Decision

Cllr Symington read out the
following statement
 
We had a full debate on this
item at the Extraordinary Meeting on 12 November which allowed
comments from all members which have been recorded in the published
minutes.
 
Tonight we are asked to note the
indicative resolution of Full Council.
 
The Indicative vote of the Full
Council was that Dacorum Borough Council should submit the Local
Government Reorganisation proposal and identify the modified four
unitary option (4UA modified) as preferred and request that the
Secretary of State formally modify the proposal by agreeing
boundary changes as set out in the proposal.
 
The vote at Full Council was 26
for 4UA and 16 for 2UA. There were no votes for 3UA. 9 Councillors
sent apologies or were absent.
 
I committed to listen to the
will of the Council. As a majority expressed a view that Dacorum
should identify the modified 4UA as the preferred model, I
recommend to Cabinet that this option be submitted to the Secretary
of State.
 
The ultimate decision on the
number, size and structure of the new unitary authorities lies with
the Secretary of State. The criteria set have been undermined by
changes in the Secretary of State and ministers and briefings that
the identified criteria, including population do not need to be
observed.
 
I am proud that Hertfordshire
Leaders have been one of the few two-tier areas to agree a common
set of financial and geographic projections to put forward to
government. Protecting the delivery of the vital and huge services
representing adult and children’s social care, as well as
education, from excessive fragmentation and risk of internal
competition between the new unitaries
needs to be prioritised and I hope that whatever the Secretary of
State decides, adequate protection is put in place to protect the
unitary projected to be at risk of financial collapse.
 
The 3UA option received no
votes at Dacorum. There was a strong feeling that the Hemel Garden
Communities should be included in any unitary that includes Hemel
Hempstead. I have agreed with Group Leaders that we write to the
Secretary of State to request that in the event
that the Government selects the three unitary model, that a
review of the principal boundary be carried out to consider
aligning all of Hemel Garden Communities Growth Areas to within the
same unitary authority as Dacorum Borough Council.
 
Many councillors spoke of the
need for local representation and as Liberal Democrats we have a
strong belief in and credentials for promoting localism, so we
share the view that local voices need to be heard. We have strong
town and parish councils across nearly half the borough and will be
bringing forward a proposal for a Community Governance Review to
consider the options for the unparished Hemel Hempstead area. The
government’s own proposals are for Local Neighbourhood
Committees that will include wider presentation from local
stakeholders, the police, health services and where they exist,
town and parish councils to ensure improved community engagement in
delivering services.
 
The Liberal Democrats did not
seek this reorganisation. It comes at time of upheaval in our
health structures and planning regulations, as well as at a time
when the cost-of-living crisis continues to bear down on many
residents. There are benefits to unitary authorities and I am
assured that all those who have gone the process would not wish to
reverse it. A unitary authority will provide a ‘one-stop
council’ for residents and a rethinking of the delivery of
services to improve outcomes such as the integration of housing and
social care.
 
It is disappointing that some
people have chosen to put party politics ahead of their judgement
as to the best outcome for residents (the mental gymnastics to move
from wanting a single county-wide unitary that would have precluded
a Strategic Mayoral Authority with fiscal devolution to wanting
four unitary authorities is some for Matt Whitlock to behold) and I
am disappointed that others have resorted to personal threats. I
guess that is the so-call ‘rough and tumble’ of
politics.
 
Regardless of the threats, I
committed to listen to the will of the council and will abide by
that promise. I appreciate that views differ on the best outcome
for residents. Nevertheless, we must all work together for the
benefit of our residents and the ongoing improvement of the
delivery of services in Dacorum remains our priority.
 
She invited comments from
cabinet colleagues.
 
She then summed up with the
following:.
Five Cabinet committee
decisions have now been confirmed :
Stevenage, Welwyn and Hatfield and Broxbourne have supported 4UA.
Watford and Three Rivers have supported the 3UA option.
 
I want to put on record my
thanks to the officers in Dacorum and across Hertfordshire for all
the work they have put into the proposals.
Cabinet: -
 
1.Noted the indicative
resolution of Full Council.
 
2.Agreed to option c) from the
options below: -
 

a)    
Submit proposal and identify the two unitary (2UA)
option as preferred.
 

b)    
Submit proposal and identify modified three unitary
option (3UA modified) as preferred and
request that Secretary of State formally modify the proposal by
agreeing boundary changes as set out in the proposal.
 

c)    
Submit proposal and identify the modified four
unitary option (4UA modified) as preferred and request that the
Secretary of States formally modify the proposal by agreeing
boundary changes as set out in the proposal.
 
3.Agreed that authority be
delegated 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.Agreed that the decision is
urgent and shall not be subject to call-in.
 
5.Noted that the Mayor has agreed that the decision is reasonable in
all the circumstances and has agreed that it shall be treated as an
urgent decision.
 
6.Agreed that the Leader of the
Council in consultation with Group Leaders shall write to the
Secretary of State to request that in the event that the Government
selects the three unitary model, that a review of the principal
boundary be carried out to consider aligning all of Hemel Garden
Communities Growth Areas to within the same unitary authority as
Dacorum Borough Council.