06.08.18
Former Northamptonshire County Council boss resigns from party
The former leader of Northamptonshire County Council has resigned from her party, citing that she “cannot cope” with comments from new councillors.
Cllr Heather Smith, who had been a Conservative councillor for 11 years, announced her resignation on Twitter on Friday after a tumultuous past few months for the cash-strapped authority.
Cllr Smith will now sit as an Independent member, she told one commenter.
Cllr Smith served as leader between May 2016 and March 2018.
Northamptonshire CC outlined their “radical” service cuts on Friday as their deficit threatened to reach £180m. Council leader for the Tory-run authority Matthew Golby faced calls to resign as protestors campaigned against the upcoming cuts to vital sectors such as children’s services.
Last month, Northamptonshire issued another spending ban as finances were still deemed to be critical.
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Image credit: Northampton Chronicle and Echo