INTRODUCING Your new Council

From 1 April 2021

www.westnorthants.gov.uk Common Questions Welcome to your new Will there be changes to bin Will opening hours change? collections or local recycling council From 1 April, the Council’s Customer Contact centres? Centre, including phone lines and offices, will be open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. No. There will be no immediate The opening hours of libraries, leisure centres, changes to your collection day or recycling centres and other council-run schedule, or what you can put out On 1 April, ’s different things - and we will create venues will stay the same as they are now. County Council and its seven significant savings and efficiencies for collection. You can check your District and Borough councils by reducing duplication. bin day and recyclable items at will be replaced by the new West www.westnorthants.gov.uk from Will I have to restart my planning We are working hard to improve 1 April. Northamptonshire Council and North application? and enhance how you get what you Northamptonshire Council. From There are no changes planned to need from us in the coming months No. Planning and building control services will this date, household waste and recycling and years. But you can trust that continue as usual and applications underway will deliver public services to the centres, which will continue to will not be affected - you will still be able to the services you rely on - such as residents and businesses previously take the same items and operate access them and make new applications at waste and recycling collections, your on the current opening hours. served by , , www.westnorthants.gov.uk libraries and leisure centres, social and the care and work on our roads - will County councils. Will I still have the Will my Council Tax go up? continue to function as normal and same social worker? This change gives us a once-in-a- without interruption. generation opportunity to create West Northamptonshire has Yes. You will continue West Northamptonshire Council’s part of the Council more modern and effective ways of Tax was set in February by the West Northants Shadow tremendous potential and everyone dealing with the delivering the vital services that our staff already looking Authority following a public consultation. The rates across working at the new authority will be residents rely on. You will no longer after your needs, Daventry, Northampton and South Northants have been striving to make it an even better need to go to different councils for and your support will harmonised, which may affect how much you pay. place to live, work and thrive. not change, unless Your Council Tax bill also includes charges from the Police, you’re specifically told Fire and Crime Commissioner and parish/town councils, otherwise. so the total cost will be dependent on all these factors.

Do I need to reapply for things, Will I have to restart my housing such as benefits, grants or application or move from the homelessness licences? accommodation I have been provided?

No, these will continue as No. Your new provider will now be West usual through the new Council Northamptonshire Council, but your direct and you will not need to make debits or standing orders will not need to be any changes or reapply for changed. them. For advice and queries please continue to contact our You can still report issues through the www.westnorthants.gov.uk Customer Service Centre or visit Customer Service Centre number or the same email addresses as before. 0300 126 7000 the Council website. Please note: These new contact details will only be active from 1 April. Until then, please continue to contact your existing council. 405,000 residents

Daventry

Northampton

Towcester 1 new council

Brackley

Have your say on 6 May! On 6 May, elections will take place to select 93 councillors for the new West Northamptonshire Council. This is your chance to have your say! You can help shape your new council by either voting in the elections, or standing as a candidate. Find out more at X www.local.gov.uk/be-councillor.

Deadlines for your diary! • Nominations to stand - 8 April • Register to vote - 19 April • Apply for a postal vote - 20 April • Voting day - 6 May

To apply for a postal vote, visit www.gov.uk/government/ publications/apply-for-a-postal-vote