Tributes paid to ‘brilliant’ and ‘formidable’ North Northamptonshire councillor who has stepped down due to ill health

Conservative member Chris Smith-Haynes has ended her long career in local politics, most recently representing the people of Burton and Broughton on the unitary council.

Her dismissal was automatically triggered as she did not attend any meetings over the past six months and a by-election has now been declared in her ward.

Speaking at full council (Thursday, August 29), leader of North Northants Council (NNC) Jason Smithers said: “I would just like to thank Chris Smith-Haynes for her years of dedication to local government.

"I’m sure some of my colleagues across there know her from her county council days, she was a formidable figure.

“I know she will be disappointed to step down. It’s sad that unfortunately health sometimes gets the better of us and I wish her all the very best in her retirement.

“This council will be a more sorry place without her being here, I’m afraid.”

Reading from words given to him by Ms Smith-Haynes, Cllr Smithers told the chamber she was ‘very sad’ to leave NNC but was ‘unable to undertake her duties’ and decided it was best to let someone else ‘take over the great work that she’s done’.

Labour Cllr John McGhee also spoke of his appreciation for her work: “Cllr Chirs Smith-Haynes was a brilliant councillor.

“Her heart was in it - and I can’t say that for all the councillors I have known in a lot of parties.

"But her heart was in it, she loved what she did, she loved the communities and above all she loved helping children, especially children in care.

“I thought she was an absolute asset to this council.”

Independent Cllr Jim Hakewill also congratulated Ms Smith-Haynes for her years of service at Kettering Borough Council, saying he would be ‘sad to see her go’.

Following her departure, chairman of Kettering Conservatives Cllr Mark Rowley said: “Chris was well-respected by her fellow councillors and was always passionate about representing her constituents.

"She will be missed and I wish her well in her retirement.”

Cllr Ash Davies added: “Chris has given many years of dedicated public service to the people of Kettering, Broughton, Burton Latimer and Pytchley.

"The praise she received from councillors across party lines at last week’s full council meeting shows how respected she was and I wish her well for the future."

A notice of vacancy for Burton and Broughton has since been published on North Northamptonshire Council’s website.

The seat must be filled within 35 working days meaning a by-election will be held before the end of October.

The newly elected member will be joining Conservative councillors Jan O’Hara and John Currall who are currently representing Burton and Broughton.

The next set of scheduled local government elections will be held in less than a year in May 2025.

More information on the forthcoming by-election will be published in due course on the NNC website.