities that had various responsibilities to deliver statutory services.

1. Northamptonshire County Council

Responsible for libraries, highways, education, health, social/children’s services, recycling centres, country parks

Then seven Borough/District Councils.

Responsible for leisure, kerbside waste collection, fly tipping, litter, public bins, some planning, council housing

The seven local councils were...

Corby Borough Council
Kettering Borough Council
Wellingborough Borough Council
East Northants District Council
Northampton Borough Council
Daventry District Council
South Northants Council

In October 2017 the NCC opened its doors to a brand new, state-of-the-art headquarters in Northampton town centre.

One Angel Square cost £53 million.

In February 2018 Northamptonshire County Council had to file a section 114 notice.

A section 114 notice cuts Council spending down to the bare minimum legal requirements.

Filing this notice is akin to declaring bankruptcy.

At the time only two section 114 notices had ever been filed in England since the 1988 Local Government Finance Act was passed.

NCC had to file a second S114 notice in July 2018.

In May 2018 the Secretary of State for Local Government James Brokenshire appointed two commissioners to take direct control of NCCs affairs.

Central Government was now effectively running the council directly.

Central government gave NCC special permission to allow it to sell One Angel Square, and use the profits to help plug the now £70m shortfall.

The commissioners also proposed a restructuring of local government in Northamptonshire.

The idea of restructuring is to help with the budget deficit and prevent a similar situation unfolding in the future.

The commissioners remain in post until the end of this month.

As a result of the commissioners’ recommendations all eight public bodies mentioned before will cease to exist.

They will be replaced with:

North Northants Unitary Authority (Corby, K’ing, E Northants, W’boro)

And

West Northants Unitary Authority (N’ton, Daventry, S N’ants)

When you vote on the 6th of March you will vote to elect three councillors to your local ward.

You can cast three votes on your ballot slip for any combination of candidates.

In West Northants (possibly also N Northants, I’m unsure) the Labour and Conservative parties have come to an agreement not to knock on doors canvassing until at least the 1st of April.

Don’t be surprised if we don’t knock on your door, but expect leaflets soon!

On the 6th of May there are two other elections that will be taking place...

- Police, Fire, Crime Commissioner
- Town/Parish Councils

On these you are likely to have one vote per ballot paper, though in larger wards you might have more.

The Town Councils have been established to replace some minor duties of the Borough/District Councils.

Parish Councils have always existed, and the Town Council will operate in areas not designated as parishes.

I hope this explains something to someone. Please go out and vote in May - or do one better and register for a postal vote!

If you’re not registered to vote get on it NOW - gov.uk/register-to-vo…

Remember EU citizens are permitted to vote in local elections 🗳