New mayor of Corby and first ever leader of new town council elected

The first leader of Corby’s new town council has been named as Councillor Matt Keane

Cllr Keane, seen as a steadying influence among local party members, was elected to lead the new authority at the town council’s first ever annual general meeting at the Corby Cube last night (Tuesday, May 18).

Cllr Keane served on Corby Borough Council for several years and is also the representative for Corby’s west ward on North Northamptonshire Council.

He said: “It’s an honour to be elected the first town council leader. We have loads to learn and to do and we want to talk to the town’s people on how we can support them.”

Councillor Lawrence Ferguson was elected the first town mayor. Cllr Ferguson was the last borough mayor and also served as a Corby councillor. His grandfather John Wood-Cowling was also a Corby mayor and a former steelworker.

He said: “I was mayor through most of the Covid 19 lockdown so could not meet up with local groups or carry out charity work .

“I want to set up a new Towns Charity Committee and hopefully get along to local events and show support where ever I can.”

It was agreed by the council’s 17 members to move some of the meetings into local community centres to get closer to the public they represent.

It was also agreed to transfer the old Corby Borough Council coat of arms to the town council. The new council will be based in an office on the fourth floor of the Cube for at least the next five years.

All the town councillors, elected at the polls earlier this month, are Labour members.