Chairman of the Council
 | Meet Councillor David Miller, the new Chairman of North Hertfordshire District Council, who takes over from Councillor Mrs Allison Ashley. He intends to be out and about as much as possible during his 12 months in office. "Community and communication with the residents of North Hertfordshire are what is important to me" he said. "I am going to try and get to as many parish council meetings as I can and I want to publicise what we do at the District Council. We are involved in so much more than running our waste and recycling services. North Herts District Council officers and councillors work together to make life better for every resident, improving leisure facilities, town centres, planning and transport, often in partnership with other agencies." |
"We are campaigning to preserve our countryside from the proposed East of Luton expansion and we are at the forefront of the fight against crime, against anti-social behaviour and against rubbish and fly-tipping. I am proud to be the figurehead for the Council for the next year."
Councillor Miller, who represents the rural area of Hitchwood, Offa and Hoo, lives in St Ippolyts with his wife Pauline. Three of his four children are still in the area and he has two grandchildren.
The Chairman was born in Royston and has lived in Hertfordshire for most of his life, although he spent eight years in New Zealand when he was a child. He is involved in several clubs and societies, as well as sitting on official bodies such as Hertfordshire County Council's Health Scrutiny Committee representing NHDC. He is also a governor at Hitchin Girls' School and is on the Hitchin Educational Foundation.
Councillor Miller intends to raise money during his year of office for Sport North Herts, which gives grants to talented individuals and coaches. "I want to encourage people to take up sport and reach their full potential, especially as we come up to the 2012 Olympics" he said.
The Chairman of the Council is elected by the whole Council and serves for one year. He or she represents the District at a wide range of public events on a non party political basis. The Leader of the Council is nominated by the majority party and is the political head of the administration.
If you belong to an organisation which is community-based, is planning an event to celebrate a special occasion and wish the Chairman to join you, please contact the Chairman's office to check his availability to attend. You can either ring 01462 474648, or email his secretary Susanne.Gow 
. Alternatively, you could download the form below and return it by post or e-mail (contact details are on the form).
Chairman's Engagement Form (27.4KB) (link opens in a new window)
The Vice Chairman for 2009-2010 is Cllr David Levett, who lives in Letchworth Garden City and represents Letchworth South East Ward.
Protocol
Under the Local Government Act 1972 the Chairman of the Council is First Citizen of the District, and at events within the District takes precedence over everyone except the Queen's Representative (the Lord Lieutenant for Hertfordshire). If the Vice Chairman is attending an engagement in place of the Chairman, he or she takes the same precedence.
The Chairman of North Hertfordshire District Council always takes precedence over the Mayors of the Town Councils.
Civic Insignia
The Chairman's badge on the Chain of Office is worn by the Chairman of North Herts District Council during his/her Civic Year when representing the District Council at civic and community events.
The Arms or shield indicates the historical background and the diagonal stripes give the manorial history of Baldock and Letchworth Garden City through the colours of the Clare and Montfichet and the Barrington families. The ermine is from the shield of the Lytton family of Knebworth and suggests the royal manor of Hitchin. It represents Ermine Street running north through the District to join the ancient Icknield Way at Royston. On the top part of the shield, the fleece between two sheaves of barley symbolises the traditional activities of the area - agriculture, malting, wool and straw-plaiting.
The Crest indicates special features associated with North Hertfordshire. The bird (the Royston Crow), stands on a gold crown which is also featured in the Hertfordshire County arms. The crossed branches of oak represent the pioneering of the Garden City movement in Letchworth and the crown has five battlements, symbolising the union of five authorities in one, repeated in the five points on each antler of the hart.
The Supporters are the harts featured in the County Arms, but with the addition of gold pentagons charged with black cogwheels hanging from crowns. The pentagons refer to the union of the five authorities and the cogwheels to the establishment of modern industries in the area.
The Council's Motto MEMORES ACTI PRUDENTES FUTURI translates as "We are mindful of the past and careful for the future". It combines themes from the mottoes of Hitchin and Letchworth Garden City and recognises the contribution made by all the former authorities to the life and work of the new one. In Latin, it recalls the Roman associations of Baldock, Royston and Ermine Street.
