Issue - meetings

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

The Chair invited Mr Ben Smithson to provide Council with a verbal presentation on Item 5 – Local Government Reorganisation in Hertfordshire – Submission of Final Proposals.

Audio recording – 5 minutes 41 seconds

The Chair invited Mr Ben Smithson to provide Council with a verbal presentation on Item 5 – Local Government Reorganisation in Hertfordshire – Submission of Final Proposals. Mr Smithson thanked the Chair for the opportunity and highlighted the following:

·             He wished to thank everyone involved with the development and assessment of the options for Local Government Reorganisation in Hertfordshire.

·             The proposed boundaries in the option for four unitary authorities would move Arbury Ward into the East Unitary Authority and separate it from Baldock.

·             This would remove the benefits of the four unitary option for Arbury Ward residents as both greater local representation and a truer alignment of physical geography would not be felt by them.

·             Baldock formed part of the identity of Arbury Ward as many of its residents used services and undertook leisure activities there. They were also represented on the Baldock & Villages Community Forum.

·             Many families had expressed their intention to leave if the four unitary option was chosen as their children would no longer be given priority places at The Knights Templar School in Baldock and would likely have to attend schools that were further away.

·             This would lead to the loss of thriving communities and failure of local businesses.

·             Arbury Ward residents would also lose their ability to influence how the expansion of Baldock would affect their area.

·             Options that failed to balance populations while preserving communities should be ruled out.

·             The Council should write to the Secretary of State to request boundary changes if the four unitary option was chosen.

In response to points raised in the verbal presentation, Councillor Daniel Allen advised that:

·             The schooling system under the new unitary authorities had not yet been decided and children from one area could currently attend schools in others like those that lived in Great Ashby and attended schools in Stevenage.

·             Should the four unitary option be the preferred option by Cabinet, it would be submitted with the current boundaries of North Hertfordshire with a recommendation for a boundary review which residents would be able to have input on.

The Chair thanked Mr Smithson for his verbal presentation.