Hertsmere council leader accused of ‘selling’ mayoralty

Photographs were posted on social media last week of a contract signed by current mayor of Hertsmere, Cllr Richard Butler.

The contract states that Cllr Butler, who was elected as a Labour councillor, must pay eight per cent of both his councillor and mayoral allowances to the Labour group.

Cllr Richard Butler. (Image: Hertsmere Borough Council) The councillor allowance is £7,234 per year and the mayoral allowance is for an additional £2,894.

If Cllr Butler falls into arrears, the contract states, he “may be deemed to have resigned” from his mayoral role.

Cllr Jeremy Newark. (Image: Hertsmere Borough Council) It has led to an accusation from Cllr Michelle Vince, who was previously a Labour member of the borough council but now sits as an independent on Hertfordshire County Council, that Cllr Newmark “sold” the mayoral position to Cllr Butler.

She said: “For me … that mayorship has been sold to Richard Butler, as he promised to abide by what the leader said he had to do.

“Anyone that wouldn’t have agreed to that wouldn’t have got it.”

Cllr Michelle Vince (Image: Hertsmere Borough Council) Hertsmere has a ceremonial mayor, meaning that the council elects one of its members to be the Crown’s representative in the borough each year.

They carry out duties including attending events and chairing meetings of the full council. The mayor is expected to act in an impartial and non-political manner. 

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Other elements of the contract signed by Cllr Butler have also proved controversial, with Cllr Morris Bright – leader of the Conservative opposition at Hertsmere Borough Council – saying that he is “troubled” by the situation.

The contract states that the leader of the council could remove the mayor “from this role at any time, with or without notice”.

It also commits the mayor to follow “all instructions issued by the group whip” and to using social media to “raise the profile of … Hertsmere Labour & Cooperative party”, as well as the profiles of the mayor’s office and Hertsmere’s 50th-anniversary celebrations.

Cllr Morris Bright. (Image: Hertsmere Borough Council) Cllr Vince added she was “disappointed and angry” that the ceremonial mayoralty has been “politicised”.

Questioned on the contract at last week’s full council meeting (January 22) by Cllr Alan Plancey (Con), Cllr Newmark said: “As a Labour group, we have very high standards for all of our elected officials.

“Every single member of my group signs a contract … committing them to adhere to the highest possible standards in executing any duties they take on as [part of] their role in the council.

“We’re not prepared to accept second best, particularly when it comes to holders of the high civic offices in this role.

“So, yes, all members of my group have signed a contract; all members of the group pay a portion of their allowances to the Labour Party. It’s kind of what socialists do – we share.

“I will make absolutely no apology for putting in place processes that ensure we have the best possible standards from all holders of public office.”

The contract also included commitments from Cllr Butler to attend regular events during Hertsmere’s anniversary year, to spotlessly maintain his register of interests, and to take up appropriate training opportunities.

Cllr Newmark told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Cllr Vince “misunderstands” the mayoral role and continued: “The holder of the office of mayor is always an elected councillor who stood for election on a political platform and has political duties in their capacity as a councillor.

“They must put those allegiances to one side when carrying out mayoral duties and are free to pick them up again immediately afterwards.”

He had earlier said that the “civic and ceremonial aspects” of the mayor’s role are “strictly non-political”.

Cllr Bright said: “How can the mayor possibly be acting independently and non-politically with these types of unfair rules placed upon him?

“I was leader of the borough council for 16 years, and in all my 25 years on the council, I have never heard of a mayor having to sign a contract to be the mayor.

“It is certainly not in the spirit of the mayor being a non-political, independent member of the council when it is clear that the leader is attempting to orchestrate his every move,” Cllr Bright said.

A council spokesperson confirmed that they have received a complaint relating to the contract, and it will be referred to their standards assessment panel for “initial consideration”.