A Labour councillor's call for Hertfordshire to consider becoming a council of sanctuary has been supported.

Cllr Alistair Willoughby (Labour, Baldock and Letchworth East) put the proposal to a meeting of the county council's public health and community safety cabinet panel on Monday, September 14.

As a result of the vote, the cabinet will now be asked to determine whether the council should seek further information and consider working towards "council of sanctuary" accreditation.

In the run-up to the meeting, Broxbourne's Conservative MP Lewis Cocking slammed the proposal as a "grandstanding gesture".

A petition calling for a referendum on any proposal to seek "council of sanctuary" status has been backed by 11,000 signatures.

But Cllr Willoughby stressed that the motion only asked to explore whether the move could help the council "do even better with the resources already in place".

He said some of the claims made against the motion in advance of the meeting were "wildly misleading".

"Becoming a county council of sanctuary does not encourage irregular migration, and it does not invite more asylum seekers to Hertfordshire," he told councillors.

"The people we are talking about are already here.

"They have been placed in our towns and villages by successive national governments while their cases are decided. That is the right process for asylum seeking.

"We do not choose who arrives. But we can choose how we respond."

At the meeting Cllr Willoughby highlighted the work of the City of Sanctuary organisation with councils, schools, libraries, universities and other organisations across the country.

He told councillors: "If Hertfordshire adopts 'county of sanctuary' status, it means taking practical community-focussed steps to support people who are already here.

"Nothing in this motion calls for a change to immigration rules or border decisions. What it does call for is a fundamental recognition of the humanity of asylum seekers and refugees.

"People who live in our communities should be part of our communities for as long as they are here, whether that is long-term or temporary.

"Including people rather than isolating them strengthens our shared resilience and helps build a community that works better for everyone."

As a result of the motion, seconded by Cllr Beth Kelly (Labour, Hatfield North), the council's cabinet will not be asked to determine whether the council should seek council of sanctuary accreditation.

Instead, they will be asked to consider whether council officers should report back on the requirements of the "council of sanctuary" accreditation process.

They will also be asked to consider whether to request a report on the existing support provided to refugees and asylum seekers across Hertfordshire and on opportunities for partnership working with other organisations.

They will also be asked to consider whether to engage with the City of Sanctuary network.

And they will be asked to consider how the council could improve access to information, support services, education, healthcare and employment pathways for those seeking sanctuary in the county.

Speaking against the motion at the cabinet panel meeting on Monday (September 14), Cllr Peter Colley (Restore, Bedwell) criticised the absence of consultation with residents.

"You cannot genuinely claim that this represents the will of the local residents who elected you," he said.

"How can you justify bypassing the democratic input of Hertfordshire residents?

"And how [do] you reconcile this decision with the immediate tangible strains your voters are already experiencing?

Cllr Colley suggested that essential local infrastructure was at "breaking point".

And he went on to ask: "How can you prioritise the administrative fees and systematic pressures of an external accreditation scheme, when you are currently failing to adequately resource and fund the core services that your taxpayers depend on?"

Cllr Mark Biddle (Reform UK, Welwyn Garden City South) suggested that the motion was "profoundly misguided".

He said the "motion of madness" risked "putting ideology before practicality and political grandstanding before the interests of the people who we were elected to represent".

He added: "The Labour Party once claimed to speak for the working people.

"Working people have awoken from their slumber and are speaking now. They are asking for secure borders, controlled immigration, proper enforcement, safe communities, decent housing and public services that work.

"Above all, they are asking politicians to listen, rather than lecture.

"Let us be compassionate without being naive. Let us treat people with dignity, while insisting upon lawful behaviour and respect for our communities. And let us defend our democratic institutions, British traditions and our way of life without apology. This is not hatred; this is not extremism. This is responsible governance."

Meanwhile, Cllr Morris Bright (Conservative, Potters Bar West and Shenley), also against the motion, questioned why the proposal was needed.

He highlighted the arrival of 1,700 people as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme and the way the county had responded to the "crisis" in Afghanistan.

He said: "Perhaps our real challenge in Hertfordshire isn't the lack of support, but lack of visibility," he said.

"And many residents and service users might simply not know that these resources exist.

"So while I understand why some people feel that this is a new path, I wonder if our energy would be better spent flagging up what we already do, because actions speak louder than words.

"And I would like us to consider very much focusing on our current work visibility – proving that we are already, I believe, a respected county of safety and sanctuary."

At the meeting, the motion was backed by the majority of the public health and community safety cabinet panel members.

And following the meeting, executive member for public health and community safety Cllr Ajanta Hilton (Liberal Democrat, St Stephen's) signalled that exploring "council of sanctuary" status reflected the values that define the county.

She said: "I strongly believe Hertfordshire should be a place of sanctuary for those fleeing violence, persecution and conflict.

"While the county council does not decide where asylum seekers and refugees are placed, we have an important role in supporting integration, strengthening community cohesion and helping people contribute to local life.

"Hertfordshire has a proud record of welcoming and supporting those in need, as demonstrated through initiatives such as Homes for Ukraine,

"Exploring council of sanctuary status is a natural extension of that commitment and reflects the values that define our county."

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said: "A motion to explore further whether Hertfordshire should become a council of sanctuary and next steps was passed at the public health and community safety cabinet panel today (September 14).

"This does not commit the council to a particular course of action.

"It will give the opportunity to gather evidence and understand if council of sanctuary status could build on the work already taking place across the county."