Plans drawn up to formalise Hertfordshire Growth Board

Plans have been drawn up to formalise the work of the Hertfordshire Growth Board, which brings together councils from across the county.

The Growth Board counts the county council, the 10 district and borough councils and the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) amongst its members.

Its aim is to coordinate strategic development, planning and delivery across the county.

And its focus has been to look at long-term ambition for the county, growth pressures and economic performance.

Since its launch in 2018, the board has met behind closed doors – although the minutes of its meetings are now public.

But now plans have been drawn up to formalise the governance of the Board and increase transparency around its work through the establishment of ‘a statutory joint committee’ and a growth board scrutiny committee.

The proposal was backed by a meeting of the county council’s growth, infrastructure, planning and the economy cabinet panel on Thursday (October 8).

And in the coming weeks, the same report will be considered further within the county council and by the 10 district and borough councils across Hertfordshire. The LEP will also consider the paper at their board meeting.

According to the report to the panel, the Board is currently in negotiation with the government to secure a ‘growth deal’.

And, it is reported, that would require a formal governance model in order to provide accountability to government, good governance and transparency.

According to the report – if approved – the first meeting of the growth board joint committee could be held as early as December 2020.