A teenager has been assaulted in the driveway and car park outside a Daventry village doctors' surgery.

The assault, involving a group of young people, happened between 3.30pm and 3.50pm on Monday, June 4 in West Haddon Road, Guilsborough.

The incident was not related to the surgery.

Northamptonshire Police are asking anyone who was attending the surgery or was in West Haddon Road around the time of the assault and who may have seen the group or witnessed the incident, to contact police.

Anyone with information is being asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The marketing team at Northamptonshire County Council has picked up three national awards for a campaign to recruit foster carers and for its handling of the recent financial crisis.

But due to the extreme financial situation at the county authority, staff paid for the rail fares to the gala dinner in London out of their own pockets and the awards organisers waived the ticket fee.

The team won integrated communications campaign of the year at the UK Public Sector Communications Awards and campaign product of the year for their 1,000 shoes campaign. The campaign, which was the brainchild of a long-serving Northamptonshire foster carer, used shoes to create a banner appealing for new fosters.

The PR team also won crisis communications campaign of the year for the handling of the crisis when the authority went into financial meltdown earlier this year.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire County Council said: “The UK Public Sector Communications Awards were free to enter with team members spending their own free time at evenings and weekends putting award entries together.

“The entry for the crisis communications award was to reflect the hard work of team members in communicating what was one of the most significant events in local government in two decades.

“Part of this was based on feedback from the media.

“Two tickets were given to the team free of charge by the award organisers. This is because the team had won three awards but could not afford to attend.

“Not a penny of taxpayers’ money was spent on attending the awards with staff paying out of their own pockets. No claims will be made for this cost either.”

A spokesman for Don’t Panic, which co-organised the award, said the pr team were ‘clear winners’ for the crisis management award.

“The judges commented that this was an incredibly proactive campaign, which was open and honest.

“They were impressed by the robust and model response to the financial crisis and felt that they were clear winners for this award.”

All 21 Northamptonshire libraries earmarked for closure will shut their doors at the end of September and some will only re-open if top conservative councillors running the financially-troubled authority decide.

A report released by the county council today (Wednesday) has revealed that despite leading campaigners to believe the libraries were safe until after a judicial review, the authority is now going to bring down the shutters on all of the threatened libraries on September 30.

17 have had bids from community groups to take over their running and a panel of top local tories will make a decision on August 1 whether the bids are successful.

However even libraries that are ‘saved’ will close for an unknown period of time.

A report on the libraries to be considered by the NCC cabinet next week says: “The legal process for transferring the freehold or leasehold for each library to the independent library group is complex and individual to each property, as there are unique issues that need to be addressed.

“This means that it is unlikely that transfer will take place by 30th September for any of the libraries.

“Dependent on the nature of the issues which need to be addressed it may take a much longer period.

“This means that it is likely there will be a period of time where libraries will be closed with no service available until the independent library starts to operate.”

The news has caused outrage among councillors who say this wasn’t what was decided at a full council meeting last week.

A motion proposed by Lib Dem county councillor Chris Stanbra to put the closures on hold until after a judicial review was amended by Cllr Dudley Hughes and said that no ‘permanent closures’ would take place until after the judicial review.

Cllr Stanbra, who is part of the bid to keep the library in Danesholme, Corby, running said: “This is not what the campaigners were expecting nor the groups who are offering to take over the running.

“It is completely unacceptable.

“It just demonstrates the lack of commitment by the Conservatives to keeping the libraries open.”

Labour county councillor Mick Scrimshaw said: “This is diabolical.

“If you close a shop for three months and go on holiday when you come back you don’t have any customers.”

Newly independent councillor Jim Hakewill, who is campaigning to keep Rothwell library open, said: “We were told that nothing would happen until after the judicial review had taken place.

“It is incredibly disheartening that we are now in the position of having a cabinet report that will be devastating to all the hard-working library friends.”

The many groups that use the libraries for their base will now have to find alternative accommodation.

The community library groups are being asked for thousands of pounds by the authority to either buy or lease the buildings and four libraries have not had any groups able to take them over.

The judicial review will be heard at the high court on July 25 and 26.

Cllr Cecile Irving Swift who looks after libraries,  Cllr Ian Morris and a group of senior officers will decide on a moderation panel which libraries can become independent.

An appeals panel headed by council leader Matt Golby and finance director Mark McLaughlin will take place on August 9.

The closure of the libraries was first proposed last October in a bid to save running costs.

The authority has been accused of trying to sell off the libraries for profit and stands to make £3.25m if it sells the 12 libraries that it owns.

