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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.