Permanent appointment confirmed for Corporate Director for Law and Governance

23 January 2026

West Northamptonshire Council has confirmed the permanent appointment of Sarah Hall as Corporate Director for Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer.

Sarah has been undertaking the role on an interim basis for the past 15 months, providing leadership and continuity across the council’s Law and Governance functions.

She has more than 20 years’ experience in local government, with a career spanning a wide range of services and has led on the transformation of services supporting more efficient and locally focused service delivery and in the delivery of a number of strategic and place-based projects. Prior to joining West Northamptonshire Council, Sarah served as Monitoring Officer at Mansfield District Council.

In addition to her council role, Sarah is a Non-Executive Director of Solace, a founding member of the Solace East Midlands Branch, a Director of Public Sector Challenge Ltd and Chair of EMLawShare, a local government legal consortium.

Having served as West Northamptonshire Council’s Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer for the past 15 months, I am delighted to continue leading our Law and Governance service at such an important time for the organisation. Over this period, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside talented and committed colleagues who share a deep dedication to delivering high‑quality, resilient governance for our communities.
Local government is evolving rapidly, and I am proud of the progress we have made in strengthening our systems, modernising our services, and supporting the delivery of key strategic projects across the council. I remain passionate about developing our people, growing an inclusive and confident workforce, and creating opportunities for the next generation of public‑sector professionals.Sarah

Sarah’s permanent appointment is a very positive step for the council. She brings exceptional experience, strong leadership and a genuine commitment to public service. Her knowledge of the organisation and the West Northants area, combined with her sector-wide expertise, will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen governance, deliver major projects and act in the best interests of our residents and businesses.Martin Henry, Interim Chief Executive of West Northamptonshire Council