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The Chairman

Chairman of HCC - Jane Pitman

The Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council


The County Council elects a new Chairman and Vice-Chairman every other year. The Chairman must be a County Councillor, but not a member of the Cabinet. The position of Chairman is held for a period of two years.
The current Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council is Councillor Mrs Jane Pitman OBE DL. She was elected at the Annual County Council Meeting held on 17 May 2011. The current Vice-Chairman is Councillor Dave Hewitt.
Councillor Jane Pitman has been a member of Hertfordshire County Council for 26 years (the longest serving member). She has been married to Giles Pitman for 50 years and together they have 3 children and 6 grandchildren. Councillor Pitman's interests include spending time with her grandchildren, walking the dogs, gardening and the opera.

The Role of the Chairman


The Chairman of the County Council presides over meetings of the Council to ensure that its business is conducted efficiently and in accordance with the law and the Constitution. The Chairman is expected to use the casting vote at Council meetings to ensure that an administration's proposals are adopted.
The Chairman is the civic and ceremonial head of the Authority and represents the County Council at a variety of events and functions throughout the county including Citizenship Ceremonies, awards presentations, the opening of school buildings, charity fundraising events and visits to local hospices and community groups.

  • Being the politically impartial, neutral and non-executive civic and ceremonial head of the County Council.
  • Promoting the interests and the reputation of the County Council and Hertfordshire, and acting as an ambassador for both.
  • Carrying out civic, community and ceremonial activities and fostering community identity and pride.
  • In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman of the Council carries out these duties.

Each year the Chairman will attend numerous engagements throughout Hertfordshire and beyond. If you wish to request the attendance of the Chairman at an event, please send all invitations to the Chairman's Secretary:

Kate Lowen
Chairman's Office
Postal Point: CHO147
Hertfordshire County Council
County Hall
Hertford
Herts SG13 8DE

kate.lowen@hertscc.gov.uk


You can find out more about the Chairman's civic engagements by visiting her Facebook page.

Follow the Chairman on Twitter.

  • Chairmans diary of engagements
  • Civic protocol and order of precedence guidance for event organisers

    This guidance note on civic protocol is offered to organisers of events to which the Lord Lieutenant and/or the Chairman of the County Council, possibly as one of a number of civic dignitaries, has been invited to attend. It is difficult for a single brief document to cover all eventualities and so, if in doubt, do please contact the Chairman’s Office/Assistant Clerk to the Lieutenancy for advice.