The Standards Committee of Hertfordshire Council met on Monday 6 July 2026 to discuss proposed revisions to the council's constitution. The committee considered proposed revisions to Annex 3, concerning the responsibilities of the Audit Committee, and to Annexes 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, which cover various aspects of the council's standing orders and scrutiny procedures.

Revisions to Annex 3: Responsibility for Functions of the Council's Constitution

The committee considered proposed revisions to Annex 3, specifically focusing on the responsibilities of the Audit Committee. These changes aim to align the Audit Committee's functions with the new Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS) for the UK public sector, which replaced previous standards in April 2025. Chris Wood, Head of Assurance, explained that the updated standards place new responsibilities on audit committees, and the proposed amendments clarify these within the council's constitution.

Councillor Anthony Rowlands sought clarification on GIAS, which Mr. Wood explained are professional standards governing internal audit globally. He noted that the new standards specifically outline responsibilities for audit committees, which the proposed constitutional changes address.

Nicholas Moss, an independent member, raised a point regarding the monitoring of internal audit recommendations, suggesting that agreed recommendations might be more appropriate than simply recommendations. Mr. Wood clarified that the Audit Committee monitors all high and medium priority recommendations, regardless of whether they are agreed, but the key focus is on the monitoring of agreed management actions for implementation. Mr. Moss also inquired about the reporting of issues such as bullying and harassment, and whether these were covered by the whistleblowing policy. It was noted that these might fall under different processes.

The committee recommended to full council the proposed changes to Annex 3, as outlined in Table 4 of the Council's Constitution, which detail the responsibilities for non-executive functions.

Revisions to Annexes 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the Council's Constitution

The committee also reviewed proposed revisions to several other annexes of the council's constitution, presented by Alistair Willoughby, Deputy Leader and Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, and Steve Charteris, Head of Democratic and Statutory Services. These changes stem from the work of a cross-party Constitutional Working Group.

Key proposed changes include:

• Annex 11 (Guidelines for Cabinet Panels and Scrutiny Reviews): The scrutiny review section will be removed and integrated into Annex 9. Cabinet panels will have work programmes, with members able to propose items for inclusion. Cabinet will also consider motions supported by cabinet panels.
• Annex 7 (Standing Orders for the Executive): Flexibility will be introduced to allow questions to be submitted after the standard five-day deadline if a report is published after that deadline.
• Annex 9 (Standing Orders for Overview and Scrutiny Committee): This annex will consolidate previous scrutiny-related annexes (8, 9, and 10) into a single document. A significant change is the proposal that chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Health Scrutiny Committee shall be appointed from an opposition political group. Vice-chair provisions will be amended to ensure representation from other political groups. New provisions will allow deputy executive members to attend and speak on matters relevant to their portfolio, with the chair's permission. Officers will also be required to notify local members of agenda items affecting their divisions and invite them to attend meetings.
• Annex 6 (Council Standing Orders): Further amendments are proposed to ensure consistency in deadlines for motions and amendments, with specific changes to the deadlines for cabinet meetings and council meetings.

During the discussion on the appointment of chairs for scrutiny committees from opposition groups, Councillor Eric Buckmaster expressed a preference for a grading system that prioritises the largest political group for greater accountability. Councillor Willoughby countered that the current proposals reflect existing practice and that the principle of opposition chairs for scrutiny is essential for democratic oversight. Councillor Richard Roberts also raised concerns about the representation of smaller parties in leadership roles, suggesting that they might not be seen as independent. Councillor Laurence Brass strongly supported the principle of opposition chairs for scrutiny, stating it is an essential element for democracy.

The committee recommended to full council the proposed changes to Annexes 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, and delegated any consequential changes to the wider constitution to the Directorate of Law and Governance.

Nicholas Moss, an independent member, also made several suggestions for minor amendments to enhance clarity, including a point about the use of the term immaterial changes and the precise wording regarding draft minutes. These were acknowledged as helpful suggestions.