- Details
07 May 2025

West Northamptonshire’s newly-elected councillors will come together for the first time next week at the Council’s Annual Meeting.
All members of West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) are expected to attend the special session in Northampton’s Guildhall next Thursday, 15 May, to approve the authority’s governance and committee arrangements for the year ahead.
Voters went to the polls last Thursday (1 May) to elect 76 WNC councillors across the area on a four-year term representing their local communities alongside contested elections for a number of town and parish councils. As a result, the new political make-up of WNC is 42 Reform UK councillors, 17 Conservative councillors, 9 Labour councillors, 6 Liberal Democrat councillors and 2 Independent councillors.
With the majority of seats, Reform UK has political control of the Council, so will form WNC’s new political administration and leadership and will be working with council officers to deliver their priorities for residents and businesses.
The new political make-up means changes are required to the Council’s governance and political balance, which must be considered and approved at Annual Council on 15 May.
This includes electing a new Council Chairman and Vice-Chairman, appointing a new Council Leader and confirming new Cabinet Members, and agreeing the membership of the various committees that councillors sit on, such as those for planning and scrutiny.
Work is well underway on preparations ahead of the meeting, which will take place in the Great Hall of the Guildhall next Thursday from 6pm.
The Council is also in the process of planning and arranging its usual but extensive councillors induction and training programme for the 76 new members, so they are informed and ready to start representing their local communities.
The agenda and reports for Annual Council will be published shortly on the Council’s website.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting in the Guildhall at 5pm on Thursday 15 May or alternatively can watch it live online:
Watch the council meeting live on YouTube at 5pm on Thursday 15 MayWant the latest Council news delivered straight to your inbox?
- Details
06 May 2025

The Business & Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) Northamptonshire, part of the BIPC national network led by the British Library and delivered through Northamptonshire Libraries, is proud to announce the relaunch of its highly successful business support initiative, now rebranded as Build Your Business 2.0.
Delivered in partnership with West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire Council, this enhanced programme builds on past success to offer even greater support to aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses across the county.
Running until March 2026, and funded with £310,000 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Build Your Business 2.0 will be offered entirely free of charge to participants, ensuring accessible support for anyone seeking business assistance.
Designed with flexibility at its core, the programme allows participants to access support as and when they need it, completely tailored to their individual business goals. Participants can benefit from one-to-one support sessions, expert-led webinars and workshops, networking opportunities, access to specialist market research tools and start-up grants of up to £2,000.
As part of a complete package of support, the BIPC Northamptonshire’s dedicated team of business advisers will be running regular drop-in sessions at BIPC Local libraries in Wellingborough, Kettering, Brixworth and Towcester.
What’s new in Build Your Business 2.0?
This refreshed version of the programme covers key areas of running a business including marketing, business growth and financial planning along with a brand-new webinar series focused on mental health and wellbeing for business owners. Delivered by Susan Liverman from The Kindful, these sessions are designed to help entrepreneurs build resilience, manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance while running or growing their business.
Start-up grants are back!
Eligible businesses less one year old can apply for a £2,000 start-up grant to help cover business-related costs. Successful applicants will not only receive this valuable financial boost but will also gain access to ongoing support from the experienced BIPC Northamptonshire team.
“Build Your Business 2.0 is a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to launch or grow a business in West Northamptonshire. From one-to-one expert advice and wellbeing support to financial assistance and specialist tools, this programme offers a comprehensive package designed to help businesses thrive. We are proud to partner in delivering this initiative and would encourage anyone with a business idea or ambition to get involved.”Stuart Timmiss, Executive Director of Place and Economy at WNC
“Northamptonshire is home to a wide range of businesses and entrepreneurs - all of whom are keen to take their business to the next level. With this in mind, this scheme is being re-launched to further support businesses on a variety of areas. Plus, with the start-up grants available, fledgling businesses can apply for a grant to provide vital financial support as they navigate the first year of business.George Candler, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Director of Place and Economy“We would encourage all local businesses across the area to take a look at the information available and get involved in this fantastic opportunity.”
Register today
Businesses interested in taking advantage of the Build Your Business 2.0 programme are encouraged to visit the BIPC Northamptonshire website. There, they can learn more about what’s on offer, register on to the programme, explore upcoming drop-in sessions, and sign up for workshops, webinars, one-to-one support, and more.
Want the latest Council news delivered straight to your inbox?
- Details
02 May 2025

Excitement is building in West Northamptonshire as the official Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 trophy prepares to arrive in Daventry, Towcester, Brackley, and Northampton on 25, 26 and 27 May as part of a three-week national tour marking 100 days to go and celebrating all eight host locations ahead of the big tournament this summer.
The iconic trophy will visit a number of landmarks and locations across the area, giving residents, grassroots clubs, and fans a unique opportunity to get up close with the centrepiece of the world’s biggest women’s rugby event. The visit will mark 100 days to go until the tournament kicks off and is part of a wider effort to inspire local communities and celebrate the tournament’s arrival in West Northamptonshire this August and September.
Six matches are set to take place at the cinch Stadium at Franklins Gardens in Northampton, seeing teams and fans from around the world flock to West Northants for what promises to be the largest celebration of women’s rugby ever.
The trophy tour will begin in London on 14 May before travelling to Brighton & Hove, Exeter, Bristol, West Northants, Manchester, York and ending in Sunderland on 6 June. Each stop will feature pop-up events, community engagement, and the chance to find out more about the tournament and how to get involved. Full details around the tour activities will be revealed soon.
"We’re incredibly proud to welcome the Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy to Northampton once again this May and play our part as a host location in one of the most exciting sporting events of the year.Stuart Timmiss, Executive Director of Place and Economy at WNC“Rugby is part of the fabric of our community, and this is a wonderful opportunity to shine a spotlight on the sport, inspire new generations, and showcase everything West Northamptonshire has to offer to visitors from across the globe. We encourage everyone to get involved and make the most of this historic moment.”
New ticket sales for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 will open from 14 May, with prices starting at £10 for adults and £5 for children. Full details of West Northants’ activities will be announced soon via the official tournament website and social media channels.
"The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 promises to be a landmark tournament for the sport and the trophy tour to our host locations provides a brilliant opportunity to ignite excitement across England.Sarah Massey, Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Managing Director“We look forward to celebrating with fans, encouraging even more people to be a part of this unforgettable tournament.”
For more information about the tournament, visit the official Home | Women's Rugby World Cup 2025
Want the latest Council news delivered straight to your inbox?
- Details
30 April 2025

