A new chairman has been elected to lead Hertfordshire County Council at civic and ceremonial events across the county.

At the Annual Meeting of Hertfordshire County Council [19 May 2026], Sandy Walkington, county councillor for St Albans South, has been elected as the forty-first chairman since 1889.

Councillor Walkington has been a county councillor since 2013 and has been vice-chairman since May 2025. He has sat on most of the council's cabinet panels and is a former Vice-Chair of Overview and Scrutiny. He represents the county council on the Hertfordshire Buildings Preservation Trust.

Sandy has lived in Hertfordshire for 46 years. His wife Francesca runs her own architecture practice in the county and their three children attended Hertfordshire state schools. He has been President of the St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society and also chair of the Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership, which is hosted by the county council.

In his working life, Sandy was a public affairs specialist in a variety of private and public sector roles. These included Director of Corporate Affairs for British Telecommunications and Director of Public Affairs for Transport for London.

Speaking following his election as Chairman, Sandy said: 'Hertfordshire is a remarkable place and it is a real privilege to take on this role. I am passionate about active travel, volunteering and sustainability. Expect to see me on buses and walking, also spending time with all the wonderful volunteers who do so much to supplement the county's professional staff, whether libraries or health walks or countryside management. Volunteers and officers alike give such remarkable service to our residents. Every day as a councillor is like doing a PhD in Hertfordshire studies. My role now is to fly the flag, and seek out, cherish and promote all that our extraordinary county has to offer.'