Council staff co-ordinating the libraries review received strong criticism from councillors across all parties at last week’s full council meeting.

They were reproached for treating the volunteers who are offering to take over the libraries badly by communicating poorly and asking too complex questions in the business proposal.

The libraries closing on September 30 are: Abington, Danesholme, Deanshanger, Desborough, Earls Barton, Far Cotton, Finedon, Higham Ferrers, Irchester, Kingsthorpe, Long Buckby, Middleton Cheney, Moulton, Raunds, Roade, Rothwell, St James, Thrapston, Wollaston, Woodford Halse and Wootton Fields.

Upper Boddington residents are enjoying the fruits of their labours this summer in the village’s own community field.

The Jubilee Field is flourishing with wild flowers, a grass maze, orchard and a willow tunnel and is home to all kinds of insects and wild animals.

The primary school uses the field as its forest school.

Villagers campaigning to save the area from future development have welcomed a report by the Fields in Trust charity claiming loss of green spaces can damage health.

It says people who use green spaces are more likely to be healthier and visit their GP less, saving the NHS money.

Fields in Trust head Helen Griffiths, said: “The research confirms that any decision by a public body to remove a green space is completely short-sighted.”

Friends of Jubilee Field Society have been campaigning to save the 3.5 acre site and have raised £62,000 of a £75,000 target to make a bid for the land. Spokesman Debbie Turner said: “Seventy volunteers have worked on the field since it was purchased by Boddington Parish Council in 2012 and wildlife, wild flowers and tree saplings are thriving.”

Jubilee Field was registered as an Asset of Community Value last year. The parish council appealed but the decision was upheld by South Northants Council.

In November the parish council announced a wish to ‘dispose’ of the field under legislation governing an Asset of Community Value which gives community groups six months to raise funds to bid for land or property under threat.

To make a donation go to www.friendsofjubileefield.org, contact join@friendsofjubileefield.org or call Linda Barron on 01327 260211.

A Daventry village football club wants to restore its youth teams and has appealed for coaches and staff as part of a recruitment drive.

A new committee took over Woodford Halse Sports and Community Club from the previous chairman in March 2017 and with it, it acquired the £12,000 debt, which the incumbents cleared by August 2017.

The club has since transformed and now boasts of four football pitches (one floodlit), a bowls green, a cricket pitch, an astroturf pitch, an adventure area for children and a clubhouse.

The success means they have been able to spend over £3,000 on updating the clubhouse and future plans are to lay a 4G pitch and new turf for bowls which would accommodate wheelchairs.

Now committee member Allan Haynes wants to restore youth football teams across several age groups and has appealed for helping hands to come forward.

"There used to be age groups all the way through but that's gone for one reason or another.

"We are trying to get that back on and we need people to come and help us.

"If anyone wants to help we will always put them through the right coaching and safeguarding because we're an FA chartered club.

"At the moment we've got 12 coaches and four teams, but we could do with a few more children and people to help us when we're busy."

Currently on the books at the club are eight fully trained first aid staff, seven FA level 1 coaching staff, one UEFA level B trained head of development and the services of a junior coach employed by MK Dons.

The plan is now to introduce U18, U14 and U12 football teams and encourage player development.

The success means the committee has been able to spend over £3,000 on updating the clubhouse and there are plans to lay a 4G pitch and new turf for bowls, which would accommodate wheelchairs.

Allan Haynes: "It's a great turnaround. We upgraded the bar and made it family-friendly and a nice place to go and have a drink.

"It had been popular years ago but because of the way it was run, people decided to stay away.

"It was generally neglected."

The clubhouse, which is open to all, is dog dog-friendly family orientated with children’s games, pool, Sky and BT Sports.

Capable of holding 120 people it is regularly used for private parties with village DJs very often offering their services free of charge.

Members of the public across Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Hertfordshire are being warned over a heightened risk of wildfires following major incidents this week.

ABOVE: WATCH VIDEO AND CLICK GALLERY LINK TO SEE PICTURES FROM FIELD INFERNO IN BUCKS

CLA South East - the membership organisation for owners of land, property and business in rural England and Wales - is calling on the public to be on alert especially on hillsides, moors and heathland as warm, dry, and settled conditions have elevated wildfire conditions across large swathes of the country.

For more than a week fire crews have been tackling blazes including a terrifying incident which required over 100 firefighters to tackle 50ft flames as an inferno took over a 500 sq m field of grassland in Buckinghamshire.

