The West Northamptonshire Council meeting scheduled for 15 May 2025 included the election of a chair and vice-chair, the appointment of a leader, and the allocation of seats to committees based on political balance. Councillors were also expected to note the names of the leaders and deputy leaders of the political groups, as well as the members of the Cabinet.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

The meeting was scheduled to begin with the election of the Chairman of West Northamptonshire Council, followed by the appointment of the Vice-Chairman.

Appointment of Leader of the Council

The council was expected to appoint the Leader of the Council.

Committee Proportionality and Appointments

The council was scheduled to discuss committee proportionality and the appointment of members to committees and other bodies. According to the report pack, the council is required to allocate seats on committees and sub-committees to political groups to give effect, as far as possible, to a number of principles:

• Not all the seats on the Committee or sub-Committee are allocated to the same political group
• The political group having a majority of seats on the Council should have a majority on each Committee and sub-Committee
• The number of seats on the Council’s Committees and sub-Committees allocated to each political group bears the same proportion to the total number of such Committee seats as the number of members of that group bears to the membership of the full Council
• Seats are allocated on each Committee and sub-Committee in the same ratio as exists on the authority.

The report pack notes that the council may only depart from these principles if no member votes against it.

The report pack also clarifies that these political balance provisions only apply directly to committees and sub-committees, and not to the Cabinet, Cabinet sub-Committees, joint Committees that exercised functions of the Cabinet, and the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The report stated that following the election on 1 May 2025, the political makeup of the council was 42 Reform UK, 17 Conservative, 9 Labour, 6 Liberal Democrat and 2 Independent councillors (un-grouped).

The following table shows the proposed allocation of seats between the committees:

*both Committees share the same membership.

Calendar of Meetings 2025-26

The council was scheduled to approve the calendar of meetings for 2025-2026. The draft calendar included dates for full council meetings, cabinet meetings, scrutiny committee meetings and other committee meetings.