After eleven years serving the residents of Bentley Heath & The Royds, Cllr Meenal Sachdev will be standing down to serve as the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire.
Her full statement is below 
“After eleven extraordinary years serving as a councillor on Hertsmere Borough Council, I am now stepping down from this role. I do so with both pride and gratitude, as I prepare for a new chapter of public service - having been nominated to serve as High Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 2027. As this role is rightly a non-political one, I am expected to have given up any elected positions at least six months before taking office. For me to grasp this opportunity with the level of commitment it deserves, I feel now is the time for me to start focusing on this next stage of public service.
Since first being elected in May 2015, it has been a privilege to work alongside colleagues at the council – both within the Conservative group and across all political parties in the chamber - on issues that truly matter to our communities.
I am especially proud of the progress we made together on the women and girls agenda and in strengthening our work on modern slavery. None of this happens on its own; it is always the result of collaboration, commitment, and people willing to work together for the public good.
On a personal level, serving as a councillor has also taught me something very important. When I first stepped forward into local politics, my children were still young and I was not sure whether someone like me - a British Indian woman balancing family, community and professional life - truly belonged in that space. Over the years I have learned that representation matters deeply. All voices matter. And the more diverse the people around the table, the stronger, more thoughtful and more accessible our policies become. I hope that others from British Indian and other underrepresented backgrounds will see that there is indeed space for them in public service too and will put themselves forward for election.
I want to thank the council's Chief Executive, Sajida Bijle, and the many dedicated officers at Hertsmere, who quietly but diligently make local government services work every single day. I am particularly grateful to Hilary Shade, whose partnership and support - both within my previous Executive portfolio and beyond it - made so much of that work possible.
I would also like to thank former Leader Councillor Morris Bright, who first encouraged me to step into local politics when I knew very little about it. That conversation changed the course of my public life, and I will always be grateful for his belief in me, and his continued advice, guidance and friendship over this past decade.
Thanks also to our current Conservative group leader, Councillor Lynette Sullivan, a good friend and great example of a true community representative. It has been wonderful to watch her journey from local councillor to Leader of the Opposition at Hertsmere, and I am proud to have served with her.
I am also grateful to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Jeremy Newmark, and Deputy Leader Councillor Chris Shenton for working in partnership across political lines on important issues, particularly on the safety of women and girls.
Leaving this role isn’t easy - but I do so deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been able to serve, and hopeful that in the years ahead, particularly as a future High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, I can continue to support the communities of Hertfordshire in a positive and meaningful way. That is my goal and I will strive to achieve it.”
Harvey Cohen, Chair of Hertsmere Conservative Association, said:
"Cllr Meenal Sachdev has given outstanding service to Hertsmere over the past eleven years. She has been a tireless champion for her community, particularly through her work raising awareness of modern slavery and her passionate advocacy for women and girls. She has also been a fantastic supporter of our Association, always generous with her time for local campaigns and events. She has been a tireless worker for our Association."
Cllr Lynette Sullivan, Leader of the Conservative Group, Hertsmere Borough Council, said:
"It has been a real privilege to serve alongside Meenal and to see the dedication she brings to public life. She has been a great role model to me, and I aspire to be able to make as much impact in my political career as she has in hers. Her work supporting women and girls and raising awareness of modern slavery has been truly inspirational. She will be greatly missed on the council, but I know she will continue to make a positive difference to communities across Hertfordshire."