That fire spread to nearby industrial units and the A404 was closed in both directions due to smoke billowing across the road earlier this week but thankfully nobody was hurt in the incident.

Wildfires have the capability to devastate farmland, wildlife and also pose a risk to the lives of people living and working in rural and adjacent communities.

Reducing the risk of wildfires is key at this time of the year, and raising awareness is one way in which the risk can be reduced.

Wildfires can be prevented by not discarding cigarettes or other smoldering material. The same can be said for litter as quite often bottles and shards of glass can spark a fire.

Some CLA members have highlighted the increased fire risk associated with disposable barbeques that are used in the countryside, urging the visiting public not to barbeque in rural areas. Barbeques should only take place in sheltered areas well away from combustible material, and properly extinguished afterwards.

The CLA has also long called for the ban on sky lanterns as these pose a serious risk of fire, especially in the countryside. At present the Government is unwilling to introduce a ban as they do not consider the dangers significant enough, despite animal deaths and fires as a result of sky lanterns.

Regional director for CLA, Robin Edwards, said: “We have witnessed the devastating impacts of the recent fires, both on communities as well as scarring the landscape and destroying wildlife, and we appeal to the public to be extra vigilant when out and about in the countryside.”

Rob Gazzard, chairman of the South East England Wildfire Group, said: “If you find a wildfire, do four things.

“First get to a place of safety, then dial 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service.

“Tell fire control about the location of the fire, its size and any other relevant information.

“Finally meet the fire and rescue service at a pre-arranged entrance point, direct them to the fire and be on hand to provide other information. Be #wildfireaware.”

For more information about the CLA and its work, visit www.cla.org.uk and follow @CLASouthEast on Twitter.

Earlier on today AA Traffic reported that the A5 was shut both ways between the A45 in Weedon Bec and the A43 Towcester Bypass following a fire, which made a telegraph pole and live wires collapse and land in the road.

Highways England has now confirmed that the road has re-opened and there is no delays.

Mr Adderley, who is currently the assistant chief constable for Staffordshire Police, was selected as Police and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold’s preferred candidate after what he described as a ‘thorough’ and ‘open’ interview process.

He will be officially appointed once the panel have written to Mr Mold, and he will then notify them of his appointment.

Speaking to members of the panel at County Hall in Northamptonshire this afternoon, Mr Adderley said: “This is a proud force and it’s a privilege. When I came down to do some field work, what I felt was a force crying out for some leadership and a consistent message. I had to be clear that it was something that I could offer. The force wants to make Northamptonshire safer and I firmly believe the skills I have can help us to do that.”

Mr Adderley joined the police after a previous career in the Royal Navy and a two-year stint at the Home Office, and has since worked at Greater Manchester Police.

Asked how he would ensure the force will communicate effectively with the community under his watch, he said: “I have to lead by example, people will take their lead from the top.

“I will go out and meet with the public. I like nothing more than looking people in the eye and seeing their emotions, and in turn I’m sure they want to see the passion I have to make this a safer place to live.”

Commissioner Mold, after seeing councillors on the panel approve his choice, said: “I hope you can see why it was not a difficult decision for me.”

Should all procedure be completed, Mr Adderley will formally begin his new role in October, when current chief constable Simon Edens will retire after three years in the role and 37 years as a police officer.

Plans for a new waste treatment centre in Northamptonshire are back on the agenda with county councillors due to vote next week on whether to move ahead with a business case.

Officers are recommending that councillors at Northamptonshire County Council move quickly to commission a business plan for a waste treatment centre and also seek financial assistance from the county’s seven district and borough councils to create a long-term strategy.

Currently all waste is collected by the boroughs and districts, and NCC then transports it to neighbouring counties to be disposed of.

In a report to go before next Tuesday’s cabinet meeting (July 10) the authority’s waste management manager Fiona Unett says that as reducing waste disposal capacity across the UK is leading to increasing costs, a new treatment centre in the county needs to be considered.

But it will be a costly business with £500,000 needed to employ a team of technical, financial and legal advisors to develop a strategy.

The report states: “We are recommending that a strategic business case for a waste treatment facility for Northamptonshire is developed by a cross-council reference group, initially led by the county council as the current waste disposal authority.

“It is proposed that a technology neutral approach is taken to the long-term solution, considering all waste treatment technologies equally in order to assess the best treatment solutions for Northamptonshire.

“The delivery of a waste treatment facility has a long lead time and therefore we recommend that this work commences at the earliest opportunity to limit exposure to market risk.”

