Councillors to scrutinise decision to pursue County of Sanctuary status for Hertfordshire

The Liberal Democrat cabinet agreed that the authority should join the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network earlier this month.

At the same time, they formally requested council officials “take steps towards recognition as a Council of Sanctuary”.

However, as part of the council’s democratic processes, those decisions have been paused after they were called in by a group of councillors, led by Cllr Saul Jacob (Reform UK, Borehamwood South).

Now they are to be reviewed at a specially convened meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday November 3.

As a result of that meeting, the committee could make one of three decisions.

Members could decide that they have no objection to the cabinet’s Council of Sanctuary decision being implemented.

Or they could refer the decision back to the cabinet for reconsideration, giving their reasons for the action.

Alternatively, if they were to find that the cabinet decision was in breach of council policy or budget, they could refer it to a meeting of the full county council.

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