On 5 February, the Government invited all councils in two-tier areas, including Hertfordshire, to submit proposals for local government reorganisation...
The letter set out the criteria, timelines, and expects initial plans by March. You can read the letter here.
In response to the letter, Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: "Our priority is to ensure any changes genuinely benefit residents and businesses while safeguarding high-quality local services.
"There are currently differing views on the best model for local government in Hertfordshire, but we are committed to working together to determine how we can best achieve this goal.
“What is clear, however, is that Hertfordshire is simply too big to be run by a single unitary council and therefore we do support this approach. With a population of 1.2 million across urban, suburban, and rural areas, it would be much larger than any local authority in the UK, creating an oversized bureaucracy that could slow down decision-making and make services less responsive to the needs of our diverse communities.
"Local issues require local solutions, and one giant council would risk losing the connection between residents and the services they rely on.
“All 11 councils, along with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, are collaborating to assess the options. However, with no agreed proposals, Hertfordshire will not be included in the first phase of reforms. Given the financial and staffing challenges councils already face, it is essential to balance the delivery of vital services with any future governance changes.
“This process is still at an early stage, and we will keep residents, businesses, and stakeholders updated as discussions progress.”