The report says that the costs of the strategy will be kept to a minimum by using internal staff resource where possible.  

NCC also hopes the boroughs and districts will co-fund the consulltant costs.

A total of 17,000 tonnes of waste is disposed of by the county council each year at a cost of about £17m.

It has a contract with Suez to dispose of waste from Daventry and Northampton and the AmeyCespa contract treats and gets rid of waste from the rest of the county.

At the meeting councillors will also be asked to consider extending the current contract arrangements which are due to end in March 2020.

This is due to the planned transition to unitary authorities in May 2020.

Sarah Ward

Local Democracy Reporter

To mark the opening of Ford’s distribution centre in Daventry 50 years ago the motor company threw a party to celebrate.

Mayor of Daventry Cllr Lynn Jones opened the family fun day, which featured vintage cars, Roman military drill demontrations, music from Daventry Brass and a pets cuddle corner.

Supermarket chains including Waitrose, Tesco and Aldi have been forced to remove dozens of items from sale, following an outbreak of listeria.

As reported earlier this week, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned that frozen sweetcorn is the likely source of listeriosis – reportedly leading to nine deaths so far.

Listeriosis is a rare but serious foodborne illness caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. It can be more critical for those people with a weakened immune systems, such as the elderly, pregnant women and infants.

Listeriosis causes vomiting and diarrhoea and usually goes away on its own. However, it can cause serious problems in the elderly, pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems. It can cause serious infections like meningitis and miscarriage.

The FSA released a list of 43 frozen vegetable items that have since been recalled.

Full list of all the recalled products (source: FSA):

Pinguin Frozen Sweetcorn

* Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2020

Pinguin Supersweet Sweetcorn

* Pack size – All

* Batch code – All

* Best before – July 2020

Tesco Frozen Broccoli, Carrot and Sweetcorn Steamer

* Pack size – All

* Batch code – All

* Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Tesco Frozen Every Day Value Sweetcorn

Pack size – All

Batch code – All

Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Ross Mixed Vegetables

*Pack size – 12x450g

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2021

One Stop Frozen Sweetcorn

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Aldi Four Seasons Frozen Vegetable Steamers

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Aldi Frozen Four Seasons Mixed Vegetables

*Pack size - All

*Batch code - All

*Best before - All codes to Jan 2020

Pinguin Sweetcorn

*Pack size – 1×10 kg

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2020

Aldi Four Seasons Supersweet Sweetcorn

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Waitrose Essential Supersweet Sweetcorn

*Pack size – E1kg

*Batch code – All

*Best before – Oct 2019, Nov 2019, Aug 2019

Waitrose Essential Mixed Vegetable

*Pack size – E1kg Batch code – All

*Best before – All up to Dec 2019

Tesco Frozen Mixed Vegetables

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Waitrose Fine Cut Vegetable Steamer

*Pack size – E640g (4x160ge)

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All up to Jan 2020

Waitrose Love Life Vegetable Medley Steamers

*Pack size – E640g (4x160ge)

*Batch code – P6163 P7021 P7080

*Best before – May 2018, Jul 2018, Sep 2018

Sainsbury Frozen Special Mixed Vegetables

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Growers Pride Mixed Vegetables

*Pack size – 12x450g

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2021

Sainsbury Frozen Basic Mixed Vegetables

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Sainsbury Frozen Rice Broccoli and Sweetcorn

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Sainsbury Frozen Mixed Vegetables

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Sainsbury Frozen Carrot Broccoli and Sweetcorn

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Pinguin Supersweet Corn

*Pack size – 1×10 kg

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2020

Lidl Frozen Green Grocer Supersweet Corn

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Tesco Growers Harvest Frozen Mixed Vegetables

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Lidl Frozen Freshona Vegetable Mix

*Pack size – All Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to July 2020

Iceland Frozen Mixed Vegetables

*Pack size – 900g

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to 22 June 2020

Pinguin Frozen Mixed Vegetables

*Pack size – 1×10 kg

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2020

Independent Mix Vegetables

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2019

Ross Mixed Vegetables

*Pack size – 10x1kg

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2020

Pinguin Mixed Vegetable

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2020

Pinguin Frozen Cut Beans

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – NA

*Best before – July 2020

Growers Pride Mixed Vegetables

*Pack size – 12x750g

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2020

Ross Mixed Country Vegetables

*Pack size – 10x1kg

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2020

Growers Pride Supersweet Sweetcorn

*Pack size – 12x750g

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2020

Pinguin frozen Golden Rice and Vegetables

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2020

Growers Pride Supersweet Sweetcorn

*Pack size – 12x450g

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2021

Ross Sweetcorn

*Pack size – 12x450g

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2021

Ross Sweetcorn

*Pack size – 10x1kg

*Batch code – All

*Best before – July 2020

Tesco Frozen Sweetcorn

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

Tesco frozen Mixed Vegetables and Peppers

*Pack size – All

*Batch code – All

*Best before – All codes to Jan 2020

What to do if you have bought one of these products?

