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DCN opens its membership to unitaries
The District Councils Network has opened its membership to unitary as well as district councils for the first time in its 47-year history.
DCN, a special interest group of the Local Government Association which has been representing districts since it was formed as the result of the 1974 local government reorganisation, is welcoming three unitaries as new members.
Its first cohort of West Northamptonshire, North Northamptonshire and Dorset councils, will join the group from 1 June, are all new unitary authorities that have been formed in the last two years through reorganisation.
Following a ballot of DCN members in which 95% of responses received were in favour of opening up membership, the body’s constitution was updated. The announcement of a DCN membership offer to unitaries was formally announced at the DCN general assembly earlier this week.
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Cllr Helen Howell
Some members objected to this new vote so a third zoom meeting was held yesterday (Sunday) to ratify the decision.
One member who did not wish to be named said: “The second vote was not constitutional. It was railroaded through and then the meeting was shut down so we couldn’t object.”
Another, who spoke to the Northants Telegraph on condition of anonymity, said: “It’s World War Three. Lots of senior members of the party are incandescent. This is not the start that we wanted or expected.
”So much for a fresh start.”
The decision means that both the leader and the deputy leader of the council will be from East Northamptonshire.
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Inside Kettering Conference Centre, which is where last week s election was held
It was also the venue for the local election count on Friday (May 7) which saw 60 Conservative councillors elected to the 78 seats available.
Cllr Jason Smithers was elected as the new leader of the Conservatives for North Northamptonshire on Monday (May 10).
The council does not currently have a defined headquarters and staff are continuing to work from home.
Some staff are using council buildings in Kettering, Thrapston, Wellingborough and Corby.
A spokesman for North Northamptonshire Council said: North Northamptonshire Council does not have a defined HQ. At present its staff, as they have since the start of the Covid outbreak, are continuing to work from home, although some staff, that need to be in the office, are using council buildings in Kettering, Thrapston, Wellingborough and Corby alongside the range of depots we have across the area.
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Councillor Ian McCord, speaking to the Chronicle & Echo on Friday night at the election count
The deputy chairman of South Northamptonshire Conservatives Association, Andre Gonzalez De Savage, confirmed an investigation had been started and that Councillor McCord had been suspended while the investigation into the complaint was carried out.
Councillor Gonzalez De Savage said the suspension does not rule Councillor McCord from standing in the leadership election.
Councillor Gonzalez De Savage, who represents East Hunsbury and Shelfleys ward, said the complaints will be investigated by a team from outside the association and Councillor McCord will have a chance to put across his case.