Stalwart Wellingborough councillor steps down from NNC executive role
A long-serving Wellingborough councillor has stepped down from North Northants Council’s executive due to health issues.
Cllr Ken Harrington, who respresents Hatton Park, had until today (Tuesday, September 15) been the council’s executive member for assets, waste and environmental services.
Elected to Wellingborough Council in 1995, to represent the Conservative Party, in December 2024 he defected to Reform UK.
A spokesman for North Northants Council (NNC) said: “Councillor Ken Harrington, who has been the council’s executive member for assets, waste and environmental services, has made the difficult decision to step down from the executive due to health concerns and to spend more time with his family.”
Cllr Harrington will remain a councillor on NNC, with his responsibilities split between colleagues.
The spokesman added: “In order to ensure the council remains focused on delivering its ambitious plans for the future, the leader of the council (Cllr Martin Griffiths) has reviewed the responsibilities of the executive members and these will be spread across the existing executive member portfolios.”
– Cllr Graham Cheatley, the executive member for finance, efficiency and change will take on responsibility for assets. Cllr Cheatley is also deputy leader of the council
– Cllr Chris McGiffen, executive member for highways and travel, will take on responsibility for waste, environmental services and country parks
– Cllr Kirk Harrison, executive member for regulatory services, will take on responsibility for climate and sustainability and corporate enforcement
– Cllr Greg Wilcox’s title will change to executive member for communities and rural affairs to better reflect his duties and responsibilities
Describing Cllr Harrington as a ‘fighter,’ Cllr Martin Griffiths wished his colleague well.
He said: “Ken has been an executive member from the very start of this administration and has worked extremely hard to help make North Northamptonshire a great place for our residents.
“I would like to thank him for his enormous contribution and I’m delighted that he will continue to represent the people of Hatton ward in Wellingborough.
“Ken is a fighter and we wish him well.”