North Herts Council has a new chair and vice-chair after its annual general meeting yesterday (Thursday, May 25).

The meeting confirmed the new appointments, as well as changes to the council's cabinet, and came after 16 seats - a third of the total - were contested in May's local elections.

The new chair of the council is Cllr Daniel Allen, replacing Cllr Sam North, and his consort will be his wife, Cllr Amy Allen.

This year, the chair's charities will be Feed Up Warm Up, a homeless charity, and Resolve, an adult drug and alcohol structured treatment provider.

Cllr Daniel Allen served as vice-chair last year, and he has now been replaced in that role by Cllr Chris Lucas.

The council remains under no overall control with Labour holding 19 seats, and the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives holding 15 apiece. As a result, it will continue to be run as a joint Labour and Liberal Democrat administration.

Cllr Elizabeth Dennis (Labour) will continue as leader of the council, with Liberal Democrat group leader, Cllr Ruth Brown, continuing as deputy leader.

The post of leader is elected by all members of the council every four years. The leader chairs all meetings of the council’s cabinet and leads on policy development and implementation.

READ MORE: 14-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of threats to kill

The cabinet is almost unchanged, with only one new member as Cllr Alistair Willoughby becomes the executive member for communities and partnerships.

The role was previously titled executive member for community engagement, and had been held by the late Judi Billing. After Judi's death, Cllr Dennis had taken on the duties associated with the role.

The full cabinet is now as follows:

  • Cllr Elizabeth Dennis - leader of the council
  • Cllr Ruth Brown - executive member for planning & transport, and deputy leader
  • Cllr Ian Albert - executive member for finance & IT
  • Cllr Alistair Willoughby - executive member for communities & partnerships
  • Cllr Keith Hoskins - executive member for enterprise & arts
  • Cllr Amy Allen - executive member for recycling & waste management
  • Cllr Steve Jarvis - executive member for environment & leisure
  • Cllr Sean Prendergast - executive member for housing & environmental health

Cllr Dennis said: “I am grateful to the people of North Herts for their overwhelming vote of confidence in the work of the joint administration, and look forward to our continued partnership this year.

"We have a fantastic team of new councillors from diverse backgrounds dedicated to championing our communities.

“We will continue working with you, putting people at the heart of everything we do as we move towards a sustainable brighter future together.”

The deputy cabinet has also been announced, and is as follows:

Cllr Ian Mantle – deputy executive member for planning & transport

Cllr Matt Barnes – deputy executive member for finance & IT

Cllr Dominic Griffiths – deputy executive member for communities & partnerships

Cllr Tamsin Thomas – deputy executive member for enterprise & arts

Cllr Tom Tyson – deputy executive member for recycling & waste management

Cllr Mick Debenham – deputy executive member for environment & leisure

Cllr Brown, deputy leader of the council, added: "I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to continue working with Labour and Liberal Democrat colleagues, to provide the best possible local services.

"We will continue to listen to residents and develop meaningful partnerships with local businesses and community organisations, for a better future for us all."