RESOLVED: That Cabinet:
(1) Noted the content of the report, the draft Hertfordshire submission document at Appendices A to E which forms the proposed collective submission to Government on Local Government Reorganisation and the indicative non-binding view of Full Council at its meeting on 13 November 2025.
(2) Resolved the following option:
c) Submit the proposal and identify the modified four unitary option as preferred and request that the Secretary of State formally modify the proposal be agreeing boundary changes, as set out in the proposal.
(3) Delegated authority to the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council to agree any final minor amendments to the Hertfordshire submission document prior to submission to Government by 28 November 2025.
(4) That the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to finalise the form of wording for a side letter to be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to accompany the Council’s formal submission.
That the letter shall set out:
(a) the outcome of the Full Council deliberations; and
(b) the concerns raised by Members regarding the proposed placement of the Arbury ward within alternative unitary configurations, and the need for MHCLG to give this matter full consideration as part of the reorganisation process.
That the finalised letter be issued by the Leader on behalf of the Council.
REASON FOR DECISIONS: On 5 February 2025, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution wrote to all leaders of two-tier councils to formally invite them to develop proposals for a single tier of local government in their counties. Cabinet is legally required to make the decision as to this Council’s response to the Minister’s request, but the report to Full Council on the 13 November 2025 allowed all councillors to consider and debate this important issue before an indicative non-binding vote, to be considered by Cabinet as part of its decision making on 19 November 2025.