North Hertfordshire District Council
North Hertfordshire District Council is the local authority for the North Hertfordshire non-metropolitan district of England, the United Kingdom. North Hertfordshire covers the northern part of Hertfordshire, in the East of England region. The Council's offices are in Letchworth, one of the largest settlements in the district.
North Hertfordshire District Council | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | Non-metropolitan district council |
| Leadership | |
Chairman of the Council | Terry Tyler, Liberal Democrats |
Leader of the Council | Martin Stears-Handscomb, Labour |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 49 |
 | |
Political groups | Administration (27)
Opposition (22)
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 2 May 2019 |
| Meeting place | |
| Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City | |
| Website | |
| http://www.north-herts.gov.uk | |
Composition
The Council consists of 49 elected members, representing twenty-four electoral wards. Nine of the wards elect two councillors each. Seven elect one, whilst eight elect three.
In the 2019 Council elections the Conservative Party lost overall control with 22 seats. Labour took 16 seats and the Liberal Democrats took the remaining 11.
| Party | Councillors | Change (2019) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 22 | -7 | |
| Labour | 16 | +2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 11 | +5 | |
| Total | 49 | - | |
| Source: BBC News | |||
Political leadership
Since the Local Government Act 2000, the council has used the 'Leader and cabinet' model. The current leader, appointed in May 2019, is Martin Stears-Handscomb (Labour, leading a Labour - Liberal Democrat coalition). Prior to 2000 the term 'leader' was used to indicate the leader of the largest political group, who in North Hertfordshire took the formal role of Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee.
| Party | Dates | Name | Formal role | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No overall control (Conservative minority administration) | 1974-1976 | Robert Flatman | Chair of Policy and Resources Committee | |
| Conservative | 1976-1992 | Robert Flatman | Chair of Policy and Resources Committee | |
| Conservative | 1992-1994 | Geoffrey Woods | Chair of Policy and Resources Committee | |
| No overall control (Conservative minority administration) | 1994-1995 | Geoffrey Woods | Chair of Policy and Resources Committee | |
| No overall control (Labour minority administration) | 1995-1996 | David Kearns | Chair of Policy and Resources Committee | |
| Labour | 1996-1999 | David Kearns | Chair of Policy and Resources Committee | |
| Conservative | 1999-2010 | F. John Smith | Leader of the Council | |
| Conservative | 2010-2019 | Lynda Needham | Leader of the Council | |
| No overall control (Labour - Liberal Democrat coalition) | 2019- | Martin Stears-Handscomb | Leader of the Council | |
| Source: Minutes of Annual Council Meetings 1974-2019, North Hertfordshire District Council. This list is the political leaders of the council rather than the largely ceremonial Chairman of the Council role, to which a different councillor is appointed each year. | ||||
Wards
North Hertfordshire consists of twenty four wards, electing 1, 2 or 3 members.
|
|
|