Meeting called for over local leader
The move has received backing and is set to go ahead
A ‘no confidence’ motion has been put forward by a West Northamptonshire opposition group, indicating dwindling support for the leader amidst allegations made against him.
Independent Cllr Ian McCord has written to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to request an extraordinary meeting, whereby the agenda will contain a single item asking members to vote on their confidence in the leader, Jonathan Nunn. The council has confirmed that arrangements are underway to schedule the meeting.
This comes after opposition members called for him to reconsider his position last week, in light of an article published on April 10 by current affairs news magazine Private Eye containing domestic violence allegations.
Speaking previously, Cllr Nunn said that the accusations of abuse against him are “unfounded” and that he has had to contact the police himself over a “campaign of harassment”. WNC added that domestic abuse is “never acceptable”, but that it cannot make a judgement or investigate based on “hearsay”.
The next full council meeting in West Northants is set to take place in more than a month’s time, on May 16. An extraordinary meeting to deal with urgent matters will take place before this, however no date has been finalised.
The council’s monitoring officer may call an extraordinary meeting when suggested by the council, the chair of the council, the executive leader or if any five councillors submit a signed request.
The West Northants Labour Group has confirmed that all members of their executive have supported the no-confidence meeting. In a statement on X (Twitter), they said they had waited for Northampton Conservatives to do “the right thing and remove him themselves”, but that it seems the opposition parties “have to instead”.
A majority of councillors would need to vote in favour of the motion for the no-confidence decision to pass. There are currently 93 councillors in WNC made up of 63 Conservative members and 30 opposition.
So far, only one Conservative councillor has come forward publicly to withdraw their support for the leader.
A Conservative source has said that Cllr Nunn is a respected friend and colleague to many and still has the support of the group on paper, but that it would be unfair to put the group through a “toxic” meeting which could compromise or undermine the party.
A WNC spokesman said: “We have received a request for an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council to be held. Such a meeting may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Council if the request receives the support of any five members of the Council.
“The request to the Chairman has been supported by seven members of the Council and therefore arrangements are under way to schedule an extraordinary meeting, the date and details of which will be publicised shortly once finalised.”
The council says further information on the forthcoming meeting will be issued. Jonathan Nunn has been contacted for comment.