Title

PEOPLE

Commissioner appointed to take control of Northants' children's services

The Government has appointed a new commissioner to head up Northamptonshire CC’s struggling children’s services.

The Government has appointed a new commissioner to head up Northamptonshire CC's struggling children's services.

Andrew Christie, who was the head of children's services for the tri-borough area of Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster between 2011 and 2016, has taken on the role.

His predecessor Malcolm Newsam, who announced he would be leaving the role last month, took on the job after an Ofsted report in November found that people in the care of the council's children's services were at ‘potential risk'.

The Department for Education reiterated Ofsted's 2018 conclusion when announcing the appointment of Mr Christie, writing that ‘performance of children's social care services has significantly deteriorated'.

Clare Chamberlain, who worked with Mr Christie in London, has been appointed as support commissioner.

PEOPLE

Getting ready for the big LGR reset

By Ann McGauran | 26 February 2026

Anna Earnshaw talks to Ann McGauran about reorganisation’s biggest risk, and what central Government could do to ease the path towards unitarisation.

PEOPLE

Lancashire CC appoints finance director

By Martin Ford | 18 February 2026

Gary Fielding is to join Lancashire CC as corporate director of finance

PEOPLE

The centre must tackle the challenges still faced by counties and unitaries

By Cllr Matthew Hicks | 12 February 2026

The Government’s decision to pay the bulk of SEND deficits is a relief, but sensible decisions on reorganisation are crucial to delivering substantial saving...

PEOPLE

The Top 10 councils powering ahead on productivity

By Ann McGauran | 05 February 2026

Local government’s leadership may be dealing with a maelstrom of challenges, but the councils whose productivity performance has earned them a place in the I...

Popular articles by William Eichler