A guide to Northamptonshire's local elections 2025

This year's elections take place on Thursday, 1 May, and all the seats on both of the county's unitary councils are up for grabs.

It is only the second time voters have had a chance to elect members to North and West Northamptonshire councils.

The authorities began operating in April 2021, replacing the scrapped Northamptonshire County Council and the seven district and borough councils.

A review of boundaries has led to a reduction in councillors for both authorities.

Who is currently in control?

North Northamptonshire Council operates from Corby Cube

Four years ago, voters elected 93 councillors in West Northamptonshire and 78 to represent North Northamptonshire.

The Conservatives won control of both councils with the party claiming 60 of 78 seats in North Northamptonshire and 66 of 93 seats in West Northamptonshire.

The numbers have slightly changed over the past four years due to by-elections over both districts, resignations and defections.

North Northamptonshire Council currently has 50 Conservatives, 16 Labour, four Reform UK members, three Greens and three Independents.

At West Northamptonshire Council, there are currently 59 Conservatives, 20 Labour, six Liberal Democrats, four non-aligned Independents and three Independent group members.

How many seats are up for grabs?

West Northamptonshire Council headquarters are at One Angel Square in Northampton

In North Northamptonshire, the number of elected councillors has been reduced from 78 to 68 after a series of changes to ward boundaries and the creation of some entirely new seats.

In the last set of local elections, voters chose three councillors to represent each of the 26 electoral wards. This year, changes have been made to reflect the size of each ward.

There will also be an extra five wards added to the mix.

In total, 12 wards will still have three councillors, 13 will have two councillors, and six will have just one representative.

In West Northamptonshire, the number of elected councillors has been reduced from 93 to 76.

In the last set of local elections, voters chose three councillors to represent each of the 31 wards.

This year, there will be four extra wards, and changes have been made to reflect the size of each ward.

In total, 13 wards will have three councillors, 15 wards will have two councillors and seven will have just one ward councillor.

What services does the council oversee?

West Northamptonshire Council meetings are held at the Guildhall in Northampton

Under the unitary authority model, almost all council services are provided by the one council in a district.

The councils are responsible for a range of services including social services, care for older and disabled people, fixing potholes, collecting rubbish and recycling or landfill sites, housing, education and planning permission.

North Northamptonshire Council's overall revenue budget for 2025-26 is £400.8m, excluding the Dedicated Schools Grant.

West Northamptonshire Council's revenue budget for the next financial year stands at £431.8m, excluding the Dedicated Schools Grant.

What to look out for politically in the election

The Conservatives, until recently, had dominated for several years.

However, last year, the once-blue county turned predominantly red in the general election, with Labour taking five of the seven parliamentary constituencies.

The party also won the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner election last May.

The Tories will be hoping to retain control of both unitary authorities.

Labour is the second largest group on both councils and the party would hope to be the largest after polling day. But there might be a backlash to some of the policies introduced by the government that might have an impact locally.

The Liberal Democrat group has six members at West Northamptonshire but no presence at North Northamptonshire. Last year the party won a seat from the Conservatives in a by-election and they'll be looking to build on that.

Reform UK has four councillors in North Northamptonshire - all from politicians defecting to the party from the Conservatives or Independents. It is expected the party will have candidates standing in most of the council seats up for grabs across the country and they will be hoping to increase their share of seats here.

The Green Party secured its highest number of elected councillors at the local council elections last year. The party has three councillors on North Northamptonshire.

Both councils have several Independent councillors and again in local elections last year there was an increase in these members across the country.

What are the big issues?

One of the signs put up during an anti-pothole campaign in Daventry

Across the county and the country, the problem of potholes is one that really gets people talking.

Last year the state of Daventry's roads, covered by West Northamptonshire, was talked about on national radio, provoked a political row and it even inspired a baker to create a pothole pastry.

There have been protests and campaign groups set up in both West and North Northamptonshire over special educational needs provision.

With an ageing population, adult social care accounts for a huge proportion of both councils' budgets.

Another big issue is around planning - whether that is for new wind or solar farms or warehouses for the logistics industry.

Much of Northamptonshire sits in the so-called Golden Logistics Triangle and over the last four years both councils have dealt with several applications for warehouses.

When will we know the result and where and when are the counts taking place?

The last count for North Northamptonshire Council took place at Kettering Leisure Village during the Covid pandemic

The results of the North and West Northamptonshire council elections will be announced the day after polls close, on Friday, 2 May.

The count for North Northamptonshire is taking place at Kettering Leisure Village, where it was held in 2021.

For West Northamptonshire, it is at Benham Sports Centre in Northampton.

How do you register to vote?

To vote in person, you must be on the electoral register by 23:59 BST on Friday, 11 April.

You can register online with your National Insurance number, or by writing to your council's electoral registration office.

If you are already registered, the deadline to request a postal vote is 17:00 BST on Monday, 14 April.

If you are already registered, the deadline to apply for a proxy vote (someone else voting on your behalf) is 17:00 BST on Wednesday, 23 April.

The rules about postal voting have changed, and you now need to reapply every three years. Any postal vote which was set up before 31 October 2023 will expire on 31 January 2026.

The proxy rules have also changed. Proxy votes in place before 31 October 2023 have already expired, and you must apply for a new one.

• Electoral Commission: Register to vote

• Find your polling station