<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">  <channel>    <title>Hemel Today Council</title>    <link>https://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/politics/council/rss</link>    <description>Visit now for the latest news direct from Hemel Today Council and updated throughout the day</description>    <language>en-gb</language>    <copyright>Copyright 2026, Iconic Media Group Ltd</copyright>    <pubDate>Sat, 14 Nov 2026 10:56:05 GMT</pubDate>    <dc:date>2026-11-14T10:56:05Z</dc:date>    <dc:language>en-gb</dc:language>    <dc:rights>Iconic Media Group Ltd or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026</dc:rights>    <atom:link rel="self" href="https://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/politics/council/rss" type="application/rss+xml" />    <link rel="hub" href="https://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" />        <item>          <title><![CDATA[More children adopted in Hertfordshire in past year, report finds]]></title>          <link>https://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/people/more-children-adopted-in-hertfordshire-in-past-year-report-finds-9350214</link>          <description><![CDATA[The number of people in Hertfordshire approved as prospective adopters increased to 51 last year (2025-2026), compared to just 33 the year before.]]></description>          <pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2026 15:17:24 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">9350214</guid>        <media:content url="https://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjgyODc5NThhLWFiM2UtNDMwOC05YjExLTY2MDk5ZTkxYzZmYjo5ZWI4ZDU0OS01ZmFkLTRlMTgtOWIzNS0wMWVjMDA4YTViMmI=.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=3%3A2" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>Iconic Media Group</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[The data was presented to a meeting of Hertfordshire County Council’s children and families cabinet panel -  (Iconic Media Group)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Deborah Price and  Local Democracy Reporter]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2026-11-13T15:17:24+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[People]]></category><category><![CDATA[News]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Hertfordshire council has "no current plans" to remove David Walliams' books from library shelves]]></title>          <link>https://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/people/hertfordshire-council-has-no-current-plans-to-remove-david-walliams-books-from-library-shelves-9349466</link>          <description><![CDATA[Hertfordshire County Council has “no current plans” to pull David Walliams’ books from their library shelves, in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct.]]></description>          <pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2026 12:10:20 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">9349466</guid>        <media:content url="https://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmZiYTQ1YmY3LTdlNDMtNGQzMC04YmRhLTBmZDk2MDM4NDc3OTpmMTUwZTY3Ni1mYjYyLTQ5NTMtYjA5OC04ZWFhYzUyNzg0NTE=.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=3%3A2" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>Google Street View</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[Hertfordshire County Council says it has &quot;no current plans&quot; to remove David Walliams&#039; books from its libraries, including Hemel Hempstead -  (Google Street View)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Deborah Price and  Local Democracy Reporter]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2026-11-13T12:10:20+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[People]]></category><category><![CDATA[News]]></category>        </item>  </channel></rss>