The Standards Committee of Hertfordshire Council met on Friday, 8 May 2026, to discuss proposed revisions to the Council's constitution. The committee unanimously recommended these changes to Full Council.

Proposed Revisions to the Council's Constitution

The committee considered proposed revisions to Annexes 6, 12, and 28 of the Council's constitution. These annexes cover the Council's Standing Orders, Standing Orders for Regulatory and Other Committees, and the Substitution Scheme, respectively. The revisions were developed by a cross-party Constitutional Working Group, which had met three times.

Councillor Alexander Curtis, who was part of the working group, broadly agreed with the recommendations. However, he raised a question regarding the attendance at cabinet panels not counting towards a councillor's attendance record, despite these being public meetings. Quentin Baker, Director of Law and Governance, explained that this was due to legal advice based on the Local Government Act 1972, which dictates what constitutes a formal meeting for attendance purposes. He noted that this was a matter of national legislation and beyond the working group's remit, suggesting that lobbying the government might be a way to address this.

Councillor David Barnard shared a personal experience where this rule had impacted his ability to remain a councillor, highlighting the perceived inconsistency with district council forums counting towards attendance. Councillor Alexander Curtis further elaborated that cabinet panels are structured as informal bodies, unlike formal structures such as ward forums or statutory committees, which is why they do not count towards attendance for the six-month rule. He suggested that future reviews by the Constitution Working Group could explore meeting structures.

Nicholas Moss, an Independent Person, proposed several minor amendments to Standing Order 24 (Members' Conduct) within Annex 6 to enhance clarity and consistency. These included specifying that Members' Conduct applies at meetings of the council, moving the reference to turning off electronic devices to the top of the section, and clarifying the chair's authority in cases of disorderly conduct. He also suggested ensuring consistency in terminology, such as using carried instead of passed for motions, and reordering references to suspension and adjournment to reflect a less severe to more severe sequence.

The committee found these amendments to be sensible and beneficial for clarity. Councillor Alistair Willoughby, Deputy Leader of the Labour Group and Vice-Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, supported the amendments and suggested that similar changes should be applied to Annex 12 and potentially Annex 11 where the same sections appear. He also proposed changing the wording from disorder to orderly conduct in a specific instance within Annex 12 for consistency.

Ultimately, the committee unanimously recommended to Full Council the proposed changes to Annexes 6, 12, and 28 of the Council's constitution, incorporating the amendments suggested by Nicholas Moss.