The new leader of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Rose Grewal, has refused to confirm what changes have been made to the Labour-Liberal Democrat administration at the authority.
At a meeting yesterday (Wednesday, March 11), Cllr Grewal was asked by Conservative councillor Sunny Thusu to explain any “substantive changes” made to the new agreement between the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups, and how they “differ” from the previous agreement.
The two groups have been part of a joint administration since May 2023, but that administration appeared to be on the brink of collapse in January this year when the Liberal Democrats triggered a dispute clause in their agreement.
Labour’s cabinet majority had twice pushed through recommendations, on local government reorganisation and on mooted election delays, against the wishes of full council and against the wishes of the Liberal Democrat group.
But the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups signed a new joint administration agreement in February, with Cllr Grewal replacing Max Holloway as leader of the council and Sandreni Bonfante (LD) replacing Jane Quinton as deputy leader.
Cllr Grewal told Cllr Thusu yesterday that it would be “really inappropriate” to “go into the detail of the administration and the negotiations”, and that “any political discussions on the joint administration are a matter for those organisations”.
She said it was “entirely normal and … responsible for political groups in any administration to take time to discuss priorities and ensure continued alignment on the work of the council.”
Cllr Grewal continued: “I just want to focus on the fact that we have kept completely focused on delivering the services and advancing the programme of work that people out there really care about.
“I don’t think [there’s] any point … to keep unravelling the stuff that’s gone before.
“What people care about out there is what we’re doing now and how we’re delivering.
“I don’t think anyone else is really that bothered about anything else.”
Cllr Gewal said the priority of the Labour and Liberal Democrats groups is their “shared responsibility to deliver for our residents”, and added that discussions between the groups had allowed them to “clarify how we will continue to work together effectively for the future, ensuring stability for the council and continued delivery for Welwyn Hatfield”.
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