Question
Like others in this House, I think it is fair to say that this whole process has been a shambles. Like many in the House, I come from a local government background, and I feel sorry for my councillors, my council and my residents for what they are having to go through. Having said that, the previous decision for Hertfordshire was wrong, so I appreciate that the Minister has taken the opportunity to reassess what Hertfordshire will do. Given that my community is a collection of small towns and villages, and we do not have a mayoralty, how will he ensure that my community is properly represented, whatever the outcome for Hertfordshire?
Answer
I will review not only the proposals that came forward, but the consultation that was carried out at the time, and I will test the assumptions. On one side, there is the idea that big is beautiful, and that having a single unitary will save money and all the rest of it; on the other side, there is the idea that local is better. In today’s debate, we have heard that there are very different views on that, and I tend to find that the truth is somewhere in the middle. I am trying to get a compromise that people accept, but clearly we cannot pre-empt the findings; we are coming at this with an open mind.43% vibes
Verdict: RED (18/100)
The reply addresses only part of the question. It says the earlier proposals and consultation will be reviewed and that the government will seek a compromise with an open mind, but it does not say how small towns and villages without a mayoralty would be represented under any outcome. Because the answer is hedged throughout and leaves the central point unanswered, the person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up for specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| How the Minister will ensure that the community of small towns and villages in Hertfordshire, which has no mayoralty, is properly represented, whatever the final outcome for Hertfordshire's local government arrangements. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply commits only to reviewing the earlier proposals and consultation and to seeking a compromise with an open mind, which touches on the process by which local views are weighed. It never addresses how small towns and villages without a mayoralty will be represented under any outcome, so the core of the question is left unanswered. |