'One of a kind' unitary council boss to leave

Anna Earnshaw joined Northamptonshire County Council in 2016

A council chief executive described by the authority's leader as "one of a kind" has announced she is leaving.

Anna Earnshaw was the first chief officer of West Northamptonshire Council when it was established in 2021.

She will depart from the Reform UK-controlled authority later this year.

Ms Earnshaw said the decision to leave had been "difficult" but "the time is now right".

Anna Earnshaw came to West Northamptonshire Council from the outsourcing company, Capita, where she managed partnerships with local authorities.

She joined Northamptonshire County Council in 2016 and became its deputy chief executive in 2020.

At the time, the council was effectively going bankrupt and central government decided to abolish the authority and seven other councils across Northamptonshire.

Ms Earnshaw was chosen to be chief executive of the new West Northamptonshire Council - the fifth largest unitary in the country - which was under Conservative control until Reform UK took over the reins in May.

Anna Earnshaw acted as returning officer for West Northamptonshire's elections

She said: "It has been an absolute privilege serving west Northamptonshire's communities and I'm extremely proud of everything we have achieved together.

"Having made my decision to leave on a personal level some time ago, it was important to me to support our new administration through their first months in office."

She added that leaving behind "dedicated" council colleagues had made her decision to leave "so difficult" but "the time is now right personally for me to do new things".

Council leader Mark Arnull said Ms Earnshaw was a dedicated public servant

The leader of the council, Mark Arnull, said: "Anna really is one of a kind in local government and an excellent, dedicated public servant."

The leader of the Conservative opposition, Dan Lister, said: "She has been a hardworking and highly capable chief executive, respected by members and officers alike."

Labour group leader Sally Keeble said Ms Earnshaw had seen the authority through difficult times

Sally Keeble, the leader of the Labour group, said Ms Earnshaw had seen the authority "through from its earliest, shadow days, and through unprecedented financial and political upheavals, with great skill. "

For the Liberal Democrat group, Jonathan Harris said Ms Earnshaw's departure was the second senior-level resignation by a women since May's election, coming after the departure of assistant chief executive Rebecca Purnell in July.

He added: "Now, the council faces a period of uncertainty along with an inexperienced administration.

"Anna has played a pivotal role in supporting the council through its transition to a unitary authority."