There are 42 councillors elected every four years to the Council. Each represents a local area in the district, known as a ward.
The political make-up of the Council is now 35 Conservative councillors and 7 Independent. This means that the Conservatives are in overall control of the Council.
The Leader of the Council is Councillor Sandra Barnes. The Deputy Leader is Councillor Mary Clarke.
Most important decisions about your services are taken by Councillors. They rely on advice from professional Council officers who then have to put the decisions into action. In some cases officers are also able to make routine decisions on day-to-day matters within guidelines and with the permission of your Councillors.
For more details contact our Committee Administration team on:
Committee Administration
South Northamptonshire Council
Springfields
Towcester NN12 6AE
Telephone: 01327 322122/3/4
Email: committee.administration@southnorthants.gov.uk
The Cabinet of six senior councillors takes all the major decisions and makes important recommendations on budgets and policy. The Cabinet members are Councillor Sandra Barnes, Councillor Mary Clarke, Councillor Andrew Grant, Councillor Sandi Smallman, Councillor John Townsend and Councillor Martin Wilson.
The full Council approves policies and strategies, approves budgets and agrees the Council Tax.
Members of public can attend almost all meetings of the Cabinet and Committees. You are welcome to ask questions at Council meetings if you are on the electoral register for South Northamptonshire but you must give notice by writing to, or emailing, the Chief Executive at least three clear working days before the meeting. You can also present a petition as long as it contains at least 50 signatures of South Northamptonshire electors.
Planning applicants, objectors (one only) and Parish and Town Councils can speak at the Development Control Committee meetings, which are held every three weeks.
To apply to register contact:
Committee Administration
Telephone: 01327 322124
Email: committee.administration@southnorthants.gov.uk
The Chairman of the Council is Councillor Rebecca Breese, who has been elected by all councillors and will serve for one year until May 2008. The Vice-Chairman is Councillor David Aaronson . The Chairman chairs the full Council meeting. She is the Council's civic figurehead and acts as an ambassador for the Council and the district of South Northamptonshire.
Each year the Chairman raises money for his or her chosen charities. Councillor Breese has chosen Macmillan Cancer Support..
If you would like to invite the Chairman to an event please contact:
Executive Secretary
Telephone: 01327 322312
Email: mhairi.mackay@southnorthants.gov.uk
For details of all the other committees, what they do and when they are held, just click on Committee Management System.
We have a strict way of running ourselves and an open set of rules for our procedures. This small print is in what we call our Constitution