The Government will continue its review of these areas and expects to announce some new 'minded to' decisions before the end of the year and the remainder early in the new year. We do not yet know when Hertfordshire’s decision will be made. These minded to decisions will be subject to a short period of review, allowing representations from stakeholders before a final decision is made.

The Government has also confirmed that it will release half of the allocated transition funding, approximately £2 million, to Hertfordshire in November, with the remaining funding provided once a final decision has been reached.

Shadow Authority elections will take place in May 2028, with the new authorities going live on 1 April 2029, one year later than originally planned.

While today's announcement means there is no confirmed reorganisation model for Hertfordshire, work across the county will continue. We will now carefully consider the implications of this announcement on Hertfordshire’s LGR programme and the work to establish a Mayoral Strategic Authority for Hertfordshire as soon as possible following the announcement in the Budget. Hertfordshire’s councils remain committed to working collaboratively, engaging constructively with Government and ensuring that we are prepared for the next stage of the process once further clarity is provided.

Councillor Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council said,

“I have worked closely with government, local partners, and our MPs to help secure devolution for Hertfordshire. This will bring powers and funding to our local area, to help make a difference for our community, support us to build more council homes, create new jobs, the opportunity to improve transport, and support regeneration.

“Over the last two years, the government has been looking at how to reorganise local councils. I have been clear that we will put the needs of Stevenage first and focus on what matters to our community. This includes building the new leisure facilities, to creating more council homes, improving local areas, and supporting the town.

“Today, government has confirmed it will continue to consider options to reorganise councils in Hertfordshire, replacing the current 11 councils, and plans to make a decision on this in the next few months. While this may lead to some uncertainty, I continue to remain focussed on what matters most for Stevenage, working closely with our partners and supporting the community we are proud to serve.”