Council Leaders rule out single unitary authority proposal for Hertfordshire
The Leaders of Hertfordshire’s 11 councils have agreed to rule out the option of a single unitary authority for the county as part of ongoing discussions on local government reform proposals.
In response to the Government’s invitation to councils in all two-tier areas to submit an interim plan for moving to a single tier of unitary councils providing all services, Hertfordshire’s interim submission outlined a number of options for further consideration ranging from one to four unitary councils.
Following the election of a new County Council administration in May, there will be no further work to develop the business case for one unitary council covering the whole of Hertfordshire. This reflects a shared view that a single unitary council covering Hertfordshire’s 1.2m residents would be too remote from the county’s diverse communities.
Leaders’ shared priorities remain ensuring any changes benefit residents and businesses, that excellent local government services are maintained, residents are kept safe, and strong democratic accountability is available to communities across the county. They will continue to explore the evidence and refine the options to be considered ahead of submitting final proposals to the Government by 28 November for Ministers to consider.
A team of officers drawn from the County Council and all 10 District & Borough Councils has been established to develop the options and make recommendations for Leaders to consider. Key considerations will include ensuring value for money in any new structures; understanding the impact of any changes to key services like social care and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND); how proposals support future devolution; and making sure communities continue to have a strong say in local decisions. The Government will provide £378,077 funding to support this project.
Councils will also continue to prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to people and communities during this period of transformation.
The views of residents, businesses, local government partners, colleagues, and other stakeholders across the public and private sectors will be essential as proposals develop and significant engagement will take place over the coming months.
Councillor Helen Campbell, Deputy Leader of St Albans City and District Council, said:
The eleven local authorities in Hertfordshire are of one mind, namely that one unitary body for the whole of the county is not in the best interests of residents. This unanimous view follows the Hertfordshire County Council elections last month which saw a change in its political leadership.
Now the single unitary option has sensibly been scrapped, we will all work together to carefully assess the pros and cons of the other three options we have collectively decided to put on the table. Firmly at the forefront will be what is best for residents across the county. In addition, we will focus on continuing to deliver the quality services our residents need and the facilities they value.
Notes to editors
Leaders have also agreed that £378,077 Government funding provided to Hertfordshire to support the development of local government reorganisation proposals will be held by Watford Borough Council with the Hertfordshire Leaders Group collectively agreeing how it should be spent.