New Leader and Executive confirmed for North Northamptonshire Council

23 May 2025

The new Leader of North Northamptonshire Council has been formally announced as Cllr Martin Griffiths following the annual meeting of the authority. 

The Leader of the Council leads the development of council strategy and priorities to meet community needs. The Leader works alongside council officers who are responsible for putting councillors' priorities and strategies into action.

This was the first time North Northamptonshire’s newly elected councillors met in a formal setting since the elections which took place earlier in May.

The meeting, which was held yesterday (Thursday 22 May) at the Corby Cube, also saw Cllr Eddie McDonald declared as deputy leader of the council.

Cllr Griffiths has also selected the council’s new Executive, who are responsible for setting the strategic and policy direction of the Council. 

The Executive each have an area of responsibility which they will advocate for, monitor performance on, lead improvements and make decisions on. As a group, they publicly meet on a monthly basis and take important decisions together.

The council’s Executive team is comprised of:

Leader of the Council - Cllr Martin Griffiths

• Alongside being Leader of the Council, Cllr Griffiths oversees areas of North Northamptonshire Council including Big50, housing, human resources and devolution

Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Adults and Health Partnerships - Cllr Eddie McDonald

• Cllr McDonald is the Council’s Deputy Leader and also oversees adult services, adults commissioning, health and social care integration and safeguarding of adults with care and support needs.

Executive Member for Finance, Efficiency and Change - Cllr Graham Cheatley

• Cllr Cheatley oversees areas including finance, internal audit, revenue and benefits, IT and customer experience.

Executive Member for Assets, Waste and Environmental Services - Cllr Ken Harrington

• Cllr Harrington oversees areas in the council including climate and environment, country parks, bin collections and household waste recycling centres, grounds maintenance and the council’s assets.

Executive Member for Children, Education and Families - Cllr Elizabeth Wright

• Cllr Wright oversees services including Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, commissioning, education, SEND and Family Hubs

Executive Member for Highways and Travel - Cllr Chris McGiffen

• Cllr McGiffen oversees areas including roads, transport and parking.

Executive Member for Planning and Economic Growth - Cllr Jan O’Hara

• Cllr O’Hara oversees services in the council including economic development, planning and planning policy and flood and water management.

Executive Member for Regulatory Services - Cllr Kirk Harrison

• Cllr Harrison oversees areas including licensing, environmental health, trading standards, registrations (births, deaths and marriages), building control and private sector housing

Executive Member for Communities - Cllr Gregory Wilcox

• Cllr Wilcox oversees services including community safety, tourism and visitor economy, community services (including libraries) and adult learning

Executive Member for Health and Leisure - Cllr Barry O’Brian

• Cllr O’Brian oversees areas including public health commissioning, leisure and health and safety.
   

It is an honour and privilege to be the new Leader of North Northamptonshire Council.

I am really looking forward to getting started, alongside a new Executive who bring with them a great deal of knowledge, and working cross party within the council, to drive real change across North Northamptonshire in the best interest of all residents.

This is a period of enormous change in the area, and we’re determined to make a difference to communities across the whole of North Northamptonshire. We’ll be looking at changes at both a local level in individual communities as well as across the area as a whole.

Since 1 May, I have been so impressed with the way that all staff across the council have adapted to the changes so far. Now, I can’t wait to start working more closely with them all to the very best of my ability and with all my energy to deliver first class services.Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council

Also, during the meeting, the new Chair of North Northamptonshire Council was confirmed with Cllr Helen Campbell taking on the role for the next civic year, with Cllr Maurice Elgin as Vice Chair. The chair is a largely ceremonial role including chairing full council meetings.

I am truly honoured to have been chosen as the next Chair of North Northamptonshire Council.

Over the next year, I look forward to getting out and meeting as many residents as possible, whilst representing North Northamptonshire further afield.Cllr Helen Campbell, Chair of North Northamptonshire Council

Following the election on 1 May 2025, the 68 councillors on North Northamptonshire Council comprise of:

• 39 Reform 
• 13 Conservative
• 8 Green Party
• 4 Labour
• 1 Liberal Democrats
• 1 Independent
• Plus 2 vacancies in the Higham Ferrers ward

Residents in North Northamptonshire can find who their local unitary ward councillor(s) are by visiting the council’s website.

The new Executive will meet formally for the first time in June at the Corby Cube with meeting papers available the week before.