The Standards Committee of Hertfordshire County Council met on Wednesday 14 January 2026. The committee considered and agreed the proposed approach to undertaking a review of the council's Standing Orders and other aspects of the Constitution. This review will be undertaken by a newly established Constitution Working Group (CWG). The CWG will be politically proportionate, comprising 13 members: five Liberal Democrats, three Conservatives, two Reform members, one Green, one Labour, and one independent member. The group will focus on identifying areas for procedural or other changes to improve the running of political meetings and ensure members are comfortable with relevant processes, particularly in the current environment of no overall control. The CWG will report its proposals to the Standards Committee, which will then recommend them to Full Council for final approval. Discussions touched upon the possibility of allowing substitutes for CWG members, the format of meetings (online, in-person, or hybrid), and the process for appointing a chair for the working group. The decision to proceed with the review was carried. Councillor Alex Curtis, who was allowed to participate in the discussion but not vote, raised the point about the arrangement for the chairmanship of the working group, suggesting that the process for this should be made clear. Councillor Ruth Brown raised concerns about the difficulty of having substitutes for ongoing work and enquired about the format of meetings, suggesting online attendance would be beneficial. Councillor John Hale agreed that the chairmanship should be decided by the working group and supported the idea of members being replaced if unable to attend, but not on a meeting-by-meeting basis to ensure continuity. Councillor Tim Williams confirmed that the working group would report back to the Standards Committee, which would then make recommendations to Full Council.

The review is expected to take at least three months, with the possibility of fast-tracking certain aspects. The terms of reference for the review aim to ensure the Constitution is legally compliant, clear, accessible, reflects best practice, and supports effective decision-making in a no overall control environment. Specific areas to be examined include Council Procedure Rules, Executive, Scrutiny, and Regulatory Committee Rules, and the Scheme of Delegation.

Dispensation in Respect of the Council's Budget

The committee noted the continuation of a rolling dispensation in respect of the council's budget. This dispensation, initially agreed on 21 November 2021, allows the Chief Legal Officer to grant dispensations from requirements relating to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs) and Declarable Interests (DIs) for members when considering the council's budget, setting council tax, or dealing with member allowances and the Integrated Plan. The dispensation is intended to enable all members to participate in debate and vote on these matters, even if they have an interest. The Director of Law and Governance confirmed that regular reminders are circulated to members to keep their Declarations of Interest up to date and that an annual reminder is sent detailing that members in arrears with their Council Tax cannot participate in budget setting meetings. The Chair requested that the Director of Law and Governance circulate a reminder regarding this.