Town council for Northampton moves closer despite concerns over Guildhall costs

Northampton Borough Council will be dissolved next April and replaced by a much larger unitary authority called West Northamptonshire Council, which will effectively merge it with Daventry and South Northamptonshire.

But a new Town Council will also be set up, as well as new parish councils in Far Cotton and Kingsthorpe. It is hoped these smaller councils will give a greater voice to local residents that may be lost in the massive new unitary, and will also offer protection for the town’s heritage and history such as the Mayoralty.

After a close vote at a recent borough council meeting on November 2, councillors have now agreed to convene the first meeting of the new shadow town council, which much like the shadow unitary councils is effectively a precursor council to help prepare for launch day.

It has also been agreed in principle that the Guildhall, which has been the home of Northampton Borough Council since it was formed in 1972, will transfer over to the new town council, while Far Cotton Recreation Centre will also transfer to the new parish council which will be known as Far Cotton and Delapre Community Council.

But the decision was only voted through by one vote, with a number of councillors picking fault at the ‘holes’ in the report that they say neglected to detail how much of a financial burden taking the Guildhall on could be for the new town council.

Labour leader Councillor Danielle Stone moved to delay a decision until more detail could be found out. She said: “We’re aware this is our Plan B, but we need to work together to make this as successful as can be. I’m really disappointed we haven’t got a scrutiny group looking at this, and there’s nothing specific about taking on the Guildhall and what the liabilities may be.”

Labour deputy leader Cllr Jane Birch added: “Is it just the historical part of the Guildhall, or the offices as well? There are so many things that we don’t have sufficient detail on to take this forward.”

The dissent was not restricted to opposition benches, with Conservative councillor Christopher Malpas indicating he would vote against the proposals to take the scheme forward as they stood.

He said: “I’m really concerned about the obligations being put upon the town council. Yes they will take on the Guildhall, but the only way they will be able to look after it is to sell off assets, I can just see it now. It worries me we’re pushing things onto them without any workable figures.”

But deputy leader of the council Phil Larratt, who has been the key figure behind the creation of the new councils, insisted that while concerns were valid that delaying the process would have little impact.

He said: “I have great sympathy with all the issues that have been put forward. We know there’s a lot of unknowns and we know there’s so much work to get on with.

“But we need to get these shadow authorities in place in order for them to discuss these issues and get the information with regards to costs. Let’s fill in all these holes, but let’s do them through the shadow councils.”

The agreement of the item means that the Chief Executive of the borough council, George Candler, will now convene a first shadow meeting of the Northampton Town Council. At its first shadow meeting it will agree the terms and conditions of its governance along with arrangements for the recruitment of a Clerk.

It has also formally approved the transfer of the existing Borough Coat of Arms to the new town council.