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North Northamptonshire Council shortlisted for ‘Most Improved Council’ at the Prestigious LGC Awards 2026

19 February 2026

Graphic with the North Northamptonshire Council logo and the words ‘Latest News’ in bold white text on a blue background.

North Northamptonshire Council is proud to announce that it has been shortlisted for ‘Most Improved Council’ at the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards 2026, one of the most respected and competitive awards programmes in the UK local government sector.

The LGC Awards celebrate excellence across local government, attracting more than 1,000 entries in 2026 — a record-breaking milestone that reflects the outstanding work happening across councils nationwide. Being shortlisted places North Northamptonshire Council among the very best and most forward-thinking authorities in the country.

North Northamptonshire Council’s shortlisting reflects a period of exceptional transformation since its formation in 2021. Established during the pandemic and in the wake of the former county council’s well publicised financial collapse, the new council faced the challenge of stabilisation, rebuilding and restoring public confidence from day one.

Over the last year, the pace and impact of improvement have accelerated significantly. The Council’s ‘One Council’ programme, launched in 2024, has unified staff, systems, processes and culture, replacing a fragmented legacy with a confident, coherent and modern organisation focused on prevention, partnership and better outcomes for residents.

This progress was strongly validated in September 2025 by the Local Government Association Peer Challenge Progress Review, which described the council’s improvement as “truly impressive over multiple fronts.” 

The Council’s nomination is underpinned by a series of ambitious improvements delivered throughout 2025, including:

  • A bold and preventative new Corporate Plan, shared with partners from across sectors, and designed to tackle demand pressures at their source.
  • A significant reduction in staff turnover and coupled with a significant increase in staff recommending the council as a place to work, following major investment in culture, leadership and modernised terms and conditions.
  • Replacement or upgrade of over 2,500 IT devices, alongside major network upgrades across 45 sites, improving productivity and enabling more modern, responsive services.
  • Delivery of a complex organisation-wide transformation programme on time and within budget.

Being shortlisted positions North Northamptonshire Council alongside other innovative authorities that have shown they can turn challenge into opportunity through sustained effort and bold thinking.

This recognition is a powerful endorsement of the extraordinary journey our Council has been on. In just a few years we have moved from stabilising a newly formed organisation to delivering real transformation that is improving lives.

In May 2025, the council welcomed 47 brand new councillors, and I proudly became the Leader of the council. We harnessed this new energy and perspective to the council’s advantage, and we are seeing improvement and a pace of change that is unprecedented.

We have done this whilst also creating a positive and united culture between councillors, officers and our partners. I couldn’t be prouder of our progress so far, but we will not rest until we have delivered our newly adopted, ambitious Corporate Plan and have become the exemplary council that our residents deserve.Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council
Being shortlisted is an incredible recognition of the pace, passion and pride that exists in our council. It shows just how far we’ve come — and how ambitious we are for the future. Our staff, members and partners have shown what’s possible when we come together with one vision and one ambition. We’re only just getting started.Adele Wylie, Chief Executive

The LGC Awards are widely regarded as one of the highest honours in local government. Past winners have praised the awards as a celebration of public sector dedication, innovation and sector leading practice.

Shortlisted councils will now present to a judging panel of senior local government experts before winners are announced at the awards ceremony on 10 June 2026 at Grosvenor House, London.