Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Leader of the Council and to consider recommendations on the matters below:

Councillor Haysey thanked the Chairman for having agreed she could make a statement on the recent discussions which were taking place on local government reform. 

She said Hertfordshire was a multi-tiered authority, comprising the county council, the district and borough councils and the town and parish councils, each with their areas of responsibility.  For residents, local government could appear complex and not necessarily transparent.

Some simplification was long overdue, but any reorganisation had to be right for residents and offer greater advantages over the existing structure.

The 10 leaders of Hertfordshire’s districts and boroughs had issued a joint statement expressing their concerns that Hertfordshire County Council had already decided that the best way forward was through one unitary council covering the whole of Hertfordshire.  She did not agree. Hertfordshire had a population of 1.2m, which she believed was too large to provide residents with the service and representation they were entitled to expect.

A unitary council would provide the vast majority of all the services currently provided by both the County and the District. However, there were other models which she and the other Leaders considered more appropriate.  The 10 districts and boroughs were working with consultants to explore all options.

Councillor Haysey then expressed gratitude to East Hertfordshire District Council staff.  She said they had experienced a very difficult few months.  They had kept services going, working from home, often away from their teams, and had been required to be flexible and learn new skills.  She thanked all staff for “getting the job done” in their usual professional, cheerful way.  They had shown the value this district council added to the lives of its residents over the last four months.  Now all faced the potential uncertainty of local government reorganisation.  The White Paper, which might give more clarity, was due out in September.  The Council would do its utmost to achieve an outcome that was in the best interests of residents and businesses.

Councillor Haysey then referred Members to the Executive report regarding matters considered at the meeting of 2 June 2020.

The following Minute refers to the item for recommendation.