Latest news with #MarkArnull
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
West Northants Reform UK council targets potholes and fly-tipping
A newly appointed council leader has outlined priorities for his administration, focusing on potholes, fly-tipping and local government Arnull was elected as leader of Reform UK-run West Northamptonshire Council on 14 May, following his party's strong showing in the local UK won 42 of the 76 available seats, securing control of the local to BBC Radio Northampton, Arnull said: "Our priorities are potholes, fly-tipping, and how money is spent in local government." Arnull, who joined Reform UK in November 2024 after leaving the Conservative Party, said he had "lost enthusiasm for what [the Conservatives] were doing" and felt they failed to support small businesses. He said the local authority's focus would now be "a very visible kind of local politics", promising that councillors would regularly engage with communities to ensure they were seen and pothole repairs, Arnull said: "We're going to look at [pothole repair] contracts... and see if there's value for money. It's not going to be a quick fix - there are huge problems."He also vowed action on fly-tipping and a review of council spending. The new administration will also undertake a review of council spending and reaffirmed that it would not adopt diversity and inclusion (DI) training."We believe all people should be treated equally and you don't need DI training to do that," Arnull public sector union Unison has criticised the decision, warning it could negatively impact public services and community Roberts, Unison's East Midlands head of local government, said: "Refusing diversity training shows a complete lack of willingness to understand and represent the communities [the council] serve."Following criticism of two councillors for social media posts, Arnull added: "[Councillors] are briefed on professional standards in public life... the focus of my administration is absolutely on diplomacy and statecraft and getting it right."On climate change issues, he said the council would be examining local initiatives: "That's quite a tricky subject. I'm looking at local net zero issues at the moment."He added the success of the new administration would be measured by public engagement and visibility. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform UK refuse diversity training at Northamptonshire council
A Reform UK council leader has confirmed that his group will not take part in diversity or climate training as part of their new roles as elected Arnull, a Reform UK councillor, was appointed as the leader of West Northamptonshire Council on told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "As it stands, I will stand with the policy and the councillors on the Reform group will not be attending the training."The move comes after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted on social media that newly elected councillors would boycott the training stating that "all people should be treated equally". Reform UK has political control of West Northamptonshire Council after winning 42 seats out of the 76 elected in the recent local to the authority's equality, diversity and inclusion policy, the council said it was "committed to advancing equality of opportunity" and "eliminating discrimination, harassment and victimisation".It said the responsibility of ensuring there was no unlawful discrimination rested with staff and that all members must comply with the policy and said: "The councillors in West Northamptonshire Council are waiting for their briefs from the democratic services team." He confirmed that his administration would only fly flags of the St George's Cross and the Union Jack and have the council emblem only on local authority authority has also proposed to reduce remote working for council staff. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the party's key policies going forward would focus on "what local people said" on their doorsteps. "We're going to address the issues that we said by meeting with the officers and executives at the earliest opportunity and we'll look at what we can do," Arnull and his new cabinet are expected to attend their first public meeting as a senior decision-making panel at One Angel Square in Northampton in June. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform UK council leader stands by Northamptonshire councillors over X posts
The Reform UK leader of West Northamptonshire Council has stood by two councillors criticised for posts on social elected Ivan Dabbs was criticised by an MP for "disrespectful" comments online about King Charles III, while Ron Firman came under fire for posts made in 2017 and Arnull, who was appointed leader last week, said he was "looking forward to them joining the administration".Reform UK took political control of the authority after winning 42 seats in the recent local elections. Dabbs, elected for Reform in Deanshanger and Paulerspury, made comments on X about the king and monarchy - the tweet received several reposts from Britain MP for Northampton South Mike Reader said the councillor had "repeatedly disrespected the King, our monarchy, and country".Arnull said that Dabbs "got quite close to the line, but I don't believe he did cross the line". 'Happy to have them' Firman also came under fire for old tweets that were called offensive, sexist and racist. At the time, he was reminded of the code of conduct by East Hunsbury Parish Council, where he sat as a said: "The information on [Mr Firman] was in the public domain and he was duly elected."He added he had "spoken to" both councillors and he was "happy to have them as part of my administration".Since the elections, the council is now made up of 42 Reform councillors, 17 Conservatives, nine Labour, six Liberal Democrats and two Independent Tories had been in control of the council since the first elections for the authority in 2021, but lost control to reform in the elections earlier this month. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council controlled by Reform UK meets for first time
