It consisted of 45 councillors, representing 33 wards in the town, overseen by a mayor, leader and cabinet.

[2][3] Northampton was the most populous urban district in England not to be administered as a unitary authority, a status it failed to obtain in the 1990s local government reform.

[8] In 2000, Northampton applied unsuccessfully for city status, held to celebrate the new millennium.

[9] One authority would consist of the existing districts of Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire and the other authority would consist of Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering and Wellingborough districts.

The cabinet members were responsible for different key areas of local governance including environment; community engagement; housing; planning, regeneration and enterprise; and finance.