Residents across Hertfordshire are being urged to take part in the ongoing consultation on local government reorganisation – a process that could fundamentally reshape how services are delivered in our county.

At the most recent Full Council meeting, Hertsmere Borough Council Leader, Cllr Jeremy Newmark, set out the scale of the changes under discussion and stressed the importance of community voices in shaping the outcome.

Over the past week, Hertsmere has held a series of meetings including a session of the Devolution Board and a well-attended public meeting with around 100 residents taking part both in person and online. “We are now very much into the consultation phase of this exercise,” said Cllr Newmark.

What’s on the table?

Councils across Hertfordshire are currently examining options for reorganising into either two, three or four new unitary authorities. Alongside this, Hertfordshire County Council has announced its intention to pursue powers as a new “foundational strategic authority” – a model described by Cllr Newmark as “effectively a combined mayoral authority without a mayor”.

This would allow county-wide powers to be devolved from central government sooner, but would also mean that the existing County Council’s way of operating would be carried forward. Some argue it may be better to wait for a directly elected mayor with a fresh mandate to shape any new authority.

The timeline

Key decisions will be made over the coming months. Hertsmere’s Full Council will meet on 19 November 2025 to consider which reorganisation model it supports, with a joint submission from Hertfordshire’s 11 councils and the Police and Crime Commissioner due to government by 28 November.

The government will then consult formally in 2026 before making a final decision in summer 2026. Elections to new shadow unitary authorities are expected in May 2027, with any new councils coming into effect in April 2028.

Business as usual for Hertsmere

Cllr Newmark was clear that while this process is significant, it will not distract from Hertsmere’s day-to-day priorities. “We won’t be sacrificing any of our ambitious plans at the altar of local government reorganisation,” he said. “We have homes to deliver, Article Fours to put in place, and bold plans to see through.”

Have your say

With so much at stake, residents are encouraged to take part in the consultation and help shape the future of local government in Hertfordshire. The decisions made will determine how services are delivered, how local voices are heard, and what role communities like Hertsmere play in the years ahead.