The FSA advice states: “If you have bought any of the above products do not eat them. Instead, return the product to the store from where it was bought for a full refund”.

A canalside pub in Braunston that is popular with locals and visitors is being put on the market by its current owners.

Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has brought The Admiral Nelson in Braunston, Daventry to the market.

The pub, recently named one of the 10 best waterside pubs in the UK by The Guardian, is on the banks of the Grand Union Canal and occupies a former farmhouse.

In more recent years the property was owned by Enterprise Inns, until the current owners changed The Admiral Nelson into a free house.

Now looking for a lifestyle change, the current owners, Mark and Pam Davis and Liam Evans, hope to pass on the baton to a new owner who can continue to drive trade forwards.

They said: “After a number of awards during our time at The Admiral Nelson we found the report in The Guardian to be the most surprising and exciting.

"We feel our achievements over the last few years has been a result of all our fantastic staff both past and present and all our most valued customers along the way – so thank you all so very much!”

The freehold of The Admiral Nelson is on the market at an asking price of £550,000.

Joshua Sullivan, business agent at Christie & Co said: "The Admiral Nelson is a classic example of a quintessential canalside inn.

"The sale of the business is an opportunity for an applicant, whether first-time buyer or existing operator, to acquire a unique and profitable business with the benefit of excellent levels of repeat custom.

"There is scope to build upon the existing enterprise through the potential addition of letting accommodation.

We are excited to be marketing this rare opportunity to take on such a quality business."

People living in Northamptonshire are being called on to put forward their views on what the region’s health priorities should be.

NIHR CLAHRC East Midlands, a regional health research organisation tasked with speeding up the adoption of science to the frontline of the NHS, has launched a consultation.

Formed in 2013, it has been given the opportunity to apply for another round of funding from 2019 and wants to gather people’s views on what conditions should be priorities.

The results of the Our Health, Our Way consultation will inform the focus of a multimillion pound application to the National Institute for Health Research, which is the research arm of the NHS, for a new set of studies.

Professor Kamlesh Khunti is the Director of NIHR CLAHRC East Midlands and is also Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester.

He said: “Health research provides us with the opportunity to advance care by allowing us to learn more about conditions and how best to prevent, treat or manage them.

“We have been working to improve the health of the East Midlands since 2013 and have countless successes to shout about.

“It is now time to apply for another round of funding from 2019, which will enable us to continue to our work.

“This is a chance to ask the good people of our region about what matters to them when it comes to healthcare.

“We are applying for an investment which has the opportunity to improve care across the East Midlands and we want to hear people’s ideas and thoughts to help us design new research studies.”

NIHR CLAHRC East Midlands has been helping to prevent type 2 diabetes by embedding a programme in the Loughborough area designed to help people prevent the condition, identifying 2,053 people as being ‘at risk’.

The project entitled Let’s Prevent has provided learning which has been used in the bidding process, refinement and implementation of the National Diabetes Prevention Programme in the East Midlands.

In April, the organisation also continued to support the rollout of a risk score for type 2 diabetes in South Asian languages with the release of a Punjabi version following Gujarati and Bangladeshi versions.

The organisation has been helping lead the Leicester Diabetes Model of Care evaluation, which will be shortly be presented to Clinical Commissioning Groups in Britain as well as health service providers in China and India.

Work carried out by the organisation also includes implementing and assessing an online tool that assists diagnosing children with ADHD, which initial evaluation shows that it can lower NHS costs by 22 per cent and also reduces diagnosis of the condition by average of 145 days.

In another study, an evaluation of an exercise programme to help prevent older people from falling was completed with the results likely to be adopted across the country with initial interest from NHS England amongst others.

Results from completed questionnaires will be collected and will be used to develop ideas for the funding application.

The questionnaire should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

NIHR CLAHRC East Midlands is collaboration of the NHS, universities, patients and industry, which sets out to improve patient outcomes by conducting research of local relevance and international quality.

To take part, visit http://bit.ly/OurHealthOurWaySurvey.

