15 Feb 2025
Initial plans for the future of local government in St Albans and Herts need to be presented in a matter of weeks.
Local government and English devolution minister Jim McMahon has told leaders of Herts county, district and borough councils to submit an interim plan on or before March 21, with a full proposal presented by November 28.
He claimed the proposals will build empowered, simplified, resilient and sustainable local government that will increase value for money for council taxpayers, and presented several options for leaders to consider.
Type A – a single tier of local authority covering the whole of Hertfordshire;
Type B – a single tier of local authority covering an area that is currently a district, or two or more districts;
Type C – a single tier of local authority covering the whole of Herts, or one or more districts in the county; and one or more relevant adjoining areas.
Combined proposal – a proposal that consists of two or more Type B proposals, two or more Type C proposals, or one or more Type B proposals and one or more Type C proposals.
However, he warned: “It is not in council taxpayers’ interest to devote public funds and your valuable time and effort into the development of multiple proposals which unnecessarily fragment services, compete against one another, require lengthy implementation periods or which do not sufficiently address local interests and identities.”
They needed to consider sensible economic and geographical areas, based on a population of 500,000 or more [the 2021 census recorded a population of 1,198,800 for the whole of Herts], with existing district areas to be considered the building blocks for any proposals.
The minister told leaders to work together collaboratively and proactively in order to explore the options, while also continuing with a business-as-usual approach to services and duties during the process of reorganisation.
No additional resources are to be provided for the transition, with councils expected to pay for the costs out of their existing budgets and from the flexible use of capital receipts.
Mr McMahon added: “This is a once in a generation opportunity to work together to put local government in your area on a more sustainable footing, creating simpler structures for your area that will deliver the services that local people and businesses need and deserve.”
Herts county council leader Cllr Richard Roberts denied having been actively seeking changes to the structure of local government in Herts.
He said: “With financial and staffing pressures on every council in the county I am concerned about the need to now balance continuing to provide high-quality services with the significant work required to prepare proposals for new council structures.
“I also recognise there are currently differing views on the future model for local government in Hertfordshire. I am committed to working together with district and borough councils to find the best way to protect and enhance services to our residents, support our businesses to grow, and provide value for money.
“All 11 councils in Hertfordshire, with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, are already collaborating to develop a shared evidence base to inform the options available to our county. We will now carefully consider the Government’s request and jointly develop our response.
“This work is at an early stage and the views of residents, businesses, local government partners, our colleagues, and other stakeholders across the public and private sectors will be essential as it develops. We are also committed to providing updates at every step.”
Cllr Roberts said HCC did not ask the Government to delay this year’s county elections or apply for the fast-track devolution priority programme in order to allow as much time as possible to gather and analyse the necessary information.
“It was also to ensure that the local democratic cycle was not interrupted at this vital and historic moment for our county. The negotiation of this significant change with the Government requires a depth of understanding, engagement and delivery based on an honest electoral mandate and we will uphold that with elections on May 1.”
So what structure would work for Hertfordshire? With the total population close to twice the Government’s target, does that mean an equal split down east-west lines?
Dacorum, Hertsmere, St Albans, Three Rivers, and Watford are already working together on local housing needs, so does that suggest an alliance between those authorities? With the Liberal Democrats controlling these councils, could a decision be made behind closed doors?
But then who would take on the role of chief executive for the new unitary authority? Where would the main office be based? Would unparished parts of St Albans like Jersey Farm and Marshalswick be happy joining with Sandridge Parish Council or funding the city centre Christmas lights?
And perhaps most worringly for a transformation of this size, does the Government really expect district and borough councils to work on effectively signing their own death warrants without any additional resources to do so?
Mr McMahon told Herts council leaders: “We know that councils of all political stripes are in crisis after a decade of decline and instability. Indeed, a record number of councils asked the Government for support this year to help them set their budgets.”
Yet he also told them to finance the transition to unitary authorities out of their existing budgets, without even suggesting how much this would cost.
SADC leader Cllr Paul de Kort said he was firmly in agreement with the issue of stretched resources being balanced with the work involved with preparing for reorganisation.
He added: “In terms of the details in the McMahon’s letter, there was a reaffirmation of the 500,000 resident size (with some flexibility).
“There does appear to be the opportunity for required housing growth to be in this figure, which means that a three Herts unitary outcome is still on the table, as of course, is a 50/50 split.
“Along with all other district and borough leaders, I remain strongly opposed to a mega unitary solution, as originally proposed by Herts CC’s leadership.
“The other significant clarification was around the interim plan due on March 21, in that it allows for options to be put forward, so there is time to do some proper local analysis and evidence collection, before any agreement has to be made on the best proposal for Herts residents, given the restated insistence on a move to unitary councils across the country.
