Two familiar faces among recommendations for four key posts at new West Northamptonshire unitary council

Four new senior appointments have been proposed for the new West Northamptonshire unitary authority – with two familiar faces among them.
The new appointments are expected to be confirmed at One Angel Square tomorrow.The new appointments are expected to be confirmed at One Angel Square tomorrow.
The new appointments are expected to be confirmed at One Angel Square tomorrow.

The key appointments are for four of the most senior staff positions on the new council, and are due to be ratified by the shadow council’s executive committee when it meets tomorrow (September 15).

Martin Henry has been recommended for the role of director of finance and Statutory Section 151 Officer, also known as the Chief Finance Officer. Mr Henry is well known already in the council as the current Executive Director of Finance and Property at South Northamptonshire Council. He has also been acting as the interim Section 151 Officer for shadow authority, so this would effectively see him continue in the role when the council is formally launched next April.

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The second familiar face is Cathi Hadley, who is set to take up the role of Shared Director of Children’s Services, a role in which she will carry out the same position with the neighbouring North Northamptonshire Council. Cathi is the current Director of Children’s Services for Northamptonshire County Council for the last ten months, and has been attempting to steer a service that has been rated as ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted, prior to her arrival, in a more positive direction.

The West Northants unitary – which is effectively a merger of the county council and the three district and boroughs in Northampton, Daventry and South Northamptonshire – will welcome two new faces to the area as well.

Catherine Whitehead has been recommended to be appointed to the role of Director of Legal and Democratic Services, known most commonly as the monitoring officer. Catherine is currently the monitoring officer for Wycombe District Council, and is a senior lawyer who has previously advised and delivered on unitary transition and transformation.

The fourth and final appointment is set to be Stuart Lackenby, who has been earmarked for the role as Director of Adult Social Services. Stuart is currently in the same position at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. He is a registered social worker and has worked in adult social care for over 22 years, operating at a senior level for the past five years.

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The appointments come swiftly following the announcement that Anna Earnshaw, the county council’s director for adult social services, has been named as the new chief executive for the authority.

Leader of the West Northamptonshire shadow authority, Councillor Ian McCord, said: “We’re delighted with our chosen appointments in these vital roles for the new West Northants Council. We’re confident that we’re creating a strong senior management team to move through this exciting programme of change and transformation and create a great authority for the future.”

The recommended appointments will be presented to the West Northamptonshire Shadow Authority meeting on September 15, where councillors will formally vote on whether to approve the appointments.