West Northamptonshire Council welcomes new Leader and Cabinet as it embarks on next chapter

16 May 2025

Front row (l-r): Cllr Couse, Cllr Arnull and Cllr Shaw; Middle front: Cllr Slope; Middle back: Cllr Hastie, Cllr Stansfield, Cllr Butler and Cllr Manning; Back row: Cllr Petter and Cllr Last

West Northamptonshire Council is setting off on an exciting new chapter for delivering and improving local public services with a new Leader and Cabinet members.

Following on from this month’s elections – the second to have taken place since the unitary was formed four years ago –  Councillors from the majority party Reform UK have been appointed to WNC’s political leadership positions, with Cllr Mark Arnull elected as Leader of the Council at last night’s Annual Meeting (Thursday, 15 May).

Cllr Arnull has appointed a 10-strong Cabinet, each responsible for overseeing their own portfolio of specific council services, to drive forward and deliver upon the new administration’s priorities for local communities.

Cllr James Petter takes on the role of Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture & Leisure.

“I’m really looking forward to working with a Cabinet that has a broad range of experience across all portfolios, real grassroots knowledge of the local areas and issues people are facing and a palpable energy and enthusiasm for doing things differently and better.

“It’s so important we hit the ground running to deliver upon the mandate we’ve been given by the electorate and in the coming days we will be reviewing what we have inherited from the previous administration and working hard to change and improve local services for the benefit of everyone.

“It’s our aim to be highly visible within our communities, getting out and about as much as possible talking to local people about the issues affecting them. We’re looking forward to getting stuck in and making a real difference to people’s lives.”

Cllr Mark Arnull, Leader of West Northamptonshire Council

“As we embark upon our Council’s second term as a unitary authority, we all agree that West Northamptonshire is a place of big ambitions. I look forward to working closely together with Cllr Arnull and the new Cabinet on progressing the future priorities to fulfil our area’s true potential.”Anna Earnshaw, Chief Executive of West Northamptonshire Council

The full Cabinet arrangements are as follows:

Cllr Mark Arnull – Leader of the Council

Born and raised in Daventry and trained at Northampton College, Mark went on to forge a successful career in international major events, working with organising committees and government departments to deliver mass feeding operations. Mark is an ambassador for small business in the community and champions youth initiatives that help young people enter the world of business.

Cllr James Petter  –  Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture & Leisure.
James has lived in Hunsbury, Northampton for over 30 years where he raised his family. He has a strong business background with more than 40 years of experience across a range of sectors including retail and logistics, having also run his own business. Placing West Northamptonshire on the map as a prime destination for visitors, businesses and investment will be a key focus for James in his new remit

Cllr Kathryn Ann Shaw – Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education.
A lifelong Northampton resident, Kathryn brings extensive experience in therapeutic intervention and community engagement, with a professional background in hypnotherapy, EMDR, and trauma-informed care, and a particular focus on early intervention, mental health, and innovative educational support. Her appointment reflects a deep commitment to reshaping care systems to better serve vulnerable families and promote long-term resilience.

Cllr Andrew Last – Cabinet Member for HR & Corporate Services.
Andrew fell for Brackley and its surrounding countryside while serving at RAF Greatworth. Leaving the RAF, Andrew returned to the area with his wife, and family. With a successful career in Information Technology, Cyber Security and Project Management, Andrew brings a wealth of expertise to the table and an ability to cultivate relationships with stakeholders at all levels will be invaluable in representing the interests of residents and ensuring their voices are heard.

Cllr John Slope –  Cabinet Member for Finance.
John moved to the West Northants when he was four, initially living in Duston and then Moulton for over 40 years. His extensive career in the sales and logistics sectors included managing operations and running his own logistics consultancy, with strong financial knowledge. John is looking forward to focusing on tackling local government’s ongoing financial challenges and delivering value for money for West Northants residents.

Cllr Laura Couse – Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Public Health & Regulatory Services
Laura has lived in Northampton for over 20 years with a strong background in the health and wellbeing sector, running her own clinical therapy business helping people struggling with lymphoedema and lipoedema.   She has also worked previously as a live-in carer providing palliative care, and also runs a local support group for people with lymphoedema and lipoedema. Laura is passionate about working to bridge the gaps in health and wellbeing services and further developing community and health cross working.

Cllr Richard Butler  – Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport.
Brackley born and raised, Richard has served as a town councillor for 10 years and looks forward to his new role representing residents on WNC. He has more than 50 years experience in transport sectors including the motor industry and container shipping, as well as sales and business acquisition.

Cllr Nigel Stansfield –  Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste
Father-of-three Nigel lives in Spinney Hill and has been a West Northants residents for over 35 years. He has previously served on Grange Park parish Council for 10 years and has a particular interest in environmental affairs, planning to focus in his remit at WNC on tackling issues like littering, flytipping and graffiti and encouraging a pride of place ethos within local communities.

Cllr Thomas Manning  – Cabinet Member for Planning and Communities.
Thomas is Northampton born and raised, having also studied at Moulton College and the University of Northampton. For the past 18 years he has worked on housing, commercial and infrastructure projects from the planning stages through to completion.

Cllr Charlie Hastie –  Cabinet Member for Housing
Charlie lives in Moreton Pinkney having returned to West Northants 12 years ago having lived abroad in places including the USA and Canada, where he holds dual citizenship. Currently self-employed in the sports branding sector, his extensive career includes a City background and working in the Metropolitan Police. Charlie is particularly passionate about ending homelessness and making sure housing, planning and welfare services work together so there is an effective safety net for the most vulnerable within our communities.