26 May 2026
A team of nine councillors will be responsible for the overall direction of St Albans district council during the remainder of its existence.
Subject to a vote of the whole council, the new leadership team is ready to drive forward the Lib Dem administration’s planned delivery of major improvement projects throughout the final two years of the district council ahead of its 2028 abolition under Local Government Reorganisation.
They are:
- Simon Johns: social housing;
- Sarwar Shamsher: inclusion;
- Keith Cotton: environment and sustainability;
- Edgar Hill: museums, events, waste and recycling;
- Helen Campbell: sport and leisure/entertainment centres, parking and green spaces;
- Anthony Rowlands: Local Government Reorganisation advisor;
- Robert Donald: city neighbourhoods (unparished area) liaison;
- Giles Fry: property and commercial assets, finance and budgets, legal, customer and electoral services;
- Paul de Kort: Local Plan, financial robustness and external organisations lead.
SADC leader Cllr de Kort said: “Subject to a vote of the whole council, our nominated leadership team is ready to go full throttle in driving forward the Liberal Democrats’ priority projects across the district.
“From investing in social homes in London Colney to community centres like the Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre, protecting vital services like CCTV and fly-tipping enforcement, installing solar panels on council buildings like Harpenden Leisure Centre and more, we Lib Dems have shown that we have delivered on our pledges and we are determined to keep going for the final two years of the council before it is abolished.
“We’ve got exciting plans to deliver further projects for our community, including a fantastic new sports and community hub on the site of the William Bird pavilion, and our continued work revitalising the River Ver.
“There is great continuity and expertise in our nominated leadership team and two fantastic additions, all bringing important experience in many fields.
“Despite difficult local government funding and the uncertainty of how Local Government Reorganisation will play out in our local area, we are determined to keep protecting services against the odds and delivering for our local residents.”
The final appointments will be voted on and confirmed at a full council meeting tomorrow, May 27.
