North Herts Council was "excited" to launch its new Council Plan for 2024-2028 last week.

Anthony Roche, North Herts Council's Managing Director, said: "This plan represents our commitment to ongoing improvement and collaboration with our partners and residents. It's about building on our successes, adapting to new challenges, and ensuring that the services we provide remain responsive, accessible and forward thinking."

A statement from North Herts Council listed the highlights of the new plan including a focus on: Thriving communities, accessible services, responsible growth and sustainability.

Cllr Daniel Allen, North Herts Council Leader explained to Hitchin Nub News that "the plan is an overarching document that gives you an overarching idea of what we want North Herts to be. It is based on the Labour manifesto that got us elected. We've spoken to Council staff, the opposition, we've had consultations, we've looked at the previous council plan and how other councils do things"

However, Cllr Jon Clayden, a Liberal Democrat Council representing Hitchin Highbury, said that "the new Council plan is not a significant break from the previous one, and lacks any real detail".

"While I'm happy to see the continuation of core principles such as accessibility and sustainability, the plan doesn't set out a clearly distinct vision for the new administration, nor does it commit the council to completing any particular action by a specific date; and that includes Churchgate and other projects that matter to Hitchin residents. The details are key, and we will be continuing to request and scrutinise those details from the administration throughout the plan period".

Liberal Democrat Cllr Matt Barnes, Chair Overview & Scrutiny, welcomed what he described as the continuation of "many of the policies and initiatives started under our joint administration".

However, Cllr Barnes was more critical of the overall plan doing "little to tell residents about how the local Labour party will approach the difficult choices they now need to make". He promised that the "Liberal Democrats we will hold the new administration to account, whilst continuing our work to get the best outcomes for residents all across the district".

Commenting on the newly adopted Council Plan, the Leader of the Conservative Group, Cllr Ralph Muncer said: "This document proves the Labour administration intends to continue their policy of people in North Herts paying more and getting less. Under this plan, thousands of new homes will be built in our communities without adequate infrastructure, the Councils commitment to our environment is being watered down, and residents in North Herts will see their bin collections cut from May 2025, all while Council Tax has increased every year since Labour and the Lib Dem's took control in 2019."

When asked specifically about what the Plan means for Churchgate and Hitchin Town Centre, Cllr Muncer stated: "It is likely to be years before we see any detailed proposals and costings regarding the future of Churchgate, and therefore I'm doubtful this plan will result in any change to the existing situation".

"We are lucky to have so many local independent retailers in Hitchin Town Centre, and we want to keep it that way. Therefore, it's disappointing to see a lack of focus on local business within the Council Plan, and why, whilst the Labour Government is putting up the cost of doing business, the Conservatives in Hitchin will continue to put forward policies that support a thriving Town Centre and growth in our local economy."