Hertfordshire's leaders reject proposal for single unitary council
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 and 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.
Cllr Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council said,
“It is important our communities will be reassured, plans for one of the largest councils in Europe are off the table.
“We will continue to work with partners to explore options to best meet needs of our community and town. It is vital this work enables investment in more council and affordable homes, regenerates towns, creates jobs and opportunities. We will need to support our community and tackle other issues such as homelessness.”