“Finally, a clear commitment to any extra funding for the necessary changes needed to get the new arrangements securely in place was frustratingly notable in its absence, which is becoming a habit in Labour Government announcements.”
The news has met with a fierce response from opposition councillors at SADC.
Cllr Simon Grover, leader of the Greens and Independent group, said: “The Government’s latest plans for local government reorganisation claim to bring power closer to communities. In reality, they do the opposite – centralising decision-making in larger, more remote authorities. Green councillors in St Albans are very concerned about the risks this poses to local democracy and accountability.
“The proposed shift towards ‘super-councils’ and regional mayors will make it harder for residents to influence decisions that affect their daily lives.
“Instead of genuine devolution, we are seeing a power grab that sidelines local councils. In Gloucestershire, Green councillors have already raised concerns about how these changes could erode trust in local politics. In East Sussex, they are fighting Conservative plans to suspend county elections, which would leave communities without a democratic voice during a crucial transition.
“We need reform that strengthens, not weakens, local government. That means giving councils proper funding, real control over transport and planning, and ensuring decisions stay in the hands of people who understand their areas best. Devolution should empower communities, not take power away from them.
“If the Government is serious about local democracy, it must listen to those of us on the ground. Otherwise, this reorganisation will do more harm than good.”
Conservative leader Cllr Matt Cowley said: “It is clear that the Labour Government is set on forcing Hertfordshire into a unitary system of local government.
“We must all work to ensure that local residents have a voice in this process and – as their councillors – make sure we protect their right to a strong local councillor, an effective local council and decent public services focussed on their needs.
“I don’t have the answers to what that will look like, but I know that there are a few things we need to act on now – including ensuring that residents in the city of St Albans have a parish council to protect the most local decision-making and public assets in the city.
“I will also be focussed on what proposals mean for housing pressures in our area. For example, a whole Herts authority would mean a housing target of 6.1 houses per square kilometre – and lots of suitable sustainable site options. A West Herts authority could mean a target of 9.8 houses per square kilometre and much more pressure on our Green Belt and local services.
“These are important decisions – and I look forward to hearing how Cllr De Kort and the Lib Dem administration at St Albans intends to consult with residents to ensure that we get the right outcome.”
But Labour councillors have welcomed the prospect of SADC merging with neighbouring local councils. They say the district council should accept the principle that it should come to an end and work with other Herts councils to agree what a realigned system of unitary councils would look like.
Labour group leader Emma Turnbull said: “Hertfordshire does not need 11 eleven councils with 11 council chief executives and 516 councillors. Present arrangements are wasteful and inefficient. Money is tied up in managerial posts and bureaucracy when it should be spent on the vital public services that local residents need.”
The Government has also insisted that local MPs will need to be involved in the process, so we spoke to Harpenden’s Victoria Collins and St Albans MP Daisy Cooper for their opinions.
Victoria said: “Local residents and businesses are still struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, broken public services and a lack of investment in infrastructure.
“It’s unclear how this local government reorganisation will help solve these and other pressing issues. Efforts should focus first on improving SEND provision, transport links, infrastructure to support local businesses, or giving residents a say in planning decisions.
“That’s why we must ensure our communities are at the heart of any reorganisation and that power is not taken away from local people. This is especially important given the cuts in local government funding under the previous Conservative government.
“The Government should instead be empowering local councils who are closest to local people. In Parliament I’ve already called for this, urging the government to create a community-led planning system to avoid local voices being overshadowed by top-down targets imposed from Westminster.
“Although we don’t yet know what form this reorganisation will take, I’m worried that it’ll create further distance between residents and those representing them, hindering our councils’ abilities to effectively tackle local issues and serve our communities – the complete opposite of what’s needed.”
Daisy added: “Re-organising the layers of local government without properly investing in the vital public services they deliver is simply rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic.
“For years, I’ve called on the Conservative then Labour Governments to put an end to the false economies that undermine local council finances.
“I’ve repeatedly called for the cap on planning fees to be lifted to end the scandal of St Albans taxpayers subsidising the costs of big developers, and I’ve called on the Government to set a national target of building 150,000 social homes a year to help reduce spending on housing benefit.
“But without measures like these, cash-strapped councils will keep struggling to deliver effective public services, leaving the most vulnerable St Albans residents without the support they need.
“The elected representatives and partner organisations of St Albans district council are deeply integrated into our community and know how to deliver local services well.
“Rather than diverting efforts towards reorganising local government, the Government should prioritise funding these services adequately.”
