The Standards Committee of Hertfordshire Council is scheduled to convene on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of previous minutes, a request for a member's absence from council meetings, and other public business.

Member Request for Approval for Absence from Council Meetings

A significant item on the agenda is a report from the Director of Law & Governance concerning a request from County Councillor S Wortley for approval for absence from council meetings. This request is made under Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, which mandates that a local authority member must attend at least one meeting within a six-month period to avoid ceasing to be a councillor. The report outlines that County Councillor S Wortley has been unwell and unable to attend meetings since 27 March 2026. The committee is asked to consider granting a dispensation on health grounds before the six-month deadline. The recommendation is to grant a dispensation from Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 to County Councillor S Wortley on the grounds of ill health until 31 March 2027. This matter is detailed in the Public reports pack Wednesday 16-Sep-2026 12.30 Standards Committee.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The committee is scheduled to confirm the minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on 6 July 2026.

Other Public Business

The agenda also includes a provision for Other Part I Business, which allows for the consideration of any urgent public business if the Chair agrees it warrants discussion.

The meeting will be filmed and webcast live on the internet, and recordings will be published on the council's website. Members of the public can watch the broadcast at http://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/watchmeetings. The agenda documents are also available online.