Council makes £20m of 'efficiency savings' in a year

The leader of a Reform-controlled council says his authority has made savings of £20m in the last 12 months.

Martin Griffiths, who leads North Northamptonshire Council, was speaking to BBC Radio Northampton's Annabel Amos after setting his first council budget since taking control of the council last May.

A budget of £432.5m was approved last month for the 2026/27 financial year, to fund day-to-day services.

Referencing the government department that advises the American president on waste cutting and federal spending, Griffiths said: "There's no DOGE here, but efficiency savings is what this council does, day in day out."

The council has budgeted to spend £18m in 2026/27 on road repairs - but Griffiths says: "It is not enough."

"If we had £200m and we went and repaired all the potholes in North Northamptonshire by the time we did it, there would be 60% additional ones that came up," he said.

"This wet, early start to this year has caused a huge increase in the number of road defects."

The leader addressed the concerns raised about the proposed sale of Jackson's Lane car park in Wellingborough after North Northamptonshire Council approved plans to earmark the site for disposal on 19 February.

"I said when I took over as leader that we would take those tough decisions that the previous administration chose not to take, and one of those is to find a long-term solution to this site but we will retain car parking in this location," he said.

"All we're doing is marketing this site and let's see what comes forward, and if it doesn't deliver our ambition for Wellingborough, if it doesn't deliver sufficient car parking for that part of town then we will not go ahead with it, it's as simple as that.

"And when we've got something to consult on, we will consult on it."

According to the council, Jackson's Lane car park has been underutilised for several years.

An extraordinary meeting of Wellingborough Town Council was due to take place on 3 March to discuss the proposed sale.

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