Issue - meetings

A)   That the Executive agrees ‘in principle’ to explore the creation of a Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Joint Committee, consisting of representation by all five Garden Town Partner Councils.

B)    That, subject to the outcome of A above, the details of the constitution, priorities and operating model of the proposed Joint Committee are to be returned to the Executive for further consideration.

The Leader of the Council presented a report on the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town – Future Leadership and Governance Report. She said that the Garden Town had received revenue funding from government for £172 million for a rolling infrastructure fund and there was a need for open and more transparent decision making processes. The Leader believed it was the best model for East Herts Council and the Garden Town.

Councillor Buckmaster said he did not have an issue with the recommendations but wanted to raise his concerns about the reference to stewardship. He said that stewardship was a complex problem to resolve and a single body would be equivalent to corporate ownership. He felt there needed to be local accountability to create a sense of community with an accountable body spread over a larger area.

Councillor Buckmaster proposed, and Councillor Goodeve seconded a motion supporting the recommendations in the report. On being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) the Executive agrees ‘in principle’ to explore the creation of a Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Joint Committee, consisting of representation by all five Garden Town Partner Councils;

(B) subject to the outcome of A above, the details of the constitution, priorities and operating model of the proposed Joint Committee are to be returned to the Executive for further consideration.