Welcome to Council and Democracy

The borough of Hertsmere is situated in southern Hertfordshire adjoining the northern reaches of Greater London.  As well as a number of Green Belt villages, the main settlements comprise Elstree, Borehamwood, Potters Bar, Bushey, Radlett and Shenley.  Hertsmere covers an area of 38 square miles and has a population of 94,457 (2001 census).

Hertsmere has excellent transport infrastructure including the M25, M1 and A1(M) roads, with mainline stations at Radlett, Potters Bar, and Elstree and Borehamwood.

Hertsmere, in common with Hertfordshire in general, is a relatively affluent area but within this there are areas of the district with significant deprivation, social exclusion and crime and disorder issues.  Hertsmere Borough Council is attempting to address these issues through Hertsmere Together (the Local Strategic Partnership) and other partnerships.  Its Corporate Goals are:

Corporate Goals of Hertsmere Borough Council

Vision: Our vision is to take a leading role in improving the quality of life for everyone in Hertsmere.

 Values: Our values are to:

• Be customer-focused
• Provide community leadership
• Continuously improve the quality of service delivery
• Be a good employer

Purpose: 

Our purpose is to perform all our statutory obligations efficiently and effectively within resource constraints whilst using our discretionary powers to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in Hertsmere.

Corporate Goals

• Create an even safer community for all
• Sustain improvements in the quality of Hertsmere’s environment
• Continue to promote healthy living, leisure and cultural opportunities
• Encourage economic prosperity
• Work towards meeting local housing needs through our strategic housing role
• Sustain organisational improvements to meet community needs

Hertsmere Borough Council is one of ten district/borough councils in Hertfordshire responsible for a range of services from household refuse collection to collecting council tax.

Hertsmere has 39 councillors representing the interests of people in fifteen wards.  Councillors are elected to serve for a four-year term.  The next Borough Council election will be in May 2008 when a third of the Council will stand for re-election.

The number of seats held by political groups is: 

• Conservative 31
• Liberal Democrat 5
• Labour 3. 
• The Leader of the Council and the Conservative Group is Cllr Morris Bright
• The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group is Cllr Lynne Hodgson
• The Leader of the Labour Group is Cllr Ann Harrison.

The Council has a Leader and Cabinet form of governance.  The Leader and Cabinet are called the Executive and they take most major decisions within a framework approved by the Council.

In addition the remaining Committees are as follows:

• The Overview and two Scrutiny Committees review and scrutinise the decisions and performance of the Executive, and Council Committees, as well as undertaking policy development and review work. 
• The Overview Committee co-ordinates and oversees the work of the two Scrutiny Committees
• The Licensing Committee is responsible for the Council’s licensing function particularly in connection with premises selling alcohol or providing entertainment, and from this year gambling licenses
• The Audit Committee promotes internal financial controls
• The Standards Committee exists to maintain high ethical standards and probity levels within the authority
• Three locality based Planning Committees consider applications for planning permission, and enforce contraventions of planning regulations.

The Executive

The Cabinet comprises six councillors, each of whom has a portfolio of responsibilities:

Leader
Councillor Morris Bright
Elstree Ward

Broad areas of responsibility:

• Overall strategy and co-ordination
• The Community Strategy
• Interface with external agencies
• Chairing meetings of the Executive

Specific responsibilities

• Co-ordinating the work of the Executive
• Developing and promoting links with private, voluntary and statutory service providers to promote joint initiatives and solutions
• To lead the community planning process
• Co-ordinating work to maximise external funding resources available to the Council
• Making appropriate arrangements in respect of portfolio work in the absence of a Cabinet member
• Instructing any portfolio holder to put a report on a matter within his or her portfolio to the full Executive
• Compiling and managing the Forward Plan
• Communications/Publicity/Consultation
• Lead on the Pathfinder initiative
• Internal and External communications
• Community engagement and consultation
• Customer services and complaints
• E-Government and Information Services, Democratic Services, Electoral Services, Print Services
• Health and Safety issues within council-owned buildings

Community Safety and Transport Portfolio Holder 
Councillor John Donne
Potters Bar Parkfield Ward

Broad areas of responsibility

• Community safety and CCTV
• Parking and transportation, including:
  • controlled parking zones
  • residual highways matters
  • road safety
  • concessionary fares
  • Dial a Ride
  • contracted bus services
  • abandoned vehicles
• Executive input into human resources policy and to be lead member in matters relating to equality and diversity

Leisure, Culture and Health Portfolio Holder
Councillor Brenda Batten
Bushey Heath Ward

Broad areas of responsibility

• Leisure
• Cultural strategy
• Parks
• Cemeteries
• Museums
• Youth issues
• Town twinning
• Services for the elderly
• Community Centres
• Healthcare
• Grant applications
• Borehamwood Community Theatre
• In-house catering

Environment Portfolio Holder
Councillor Jean Heywood
Borehamwood Hillside Ward

Broad areas of responsibility

• Environmental policy
• Waste Management (street cleansing, recycling and waste collection)
• Environmental Health
• Drainage
• Street scene
• Grounds maintenance
• Parks cleansing and maintenance
• Executive enforcement functions, such as environmental crime (excluding housing and planning enforcement)

Finance and Property Portfolio Holder
Councillor John Graham
Aldenham East Ward

Councillor Graham will also be acting Leader in the absence of the leader of the Council

Broad areas of responsibility

• Finance
• Benefits
• Corporate Performance
• Efficiency
• Loan applications
• Property/asset management
• Elstree Studios
• Bushey Golf and Country Club
• Risk management
• Procurement
• Legal Services, Land Charges and Internal Audit

Planning and Enforcement Portfolio Holder
Councillor Hannah David
Borehamwood Hillside Ward

Broad areas of responsibility

• Housing
• Planning and Building Control
• Economic development and regeneration
• Street markets

The Council meets as a whole six times a year to agree major policies and set the annual budget.

Details of the Councillors and committee membership can be obtained by clicking here.

Information on the democratic processes can also be obtained in the Council and Democracy pages of this website.