Councillor James Ashton

James Ashton was first elected as a county councillor in June 2001. He was re-elected in May 2005.

Married with two grown-up children, James was a navigator in the Royal Air Force before qualifying as a solicitor. He retired from legal practice in 2002. Previously he has been a scout leader, a governor of primary and secondary schools, and a parish councillor. He is now a governor of the Oakway Infants and Junior and Victoria Primary Schools in Wellingborough.

James was a member of the County Council’s Cabinet from its creation in October 2001 until May 2005. From October 2001 to May 2003, he was responsible for Localities, Communities, and Partnerships; from May 2003 to January 2004 for Public Protection and Community Planning; and from January 2004 to May 2005 for Public Protection. James represented the County Council on all seven local strategic partnerships in Northamptonshire and was a founding member of the Community Funding Advisory Panel. James was the first chair of the Regional Management Board of the fire and rescue authorities in the East Midlands, and remained a member of the national Local Government Association’s Fire Services Management Committee until July 2007.