County Hall suggested as new council chamber

The leader of East Herts Council has suggested that County Hall be used for meetings by the new Eastern Hertfordshire unitary authority.

The county council is currently negotiating sale terms for County Hall with Stansted developer City & Country. The council has moved its operations to Stevenage.

At a county council meeting on Tuesday 21st July, Cllr Ben Crystall, who is also a county councillor, asked whether the terms of the sale could ensure the chamber was available for the new unitary council.

The member for Hertford All Saints said: "We appear to have four unitaries for now. And in the eastern area that, so we are told, will consist of 75 councillors.

"There is currently no council chamber in the eastern unitary area that could fit 75 councillors within it. The only one we have is the county council chamber.

"So my question to the executive member for resources and performance is: can you ensure that access to the chamber at County Hall is written in as a condition of sale with City & Country?"

In response, Cllr Chris Lucas (Lib Dem, Hitchin South) said: "Having had several discussions with representatives from our approved developer, City & Country, I know how excited they are to take on the project of County Hall.

"We are all keen to follow this development to the next stage of its evolution. But, cabinet only approved the sale of County Hall last month, so it’s still very early days.

"But I know City & Country will be thinking very creatively about how to make best use of this beautiful heritage building they have now become the new custodians of."

The council chamber, committee rooms, ballroom and other rooms are grade II* listed and development of these would be restricted by planning law.

Cllr Lcuas continued: "I would be amazed if they will not be having conversations with representatives from the new Eastern Hertfordshire unitary authority to see if they could come up with some kind of commercial arrangement, such as filming, civic events and maybe even future council meetings.

"That said, the Eastern Hertfordshire unitary authority hasn’t even formed yet; the joint committees have yet to be established and therefore they have not met.

"So this far out from LGR taking effect, we cannot second-guess any of the decisions of a future unitary authority, including where they hold their meetings.

"Tying the hands of our developers at this stage of uncertainty, I think, would be premature, counter-productive and unnecessary.

"I want all stakeholders, both current and future, to work constructively with our new developers on how best to utilise County Hall, and knowing you as I do, Cllr Crystall, I know that you will do just that."

Updated to clarify that Cllr Crystall was referring specifically to use of the council chamber, rather than basing administration at County Hall.