Issue - meetings

DECISION TAKEN

Cabinet agreed for delegated authority to be given to the Leader of the Council, in consultation with Deputy Leader, to submit an interim plan to Government by 21 March 2025 for Local Government Reorganisation in Hertfordshire.

REASON FOR DECISION

On 16 December 2024, the government published a white paper on English devolution and reform to local government, setting out the potential for the most significant reforms to local government since the Local Government Act 1972.  On 5 February 2025, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution wrote a letter to the Leaders of all District and Borough Councils in Hertfordshire and Hertfordshire County Council, formally inviting them to develop a proposal for local government reorganisation for the area, setting out further detail on the criteria, guidance for the development of proposals, and the timeline for the process. In order to comply with the Government’s request to submit an interim plan for local government organisation in Hertfordshire by 21 March 2025, the purpose of this report is to seek delegated authority to be given to the Leader of the Council to submit a plan on behalf of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.

Cabinet received a report on the Local Government Reorganisation – Interim Plan Submission.

During the discussion the following points were raised:

·           A member commented that this is the biggest reform seen to local governments in the last 50 years and it sets out challenging targets in scope and especially in timescales. As a joint administration in Welwyn Hatfield, it’s only right that both Liberal Democratics as well as the Labour group have a chance to input their views to this process.

·           A Member commented that the scale of these reforms have been made clear and, given the professionalism and the amount of work achieved so far, it is a testament of the right attitude everyone has on this.

·           A Member commented that they were speaking to residents regarding this. There appears to be positivity that some in local Government reform would take place, but there is a lot of apprehension of where certain structures will be placed and responsibilities going in certain directions.

RESOLVED

DECISION TAKEN

Cabinet agreed for delegated authority to be given to the Leader of the Council, in consultation with Deputy Leader, to submit an interim plan to Government by 21 March 2025 for Local Government Reorganisation in Hertfordshire.

REASON FOR DECISION

On 16 December 2024, the government published a white paper on English devolution and reform to local government, setting out the potential for the most significant reforms to local government since the Local Government Act 1972.  On 5 February 2025, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution wrote a letter to the Leaders of all District and Borough Councils in Hertfordshire and Hertfordshire County Council, formally inviting them to develop a proposal for local government reorganisation for the area, setting out further detail on the criteria, guidance for the development of proposals, and the timeline for the process. In order to comply with the Government’s request to submit an interim plan for local government organisation in Hertfordshire by 21 March 2025, the purpose of this report is to seek delegated authority to be given to the Leader of the Council to submit a plan on behalf of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.