HERTSMERE will suffer from the lack of experience of the six men in charge of the borough council's services, according to the Labour group.

There were heated exchanges at an extraordinary Hertfordshire Borough Council meeting on Wednesday, October 17, as Labour councillors objected to the controlling Conservative council nominees to the executive.

The committee system was officially done away with as Councillor Neil Payne was elected leader of the council, and five fellow Conservative party members voted into the executive.

Decisions affecting Hertsmere residents will now be decided by just half a dozen elected members from one party, with the exception of development and control (planning).

Tory councillor for Aldenham West Mr Neil Payne was elected leader of the council following Mr Stuart Nagler's resignation, due to, among other reasons, the council's restructuring.

However, when it came to endorsing the six conservative nominations for the executive committee, Labour councillors abstained from voting.

Councillor Bryan Stanley said: "We cannot support them because they are among the least experienced in local government, and certainly not the best candidates with one exception that are in the Conservative group.

"There are people in the group with years of experience and knowledge, and they have not been given them the job of running the council and taking decisions of vital parts of our work. That is the mistake the Conservative group has made.

"I do not think you would expect us to express support if we did not think that is the best team to represent the people of the borough."

Councillor Payne said: "We're not all long in the tooth. There are people in here that do not have the experience you have, but I am satisfied I have selected a good team that will serve us well."

Councillor Morris Bright, who now holds the portfolio for Leisure and Environment on the executive committee, cited the success of Elstree Studios, which has seen its fortunes change since the council bought it.

Conservative Councillor Martin Saunders said the change over in the system was "a sad day in the history of Hertsmere Borough Council" and criticised the Labour Government and Liberal Democrat party for the "destruction of local government".

He said: "The concept of local democracy, where each one of us 39 councillors has an equal vote, is being destroyed.

"We are now required by law to delegate issues to a cabinet or cabal of the majority party, which, under the legislation of this Labour government, can take decisions in private without notice to any of us members."

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Michael Colne said if his party had voted with the Government to change local government structure, it was because like all parties they failed to understand local government.

He said: "Quite frankly, there is nothing to chose between the Conservative and Labour governments."

October 30, 2001 15:30