A long-serving borough and county councillor is warning that moving to a unitary system will mean services currently provided and protected by the boroughs and districts could come under threat.

Kettering councillor Mick Scrimshaw has issued a warning to residents that services like bin collections, grass collections, parks and community grants could suffer cuts under a unitary system as the massive debt built up by Northamptonshire County Council will still remain and the gap in social care funding will still need to be plugged.

Central government has ordered all of the eight councils in the county to put together a joint bid by the end of August for two unitary councils to replace the current two tier system. The proposal is that the long-standing boroughs and districts will be scrapped in May 2020 and replaced by a unitary authority in the west and one in the north.

A public consultation called Future Northants is currently taking place asking county residents for their opinions. It claims that £12m each year will be saved by converting to a unitary system. Corby Council, which is against the unitary system, is carrying out its own consultation.

Cllr Scrimshaw who represents the William Knibb ward on Kettering Council and the Northall ward on the county council, said: “The public are being lied to about the unitaries being more cost efficient. When the services provided by the boroughs are brought under the unitary system they could be under threat as savings will still need to be made. There will still be a massive underfunding of adult social care and this means that services such as bin collections and grass cutting could be affected.

“For example, the unitary could decide to have  bin collections every three weeks or to reduce the grass cutting service.”

Last year NCC spent £165m on adult social care and overspent by £16.1m of its budget. The department says that pressure from hospital discharges, the rising complexity of clients and pressures in the care market led to the overspend.

Over the past few years NCC has issued a raft of cuts to services that have affected children’s centres and trading standards. The county’s comprehensive library service is now under threat with 21 due to close their doors on September 30. This winter almost 400km of the county’s roads will be gritted less routinely and six gritting lorries from the 26 strong fleet could be retired.

All of the boroughs and districts are in relatively healthy financial situations and have not been making cuts to the services they provide. They have however  been affected by new homeless legislation which led to Wellingborough Council spending £1m on temporary accommodation for families last year. Some boroughs also have debts built up by buying their housing stock and also investing in property to make extra revenue.

Residents have until July 25 to have their say at www.futurenorthants.co.uk. Forms are also available at council offices and libraries.

Sarah Ward

Local Democracy Reporter

It’s been a rapid rise through the ranks for the new cabinet member for Northamptonshire County Council’s biggest department, who was appointed today just a year after first becoming a councillor.

Cllr Sandra Naden-Horley, ward councillor for Corby rural, will become cabinet member for the huge adult social care department which handles an annual budget of about £220m.

Hypnotherapist, lifestyle engineer and adult educator Cllr Naden-Horley says she wants to leave adult social care in the ‘best possible place’ as the county moves towards potential new governance.

It’s the council’s biggest department and potentially the one that faces the gravest of challenges amid an ageing population with greater care needs than ever before.

Cllr Naden-Horley, who lives in Weldon and is a former Lodge Park School pupil, was made deputy cabinet member for adult social care earlier this year. She has now stepped up into the top job after her predecessor Cllr Elizabeth Bowen resigned over a row about her attendance at South Northamptonshire Council meetings.

Earlier this year, the council’s director of adult social services Anna Earnshaw said the her department had 2,000 unassigned cases and was on the brink of intervention.

Then it was revealed that half of the social workers recruited in the county in the past year had left their jobs.

Cllr Naden-Horley said: “I’ve been the county councillor for nine parishes for a year so I’ve been involved in a lot of different things over the year.

“I’ve always had an interest in politics and I’m up for the challenge.

“We are on budget now and (the 2,000 unassigned cases) are being worked on.

“I want to work in partnership with the director of Northamptonshire Adult Social Services in my role to support the needs of the growing community of Northamptonshire.

“We will work within the budget and we have to provide the best service we can.

“I want to ensure that when we move to unitary we leave adult social care in the best possible place.”

Cllr Naden-Horley said she was not expecting to be offered the job so soon. She said: “When I became the councillor it wasn’t my goal but it has come my way and I am going to embrace it.”

With Silverstone gearing up for the biggest UK sporting event of the year, as is often the case every four years, the World Cup looms large over most things.

And Silverstone is no different. England's quarter-final match with Sweden - who have a representative on the British Grand Prix grid in the form of Marcus Ericsson - will be broadcast on big screens at the circuit tomorrow.

As racegoers prepare for temperatures in the high 20s this weekend, event commander and head of local policing Superintendent Chris Hillery has urged fans to stay hydrated and avoid disorder.

