Which council does what
Northampton Town Council, formed in 2021 and based at the Guildhall, is the largest town council in the country. It looks after local events, Northampton in Bloom, community grants and civic life.
West Northamptonshire Council is the unitary authority for the area, also formed in 2021. It handles bins and recycling, planning, council tax, housing, roads, schools, libraries and social care - the services previously split between the old borough and county councils.
Parish and community councils
Many of the surrounding villages and suburbs - including Duston, Kingsthorpe, Wootton, Hardingstone, Brixworth, Moulton, Long Buckby and Bugbrooke - have their own parish or community council. They are the first port of call for local matters such as footpaths, play areas, village greens and planning comments, and most publish meeting dates and clerk contact details online.
Community centres and village halls
Most neighbourhoods and villages in the district have a community centre or village hall run by a local committee or charity. They host clubs, classes, parties, markets and polling stations, and many can be hired at reasonable rates. The parish council or the hall's own noticeboard is usually the best way to find booking details.
In the town itself, church halls, leisure venues and the town council's events programme offer space and activities for groups through the year.
Libraries
Northampton's libraries are run by West Northamptonshire Council, with the central library in the town centre and branches in neighbourhoods such as Abington, Duston, Kingsthorpe and Weston Favell. They offer book loans, computers, children's activities and community information.
Essential numbers
Emergencies: 999. Non-emergency police: 101. Urgent medical advice when it is not an emergency: NHS 111. For power cuts anywhere in the UK, call 105.
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