June 2025 - Member Update

Published: 20/06/2025

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County Hall, Hertford

We read with dismay the papers posted online in advance of the Hertfordshire County Council Resources and Performance Cabinet Panel (Thursday, 19 June 2025 at 2.00pm) and set out our concerns to elected members of that committee prior to the meeting which representatives of Hertford Civic Society (Jan Goodeve and Milena Nuti pictured above) subsequently attended and contributed to.The main agenda item was the marketing for disposal of County Hall for alternative uses other than employment and relocation of the democratic function of the Council away from Hertford.  We had in the past been given reasurances by the previous administration that the democratic hub would be retained in Hertford.  It was confirmed in the meeting that EHDC, the planning authority, allow that HCC can market the site for alternative uses. This was voted on by members 6 in favour, 3 against and one absention.

Hertford is historically the democratic heart of the County and has been for over 1000 years. It is a wrench for the County town to lose the seat of County governance.  A sad day for Hertford.

Hertfordshire Archives
There are plans to move these to new premises in Hertford as part of the Fire Station redevelopment.  It is anticipated that a planning application for that site will be submitted in October/November this year with building to commence 2026. That seems somewhat optimistic.

In addition, while the move is presented as cost cutting excercise it transpires that the move will require expenditure beyond relocation costs for constructing a suitable space within the Stevenage complex. A sum of £730K has been earmarked. So part of the capital receipt from disposal of County Hall in Hertford is earmarked for redevelopment of office space in Stevenage. Officers explained that it is anticipated that the new chamber will be ready for September and that an All Party Working Group will be set up, some members thought this a somewhat optimistic timetable and that they were presented with insufficient detail for a decision on a move and that matters were being rushed. How is this reallocation of funds justified when there are already purpose built beautiful function rooms suitable for any arrangement of governance within County Hall?

Concerns were raised about the Hertford site being left empty and vulnerable to vandalism; the Leahoe site has already been subject to arson recently.

In proceeding to market the site for alternative uses, any number of non residential uses should be actively pursued, including but not limited to:

- a conference centre, with hotel behind it (indeed conference centre could be in dual use with provision of democratic functions). Officers stated that having approached some hotel groups to date they apparently felt that there are insufficient surrounding grounds.

- film location and production (already the site is used frequently and earning significant returns as a location, and exploring local film industry connections and other sites nearby could yield a proposal for a use that would yield funds and add tourist value).

- Exhibition space or concert hall, to increase the cultural and artistic offer in Hertford.

As a civic society we are keen to see some employment uses so as to prevent Hertford slipping even further towards being a dormitory town.

Pursuing these and other options will require imaginative and pro-active research on the part of officers and directed briefing of the agents they may employ to assist them in identifying suitable interested parties and "alternative uses". The Council as guided by its councillors must have clear stratigic objectives of the kind of alternative uses that are required for the town to be sustainable in the broadest sense, and these will not be met without their being articulated and actively sought.  Concern was also raised that including the historic frontage of the building, as it is Grade II* listed with accompanying maintenance responsibilities, might actually negatively affect the overall valuation.  While the authority has a duty to obtain best value for any assets this is not limited to financial value: social value should also be a consideration.

3/25/0757/FUL|The erection of three covered padel tennis courts and one uncovered padel court with associated club hut and flood lighting to the neighbouring 3G pitch.

The site is within the Green Belt, Hertford Conservation Area, a designated Local Green Space-Hertford Green Finger and is located close to the centre of Hertford on the southern edge of Hertford Common. The committee is currently reviewing this application, the deadline for the submission of comments is 17 July.

3/25/0717/PATBC - Construction of two additional storeys above the existing commercial building to provide 12 flats with associated cycle store at The Rotunda

EHDC have given permission for this development.  At the time of writing the details of the conditions imposed had not been made available on the authority's planning portal.

Aylesbury Civic Society

Geoffrey Rice kindly hosted this visit and organised a tour of Hertford Castle for c40 people on Saturday 14 June.

Recycling of Blister Packs for Medicines

There is a petition on Facebook at https://www.change.org/p/bring-a-blister-pack-recycling-point-to-hertford-boots

if you would like to sign it asking that Boots have this facility in their Lea Wharf store.  Please paste the weblink into your browser.

Heat Pump Survey

If anyone has a heat pump and is interested in completing a survey please let us know and we will send you the email of the person organising the one used by Bishop's Stortford Climate Change Group.

ENDS

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