Newly elected councillors on a Reform-led council have come together for the first time at the authority's annual meeting. Most of the 76 councillors attended the meeting at the Guildhall in Northampton to approve the new leader of West Northamptonshire Council, as well as appoint other positions and make committee arrangements. Reform UK has political control of the council after winning 42 seats in the recent local elections. Mark Arnull, the new leader of the council said: We will put local politics back in the control of the local people." The new political make-up of West Northamptonshire Council is 42 Reform councillors, 17 Conservatives, nine Labour, six Liberal Democrats - and two Independent councillors. The Tories had been in control of the council since the first elections for the authority in 2021, but lost 35 seats and with 17 seats make up the largest opposition group. Dan Lister, the Conservatives group leader, told the meeting: "We will engage constructively when your initiatives show tangible benefit, but we will oppose any measures that risk fiscal imprudence, undermine essential services or favour short term gain over long term stability." Labour came third in the election in May after dropping nine seats and holding nine. Sally Keeble, the group leader, told the meeting Labour would not support the appointment of the leader, adding: "Normally with a party leader comes a party manifesto in this instance it has not been forthcoming. "We the council members, the electorate and I suspect the officers have not seen the detail of how Reform intends to run West Northamptonshire what its policies are for the services that are so important to the wellbeing of everyone who lives here." The Liberal Democrats gained two seats - increasing their councillors to six. Group leader Jonathan Harris reminded councillors of their duty to uphold laws including the Equality Act 2010. "This duty requires councils to eliminate discrimination, advance equality and foster good relations this is a legal requirement," he said. "Weaponising difference, demonising diversity and scapegoating the other is deeply destructive and will be called out." The appointment of Arnull as leader of the council was carried by 39 votes for and 31 abstaining. "I do have a manifesto in the form of a contract with the people which is available on the Reform UK website," he told the meeting. He said his party would "put local politics back in control of local people". "My team will be very visible on the doorstep, we'll bring a new approach to politics that hasn't been seen round this area for a very long time. "I look forward to delivering a formidable government." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Reform UK councillor 'honoured' to lead authority Reform UK take control of two Northants councils Reform seize control of two Northamptonshire councils West Northamptonshire Council
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Council controlled by Reform UK meets for first time
Newly elected councillors on a Reform-led council have come together for the first time at the authority's annual meeting. Most of the 76 councillors attended the meeting at the Guildhall in Northampton to approve the new leader of West Northamptonshire Council, as well as appoint other positions and make committee UK has political control of the council after winning 42 seats in the recent local Arnull, the new leader of the council said: We will put local politics back in the control of the local people." The new political make-up of West Northamptonshire Council is 42 Reform councillors, 17 Conservatives, nine Labour, six Liberal Democrats - and two Independent Tories had been in control of the council since the first elections for the authority in 2021, but lost 35 seats and with 17 seats make up the largest opposition Lister, the Conservatives group leader, told the meeting: "We will engage constructively when your initiatives show tangible benefit, but we will oppose any measures that risk fiscal imprudence, undermine essential services or favour short term gain over long term stability."Labour came third in the election in May after dropping nine seats and holding Keeble, the group leader, told the meeting Labour would not support the appointment of the leader, adding: "Normally with a party leader comes a party manifesto in this instance it has not been forthcoming."We the council members, the electorate and I suspect the officers have not seen the detail of how Reform intends to run West Northamptonshire what its policies are for the services that are so important to the wellbeing of everyone who lives here."The Liberal Democrats gained two seats - increasing their councillors to leader Jonathan Harris reminded councillors of their duty to uphold laws including the Equality Act 2010."This duty requires councils to eliminate discrimination, advance equality and foster good relations this is a legal requirement," he said. "Weaponising difference, demonising diversity and scapegoating the other is deeply destructive and will be called out." The appointment of Arnull as leader of the council was carried by 39 votes for and 31 abstaining."I do have a manifesto in the form of a contract with the people which is available on the Reform UK website," he told the said his party would "put local politics back in control of local people"."My team will be very visible on the doorstep, we'll bring a new approach to politics that hasn't been seen round this area for a very long time."I look forward to delivering a formidable government." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