"This is a multinational event. It's very diverse with people coming from all over the world so lots of countries will be represented," said Superintendent Hillery.

"It's hot, there are lots of bars, alcohol flowing, so from my perspective I need people to stay hydrated.

"Beer and cider is not hydration.

"But equally I need people to take care of their property. When they're in that close proximity to a big screen people can take advantage - pickpockets, opportunists - and we need people to take care of themselves and their valuables.

"And not get involved in drunken behaviour, anti-social behaviour and disorder."

He added: "Alcohol, sunshine, football often equals disorder."

To help fans stay hydrated throughout the weekend Silverstone has increased the amount of water on site with security guards also happy to hand some out to those in need.

Superintendent Hillery was speaking from inside the police's mobile command unit - the first of its kind, the only one in the UK and one of seven in the world.

The unit was designed by FRS and Northamptonshire Police with input from the likes of firearms officer, negotiators and fire officers.

New technology has been made available to Superintendent Hillery this year to help keep crime down and keep people safe.

"We've got live stream bodywork footage this year, which we didn't have last year, which effectively means I could deploy that with a police officer or a fire officer.

"Their footage will live stream straight into here so I've got situational awareness.

"What they can see I can see with audio."

Planning for the police operation began last year, with ANPR monitoring beginning two weeks ahead of the Grand Prix.

Armed police remain a visible presence though there is less tension at this year's race than there was last year with the GP coming months after a number of terror attacks in the UK.

"We're still at 'severe' nationally, and I understand the timelines since those events, but I think there's now an expectation from the public around these size events, these types of events," said Supt Hillery.

"There's an expectation of police visibility and police presence and that's part of our core role; to keep safe, protect them from harm and allow them to enjoy an event in the UK they can go home from with positive memories."

As of Friday lunchtime, no arrests had been made and no crimes reported.

One new aspect the police are looking out for this year is drone flying.

Supt Hillery said: "One of the concerns for me this year is the advances in drone technology, not just from a criminal perspective because there's all sorts of things people can use drones for.

"It's a no-fly zone. The heliport here is the busiest in Europe on race day, an aircraft movement every 15 seconds.

"Somebody putting a drone up could cause a real safety issue and impact on the aircraft, impact on the race.

"We've mapped out drone sites where people might take off from so we can patrol those sites.

"In the main, I'm sure people are just using them to grab a great bit of footage."

The chief executive and the chief finance officer at in-crisis Northamptonshire County Council have both resigned.

Councillors received an email from Leader Matt Golby yesterday (July 6) afternoon saying that both officers will be leaving their posts at the end of the month.

The pair have been working under the two commissioners appointed by central government to try and steer the authority out of its current financial crisis.

The email, which was sent by the Tory council leader at 2.21pm, said: “On 27th July Andrew Quincey will be leaving the council.

“Last week he handed in his resignation as interim chief executive and will shortly be taking a new role working on a major construction project in Sydney, Australia.

“Our chief finance officer Mark McLaughlin has also handed in his resignation. Mark has made it clear that as the commissioners are now in post and the recruitment process is under way for a new chief executive, the council is moving into its next phase and therefore it is only right that he steps aside at this time.”

The email thanked both officers for their work in at this ‘tumultuous time’ and also revealed that as they have taken voluntary redundancy they will not be receiving settlement payments.

Interviews for a new permanent chief executive will take place on Monday (July 9) and  the successful candidate will be announced on July 19.

Andrew Quincey took up the post of interim chief executive in April following the resignation of the previous interim chief executive Damon Lawrenson who quit his post in the wake of the damning Max Caller report which condemned the authority for financial mismanagement and poor governance.

Mark McLaughlin joined the authority in December and in February issued a 114 notice, which warned that the authority may not have been able to balance its books.

Their resignation comes as a shock to councillors.

Leader of the Labour group Bob Scott said he was ‘very surprised’ and that he thought both officers had tried very hard.

He said: “Maybe the next phase of cuts that are coming was unpalatable for them.”

Lib Dem leader on the county council Chris Stanbra said he ‘did not really buy’ the reasons for Mark McLaughlin’s resignation and that his going would be a ‘big loss’ to the authority.

Chairman of the finance scrutiny committee Cllr Mick Scrimshaw said: “I think they perhaps realised that the Titanic was already half-way down.”

Police arrested two men and say they intend to arrest more after disorder broke out in Northampton following England’s World Cup win.

Officers were called to Wellingborough Road today after crowds caused disturbances near its junction with Bostock Avenue.

