HGB - Enhanced county-wide collaboration to deliver good growth and recovery

Hertfordshire Growth Board is taking another significant step in its collaborative working, for good growth and economic recovery across the county, by announcing its formation into a statutory joint committee.

Building upon the success of the Growth Board collaboration over the last two years, the new committee, made up of Hertfordshire Council Leaders and Chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership, will work within a democratic framework in all its future decision making.

This increased openness and transparency in the meetings of the Growth Board will provide a means for businesses, stakeholders and residents to understand how the work of the Board will support the delivery of good growth with long-term benefits for Hertfordshire.

Watford Borough Council is the first of 11 councils on the Board to officially announce, at its council meeting on Tuesday 13 October, its commitment to the new committee. Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s business-led board was the first to gives its formal support at its Board Meeting on 24^th September.

Hertfordshire County Council and Three Rivers District Council will have their meetings next week, with the remaining councils taking their decisions between now and mid-December.

Councillor David Williams, Chair of Hertfordshire Growth Board and Leader of Hertfordshire County Council, said: “The joint committee is a positive step and an important evolution of the Growth Board governance. With the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and the importance of economic recovery, the need for collaboration, consensus and joint working across Hertfordshire has never been greater.

“The County Council will be taking this commitment through its own democratic processes next week and we will show our continued support for the work of the Growth Board at those meetings.”

Peter Taylor, Mayor of Watford said: “It is really important that councils work together so that we can have better infrastructure for our residents in Hertfordshire. This is another step in the right direction for the Growth Board and means we have the right structures in place to make decisions that are in the best interests of local people.

“We must be open with people about this work, so that they know about this collaboration and why it is important for our area. I am pleased that council leaders are being transparent about this, working together and making the case for investment to support economic growth here.”