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Hertfordshire to see 11 councils reduced to four

Martin HeathHertfordshire political reporter
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Hertfordshire County Council will be abolished as part of the changes

The government has announced that Hertfordshire will be split into four unitary authorities.

The existing system of a county council with a further 10 district and borough councils will be scrapped.

The four new councils will handle everything from bin collections to social care.

The local government secretary Steve Reed said the changes would create "stronger local councils delivering better local services".

The new system will introduce:

  • A North West Hertfordshire Council uniting the existing authority areas of Dacorum and St Albans
  • A South West Hertfordshire Council joining Hertsmere, Three Rivers and Watford
  • A Central Hertfordshire Council bringing together North Hertfordshire, Stevenage and Welwyn Hatfield
  • An East Hertfordshire Council consisting of the existing Broxbourne and East Hertfordshire authority areas and Royston, Northaw and Cuffley from neighbouring areas

Each council will serve about 300,000 people.

Splitting the county into four councils was the option favoured by Broxbourne, Dacorum, Hertsmere, North Hertfordshire, Stevenage, and Welwyn Hatfield.

The debate on which option to support almost destroyed the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition in Welwyn Hatfield, because the full council preferred the three-council arrangement but Labour members of the cabinet overrode that decision.

Hertfordshire County Council Map showing a proposed four-unitary-authority model for Hertfordshire local government reorganisation. The county is divided into four colour-coded areas: West (Dacorum and St Albans), South-West (Hertsmere, Three Rivers and Watford), Central (North Herts, Stevenage and Welwyn Hatfield, with some ward adjustments), and East (East Herts and Broxbourne). A legend on the right lists the councils included in each proposed unitary authority.Hertfordshire County Council
A consultation map shows how the county will be divided, although Arbury will actually stay in North Hertfordshire

Thursday's announcement marks the biggest change in the way Hertfordshire is governed since the two-tier system was introduced in 1974.

At that time, public services were split between the county council, which handles things like social care and education, and the 10 districts and boroughs, which look after more local functions like housing, planning and rubbish collection.

The government believes the change will save money, because a reduction in councils will mean lower staff and councillor costs.

It should also be easier for residents to complain about public services or seek help because the four new councils will cover everything.

The changes are part of the government's plan for wider devolution of power away from Westminster.

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The local government secretary Steve Reed has ended months of speculation

Reed said: "Everyone involved wants to see stronger local councils delivering better local services, which will improve the lives of the people we serve.

"The decisions announced today will do that and improve local government for over 15 million people."

Elections for shadow authorities to set up the new councils will be held next year, and they are due to take over in 2028.

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Elections will take place in Kings Langley and across Hertfordshire to elect councillors for the new authorities

Dividing the county into four councils was the most popular choice among the existing authorities, so local political opposition to the move should be limited.

It suggests the government has prioritised closeness to local people over size and stature.

It will also mean the financial savings might not be as big as they might have been if the two-council option had been chosen.

Four councils will need four senior management teams, four headquarter buildings and four sets of key departments.

However, those expenses will be considerably less than those required by the existing 11 authorities.

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