The Standards Committee of Hertfordshire County Council met on Wednesday 14 January 2026 to approve the terms of reference for a review of the council's Standing Orders and to appoint members to a Constitution Working Group. The meeting was held in person and webcast live.

Hertfordshire County Council Standing Orders Review

The committee approved the proposed approach to undertaking a review of the Hertfordshire County Council Standing Orders and other relevant aspects of the Constitution. This review will be conducted by a newly established Constitution Working Group (CWG). The CWG will consist of 13 members, reflecting political proportionality, and will include an independent member. The group will be tasked with identifying areas for improvement within the council's constitution, with a particular focus on Standing Orders governing formal meetings. The review is expected to take at least three months, with the possibility of fast-tracking certain aspects.

The decision to establish this working group follows a recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The report presented to the Standards Committee highlighted that recent political changes, including a shift to a no overall control scenario, have necessitated a review of governance processes to ensure they remain effective. The CWG will aim to ensure the constitution is legally compliant, clear, accessible, and reflective of best practice in local government. External advice from organisations such as the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) and legal experts like Bevan Brittan may be sought. The CWG's proposals will be submitted to the Standards Committee for assurance before being recommended to Full Council for final approval.

During the discussion, several points were raised regarding the working arrangements of the CWG. Councillor Alex Curtis raised the question of whether substitutes would be permitted for CWG members who might be unable to attend meetings. Councillor Ruth Brown suggested that substitutes could be difficult for ongoing working groups but did not oppose the idea, stating it needed careful consideration. Councillor John Hale expressed a preference against substitutes, arguing for continuity and consistency in the working group's discussions. He proposed that if a substitute were appointed, they should serve for the entire term of the working group. Councillor Brown also inquired about the format of the CWG meetings, asking if they could be held online to facilitate attendance. Quentin Baker, Director of Law and Governance, confirmed that as it is a working group, there is no legal requirement for meetings to be held in person, and online participation via platforms like Microsoft Teams would be acceptable. Councillor Tim Williams noted that the CWG would report back to the Standards Committee, which would then make recommendations to Full Council.

The following members were nominated for the Constitution Working Group:

• Conservative: Alex Curtis, Ralph Munster, Richard Roberts
• Reform: Matthew Hurst, Simon Rhodes
• Green: Ben Crystal
• Labour: Nigel Bell
• Liberal Democrat: Lawrence Brass, Tim Williams, Ruth Brown
• Independent: Nicholas Moss

Councillor Alex Curtis was permitted to participate in the discussion and debate regarding the Standing Orders review, despite not being formally appointed to the working group at that time, due to a substitution request not being processed in time. However, he was not permitted to vote.

The committee also confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 8 December 2025.