A RESHUFFLE of West Northamptonshire Council’s cabinet is refocusing senior councillors’ responsibilities on the latest priorities and needs of local residents. 

Cllr Adam Brown was elected as the council’s new leader at its annual meeting on Thursday (May 16)  and has appointed cabinet members, introducing a series of changes to their portfolios.
Some have been streamlined to specific service areas, such as housing and highways, enabling the council to concentrate a greater focus on tackling these issues. Other changes have been made to better align service areas, such as sustainability within the environment portfolio.

The new Cabinet arrangements are:

  • Cllr Matt Golby is appointed deputy leader and cabinet member for adult care, public health and regulatory services, better aligning services aimed at improving people’s wellbeing
  • Cllr Rosie Herring is cabinet member for housing, a key priority for residents and area of challenges and opportunities in the years ahead
  • Cllr Phil Larratt continues his commitment to improving and investing in roads in a more focused remit as cabinet member for highways and transport.
  • Cllr Rebecca Breese becomes cabinet member for environment, recycling and waste, with a renewed focus on tackling climate change and progressing sustainability.
  • Cllr David Smith is cabinet member for planning and communities, retaining his previous remit around community safety and partnerships alongside new planning and development control responsibilities
  • Cllr Dan Lister becomes cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure in a move to link place-shaping services with regeneration, business growth and economic investment
  • Cllr Malcolm Longley continues as finance portfolio holder.
  • Cllr Mike Hallam retains his role as cabinet member for HR and corporate services.
  • Cllr Fiona Baker remains as cabinet member for children, families and education.

“Having listened to residents about their priorities for what the council should be doing and the needs they have, these changes aim to refocus and strengthen our efforts to ensure we are serving them in the best ways we possibly can,” said Cllr Brown.

‘A different perspective to the role, along with fresh energy and enthusiasm’

New leader is relishing the challenges of the role

RUGBY FAN Adam Brown is aiming to put West Northamptonshire at the top of the league for better public services and outcomes for residents in his new role as leader of West Northamptonshire Council.

Cllr Adam the new leader of West Northamptonshire Council
The 39-year-old Saints fan and qualified rugby referee, who was born in Northampton and grew up in Weedon, took the reins as leader at the council’s annual meeting on Thursday (May 16).

He, who has been a councillor for eight years and championed the successful bid to bring the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup to West Northants. Now Cllr Brown is looking forward to tackling the challenges facing the council and, he says, converting them into opportunities to improve services and support local communities.

“I feel privileged to have been chosen for this role and really excited to be leading West Northamptonshire Council into its next chapter as a young unitary authority,” Cllr Brown said.

“We have already achieved some significant milestones in our first three years, bringing together hundreds of services and staff from the old councils, working to transform and improve what we deliver to our residents while also saving millions of pounds of public money in the process.”

The next step is to focus on improving productivity through best use of IT and Artificial Intelligence and redesigning services to make them more cost-effective and easier for residents to use.

“A top priority for us moving forward this year is the need to do much more to improve and invest in our roads and tackle the blight of potholes, which we know are a huge concern for our residents.”

He promised “positive news” in the coming weeks. Cllr Brown has also put tackling poverty and improving health and wellbeing aa council priorities, along with regeneration plans for Northampton, Daventry, Brackley and Towcester.

Hear more from Cllr Brown about his plans and priorities as Leader of West Northamptonshire Council here.

Having worked as a campaign volunteer, Cllr Brown became a Daventry District Councillor for Weedon ward the following year, then later DDC’s deputy leader. In 2017 he was elected as a Northamptonshire County Councillor for Bugbrooke and in 2021 became a WNC councillor for the same division, a role he has held for the past three years alongside the remits of deputy leader and cabinet member for housing, culture and leisure.

He is married, lives in Northampton and has a professional background in financial services.

“As a relatively young council leader, I am hoping I will bring a different perspective to the role along with fresh energy and enthusiasm. I also think bringing two strong sets of experience to the role, through my financial services background and as a councillor of eight years, will prove really beneficial.

“West Northamptonshire is a wonderful area and I am passionate about providing excellent services and focusing on issues that matter most to the people here, in the place where I live, grew up and where I am now bringing up my own family.”