Chairman of the Council
The current Chairman of North Hertfordshire District Council is Cllr Michael Weeks. Michael Weeks was born in Barnet to parents who hailed from the West Country. Michael’s father came to London to join the Metropolitan Police. Educated in Barnet and Southgate, Michael joined the RAF at an early age and served as a junior air traffic controller in the Middle East, Africa and Northern Ireland. After leaving the RAF, he spent a short period in Civil Air Traffic Control, followed by a complete change of direction. Working for a large financial company, Michael undertook studies under the auspices of the Institute of Legal Executives. He has stayed with the Law ever since, working for a number of financial institutions carrying out a litigation function. Currently he works for a high street bank. Married to Kay, they have three children: one at university, another, hopefully, going to university soon and a third about to start at a local college. Michael has been a Councillor for 15 years, which includes a term with the London Borough of Barnet. At North Herts District Council, he has served on many Committees and has been Chairman of the Baldock and District Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee. Hobbies are difficult to pursue, but when time permits, Michael enjoys restoring old things! During his year as Chairman of North Hertfordshire District Council, Michael would like to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, namely to represent and be an ambassador for the Council, both locally and in the wider field of Hertfordshire and beyond. Finally, Michael’s chosen charity for the year is North Herts SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society), which is a charity dear to Michael and Kay. 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. 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 |  |
Leader of the Council
The Leader of the Council is nominated by the majority party and is the political head of the administration. The new Leader of North Hertfordshire District Council is Councillor Lynda Needham, formerly Portfolio Holder for Waste, Recycling and Environment.
Vice-Chairman
The Vice-Chairman for the Civic Year 2011-2012 is Cllr Joan Kirby. She lives in Hitchin and represents the Hitchin Oughton 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.
