Hitchin Nub News - first with the news!

North Herts District Council has confirmed its new leader - as HNN correctly confirmed at the start of this week.

As we also correctly stated, NHDC will be a joint Labour and Liberal Democrat administration, after a new agreement was been reached between the two parties.

Following our news that left other outlets else trailing, NHDC have now confirmed Labour group leader Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg will be the joint administration's nominee for leader of the council, with Liberal Democrats group leader Paul Clark nominee for deputy leader.

The agreement was signed by the leaders of the two groups on Monday, with the document including a policy framework for the new administration, as well as protocols for working arrangements between the groups.

The new leader and cabinet members for North Herts District Council (NHDC) were rubber stamped on Tuesday evening (May 26) at the council's Annual General Meeting.

The new eight-member team is made up of new leader, councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, supported by seven councillors, each responsible for a different portfolio.

The new team were unveiled following confirmation that the Council will be run by a Joint Administration during 2021-22, made up of Labour and Cooperative and Liberal Democrat Councillors.

The new cabinet and their portfolios are:

Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg – Leader of the Council

Councillor Paul Clark – Executive member for Planning

Councillor Ian Albert – Executive Member for Finance and IT

Councillor Judi Billing – Executive Member for Community Engagement

Councillor Sam Collins – Executive Member for Enterprise, the Arts and Transport

Councillor Amy Allen – Executive Member for Recycling and Waste Management

Councillor Steve Jarvis – Executive Member for Environment and Leisure

Councillor Gary Grindal – Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health

In addition to the cabinet roles, a new chair of the council was appointed, councillor Val Bryant and the new vice-chair of the council is councillor Cllr Terry Tyler.

Labour and Cooperative Group Leader Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg is the Joint Administration's Leader of the Council, with Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Paul Clark as Deputy Leader.

Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, leader of NHDC, said: "I am honoured to be taking on the role of Leader of the Council at such a critical time.

"My sincerest thanks go to Martin Stears-Handscomb for his role in adeptly steering the organisation during the pandemic, to ensure the most vulnerable members of our community were supported.

"I've made some significant changes to the cabinet roles to strengthen delivery of our priorities.

"Given the importance of recovery post-Covid, I have expanded the Enterprise portfolio to help boost town centre recovery and support the arts in North Herts.

"There is much to do and, together as a team, we will be working very closely with our residents, our businesses, communities and partners to shape and deliver on our priorities."

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PS Hitchin Nub News is delighted to have a column from the new leader of North Herts District Council, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg - after she became only the second woman to lead NHDC in its 47 year history.

Read our site for the Labour group leader's must-read take here at Hitchin Nub News - as she says: 'It's always the quiet ones you should watch out for…'