New East Northants Council chairman virtually appointed

The pandemic crisis has forced another first, as East Northants Council welcomed its new and last ever chairman, by virtual methods.

Cllr Helen Howell, who represents the Stanwick Ward, is the newly appointed chairman and fellow councillor Cllr David Brackenbury was appointed as vice chair.

Cllr Howell was welcomed at the annual council meeting which was held online via Zoom on Wednesday, May 13.

The councillor will remain in role until the end of the council’s life in April 2021, when it is set to be replaced by a new unitary authority, and will be supported by consort Lee Wilkes.

She said: “Since I first became a councillor for ENC, I have always felt part of something special, I have met so many wonderful people and hope to continue to do so over my year as chairman.

“As we enter our final year, we must make it special – East Northamptonshire Council deserves to go out with a fanfare and when we are able to celebrate the district and the people who live in the communities within it, we must do so.”

Current lockdown measures mean the chair’s diary is quite empty at the moment, but once life begins to return to its more normal state, Cllr Howell says she will be organising a variety of events to raise funds for her chosen charity East Northants First Responders, a group of volunteers who live in the district and are trained by East Midlands Ambulance Service to respond in emergency situations.

To find out what the Chairman is up to, visit www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/chairmansdiary and/or follow her on Twitter @ENCChairman