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Hertfordshire can progress towards Council of Sanctuary status

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 19:22 · Archive

Hertfordshire County Council can proceed with plans to become a Council of Sanctuary after councillors rejected a call-in challenge.

Hertfordshire County Council's Liberal Democrat cabinet agreed last month to join the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network and pursue Council of Sanctuary status. The decision was subsequently called in for further scrutiny by a group of councillors led by Cllr Saul Jacob (Reform, Borehamwood South).

Those councillors raised concerns about the financial implications of the decision, procedural deficiencies and insufficient public consultation. A petition on the council's own website opposing the move was backed by 4,096 residents. During a 90-minute debate at a specially convened overview and scrutiny committee meeting on 3 November, Cllr Jacob argued there were 'at least four major failings' in the cabinet's decision. He highlighted what he described as 'a repeated legal error regarding refugee funding rights and public fund entitlements' and 'an unsubstantiated timeline regarding hotel closures and local asylum numbers'.

Cllr Jacob also raised concerns about an 'unaccounted and uncosted internal staff burden', at a time when the council is forecasting a £23.4m overspend. He said the council was 'essentially ignoring the will of the petitioners and a deep and widespread desire for a county-wide democratic process'.

Following the debate, the majority of councillors at the meeting found 'no objection to the called-in decision being implemented'. This means the original cabinet decision can now proceed without any further debate or consideration.

Hertfordshire can progress towards Council of Sanctuary status
Image: Hemel Gazette

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In this story: Hertfordshire County Council · City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network · Saul Jacob · Hertfordshire

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