Additional resources and training will be offered to venues across West Northamptonshire to further support safety in the area’s night-time economy (NTE).
The Ask for Angela initiative, which has been operational in Northampton and parts of West Northants for several years with the support of the Community Safety Partnership and Pubwatch partners, enables individuals who feel unsafe or uncomfortable to discreetly ask venue staff for help by "asking for Angela." Staff are trained to respond and provide support, helping ensure everyone can enjoy a night out safely.
In 2024, the scheme was refreshed with new locally branded posters to raise awareness. As part of the next phase, an official list of participating venues is being compiled. These venues will benefit from:
- Specialist staff training to respond to disclosures or distress
- Window stickers to clearly identify participation
- Ongoing support and resources from the Council and partner organisations
This move supports a wider action plan under the Northampton Town Centre Task Group’s NTE strategy, coordinated by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) which includes test purchases throughout the year to assess how well the scheme is being implemented and to identify areas for improvement.
“Ask for Angela is a vital part of our ongoing commitment to making our night-time economy a welcoming and safe space for all. We’re proud to be working closely with local venues, partners and our Pubwatch networks to ensure staff are confident in providing support when it’s needed most.Jane Carr, Chair of the West Northants Community Safety Partnership“This initiative is about prevention, protection and partnership, and it’s one of many steps we’re taking to help everyone feel safe while enjoying a night out in West Northamptonshire.”
“We’re pleased to hear that the Ask for Angela initiative has been extended as it provides another avenue for people who feel unsafe to get help.Northamptonshire Police Force Licensing Sergeant Simon Moreton“If someone you have met is making you feel uncomfortable, exiting the situation can often feel difficult. The discreet nature of the Ask for Angela scheme gives people an easy way out and that’s something we wholeheartedly support.
“We work hard with venues across the county to make the nighttime economy safe for people and we will continue collaborating with our partners on schemes such as this to increase that safety as much as we can.”
The scheme is one of several initiatives in place to support the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) agenda in Northampton, alongside visible and active measures including the SNO (Safer Nights Out) Van, Street Pastors, Northampton Guardians, Taxi marshals, OP Kayak which tackles predatory behaviour, and CCTV monitoring.
All initiatives are showcased in the Council’s Northampton NTE video, produced as part of the town’s successful Purple Flag accreditation bid.
The Ask for Angela scheme is now open to venues across the whole of West Northamptonshire, and all hospitality businesses are encouraged to sign up. Find out more on the Northampton Town Centre Task Group webpage.
Want the latest Council news delivered straight to your inbox?
- Details
Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging people to safely enjoy themselves in and around the water during the warm weather this week.
The Met Office has forecast that temperatures in the county will be more than 20 degrees Celsius until Friday, peaking at almost 27 degrees on Thursday.
The warm weather may lead to people choosing to go swimming in open water to cool down from the heat, and the Service is reminding people of the dangers that open water can pose.
While the sun may be out, water can still be below 15 degrees Celsius, and this can be enough to put your body into cold water shock and increase the risk of drowning.
Crews from the Service will be out and about promoting water safety across the county this week, including our Daventry crew, who will be at Daventry Country Park from 2pm on Friday (May 2), where they will also demonstrate how crews respond to danger in the water.
Here are 10 top tips on how to stay safe while swimming in the open water and avoid any incidents:
- Get to know where you are swimming and check the condition before going in.
- Make sure you are properly equipped and beware of the cold.
- Make sure you have someone to accompany you, and that other people know where you have gone and why.
- Take note of local safety advice and respect the countryside, landowners and other users.
- Make sure you have the means to call for help, especially in remote locations.
- Download the what3words app on your phone so you can give specific location advice to emergency services if you get into trouble.
- If you get stuck in the water with cold body shock, try and float on your back in a star shape and allow the shock to pass. Do not try and fight against it.
- If you see another person or animal in the water, you should NOT enter water yourself to rescue them. Call 999 and ask for the fire service immediately.
- In most cases an animal will make it back to safety, sadly this is not always the case for an owner.
- Try and throw a floating device such as a throw line or an inflatable to help any people who are struggling in the water.
Darren Carson, Prevention Team Leader at Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We know everyone will want to go out and enjoy the warm weather, but it’s important also that people – especially young people – understand the risk that swimming in the open water can pose, even on really hot days.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s almost 30 degrees outside, open water can still be freezing and send your body into water shock, which can lead to tragic consequences.
“We would always encourage people to go to supervised open water swimming locations in the county, and these can be found easily online. But if people do choose to swim in open water, we would always urge them not to go alone, and if they get into trouble in the water, to try and float like a star until the water shock has passed.”
This week also marks Be Water Aware Week, a dedicated week aimed at promoting water safety.
For even more water safety tips, please visit www.northantsfire.gov.uk/safety/waterandboatsafety and Top Recommendations for Safer Open Water Swimming | Royal Life Saving Society UK ( RLSS UK )
You can find out more about how our crews train to assist people in the water by watching the video below.