Lib Dems call for Vote of No Confidence in North Herts Council Leader

The North Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats note the result of the vote of no confidence in the leader of North Herts Council on Thursday 4th December. It is unfortunate that this step was required, but the Council Leader’s refusal to recognise the clear majority view of the Council was unacceptable. 

The North Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats called for the vote of no confidence in Labour leader, Cllr Daniel Allen. The reason for this was that at a recent Cabinet meeting, the Labour administration voted to ignore the clear will of the Council on Local Government Reorganisation and instead supported proposals which would divide up North Herts communities and leave a future council area facing a permanent budget deficit of over £20m per year.

North Herts Lib Dems believe this decision was reckless, irresponsible, and not in the interests of the people we represent. 

Cllr Ruth Brown - Lib Dem Group Leader in North Herts said: “This step was taken to make it clear that the view of the Council, which was democratically elected to represent the residents, must not be ignored. The choices made by the Labour leader will be detrimental to local residents, and do not seem to have been made in their best interests. We made the issues with Labours position clear at the previous Council meeting but the Labour leader has refused to listen to these arguments, and has ignored the Council which he leads.”

Cllr David Chalmers - Lib Dem Deputy Group Leader in North Herts said: “While local government reorganisation is not as exciting as it sounds what Labour wants to do could see people in Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock and beyond facing underfunded schools and roads that won’t be fixed as a result of a Council which will be deeply in debt from the moment it comes into existence. The NHS doesn’t want this, the fire brigade doesn’t want this and nor do the police? All of these arguments were raised but the Labour leader refused to listen and that is why this vote had to happen.”

FOUR THINGS LABOUR WONT TELL YOU ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION:

1. FINANCES - Labour’s proposed 4 council model will cost over £300m more than the 2 council alternative, with one council area, where many North Herts residents live will be facing a permanent budget deficit of over £20m per year. 

Liberal Democrats believe that money should be spent on frontline services, like fixing our roads, instead.

2. SERVICES - Most local services are delivered by Herts County Council today. Dividing these services into 4 parts instead of 2 will lead to more fragmentation, higher costs, and a longer transition period. 

Liberal Democrats believe that councils should get on with delivering for residents, not wasting time on council bureaucracy.

3. COMMUNITY - Labour's plan places a border through the middle of North Herts, cutting off villages from their local towns. 

Liberal Democrats believe that we should preserve our existing communities, and not make things like finding the right school harder for our residents.

4. DEMOCRACY - Labour claims to be representing “the will of the people”, but the reality is the public consultation report concluded there was “no clear consensus” - the response rate was less than 1%, and only 25% of those preferred Labour's plan.

Liberal Democrats believe the public deserves better than to have their voices distorted for party political gain.