Why Northamptonshire Went Bust

Simon Duffy explains why Northamptonshire went bust and what kind of thinking is required to return local government to its proper role.

Simon Duffy visited Wellingborough to explore with citizens of Northamptonshire why their County Council had become bankrupt.

He argues that Northamptonshire is bankrupt in three ways:

  1. Financially - it could not pay its debts
  2. Politically - its leaders were no longer persuasive
  3. Intellectually - its thinking was no longer credible

Northamptonshire County Council was a leading Conservative Council, one that had led the way in the privatisation of almost every function. However privatisation and austerity together have undermined the whole system, leaving local people desperate and fearful as central government now reorganises the Council - splitting it into two parts, while destroying the 7 district councils beneath it.

Simon goes on to offer practical examples of the kind of community and citizenship orientated approaches which could help local communities escape the fate of Northamptonshire. 

  

Film published by Lou Armitt.

Presentation: Responding to Northamptonshire's Bankruptcy © Simon Duffy 2018.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this paper may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher except for the quotation of brief passages in reviews.

Film | 25.06.18

local government, politics, social justice, England, Film

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