One man was arrested on suspicion of affray and another for being drunk and disorderly after England’s 2-0 success put them into the semi-finals.

The road was closed in both directions for about 40 minutes while the crowds were cleared.

A police spokesman said: “Officers will be reviewing CCTV of the incident with the intention of making further arrests.”

Anyone with any information, can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Lewis Hamilton fought back to finish second at the British Grand Prix in front of another sell-out crowd at Northamptonshire’s Silverstone circuit.

More than 140,000 fans packed the stands to see the reigning champion, and the only British driver in the race, begin the day in pole position after he set a track record time in qualifying on Saturday.

But he was overtaken immediately by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen at lights out.

Then, the Finn collided with Hamilton at turn three, causing the Stevenage-born driver to leave the track and drop down to 18th.

But Mercedes’ main man rallied back to finish on the podium, thanks in part to two safety car deployments, missing out on the chance to win his fifth consecutive British Grand Prix.

Vettel won out despite being hindered by a neck injury, with his teammate Raikonnen in third and Mercedes’ Valteri Bottas in fourth.

There remains a chance this year’s race will be the last to be held at the Northamptonshire circuit with talks on the venue for upcoming British Grands Prix still ongoing.

This Morning presenter and TV favourite Phillip Schofield said it was “inconceivable” the race could be held anywhere else but Silverstone.

“As far as I’m concerned it’s the most exciting track on the calendar and there’s nothing like an experience here,” he said.

“A day out in this place is special when you’re at the home of Formula 1, here at the heart of the sport.

“I cannot imagine bothering with Formula 1 if there wasn’t a British Grand Prix.

“This is the place to be, it’s such a great day.

“It’s unthinkable that it wouldn’t be here.

“I know there are great minds at work to ensure, hopefully, that it does stay here and if it doesn’t then that would be like taking Concorde away - having something amazing and then suddenly it’s not there anymore.

According to Phil, part of the circuit’s appeal lies in the fact it’s purpose-built to accommodate large crowds, like the ones seen every year at Silverstone.

“If you look at the facilities, look at the infrastructure, look at the way 140,000 people got in and got out, and the fact it doesn’t disturb too many people because there aren’t houses built around here - there are around Brands Hatch.

“So I think that it is inconceivable that there wouldn’t be a Silverstone British Grand Prix.”

One alternative to Silverstone is a street race in London, an idea former F1 world champion Nico Rosberg was not totally against.

“Of course London would be epic,” said Rosberg. “But this place is awesome and if it’s London that’s an unbelievable thing.”

On what pleased him the most about Silverstone, the German said: “The history behind it, the track being really fast, and the fans.”

As ever the British Grand Prix was a star-studded event. Pictured among the usual F1 suspects like David Coulthard, Johnny Herbert, Jenson Button and Sir Jackie Stewart were a number of celebrities.

Hollywood’s Michael Douglas was seen taking in the fine weather and the on-track drama, as were Jennifer Saunders and her husband Ade Edmondson, recently knighted Sir Kenny Dalglish, Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham, Jodie Kidd, golfer Ian Poulter, ex-Manchester United Michael Carrick, magician Dynamo, England cricketer Tom Curran, British number one tennis player Kyle Edmund, TV’s Simon Thomas, comedian John Bishop and former Spice Girl and Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner’s wife Geri Horner.

A 'successful' policing operation saw 14 people arrested over the four-day Silverstone Grand Prix.

Since the operation started at 7am on Thursday (July 5), 21 crimes were recorded, most involving theft and disorder through drunkenness.

The policing operation has been extremely wide-ranging, going far beyond the circuit itself – including patrolling campsites, car parks and the surrounding road network - and involving the deployment of many specialist assets including armed officers and ANPR Units.

The force said policing of the rest of Northamptonshire was not impacted by this event with response officers, neighbourhood officers and investigators on duty across the rest of the county, protecting people from harm.

Superintendent Chris Hillery, event commander for Northamptonshire Police, said: “This has been a really successful operation once again with the months of planning having paid off. Although we have many years of success behind us with regards to policing this event, that doesn’t mean we are complacent.

“I’d like to thank all of my officers who have worked really hard to help make this a safe and enjoyable weekend. That also goes for those officers who were not deployed to Silverstone but have had a challenging weekend policing the football.”

Superintendent Hillery also paid tribute to the many partner agencies who have worked alongside Northamptonshire Police in the planning and implementation of the policing operation including colleagues at Thames Valley Police, regional forces, East Midlands Ambulance Service, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Military.