Have Your Say on Local Government Changes

Dacorum Borough Council logo and map

Hertfordshire’s 11 councils have launched a second phase of engagement on the future of local government in the county.

Residents, community groups, businesses and wider stakeholders are invited to share their views on how services will be delivered in Hertfordshire in the years ahead. This is a once in a generation opportunity to help shape the future of local government.

In December 2024, the Government set out plans to simplify local government in England to make it easier for residents and businesses to access services and to save money.

In Hertfordshire, there are currently two types of council:

  • District and borough councils, which provide services such as housing, planning, bin collections, car parks and leisure services.
  • The county council, which is responsible for schools, libraries, roads, caring for children and supporting adults who need help with daily living.

Under the Government’s plan, these councils will be replaced by new unitary councils that will deliver all services currently provided by the two separate types of council.

All councils in Hertfordshire are working together to explore what this would look like. The aim is to create a system of local government that is easy to understand, delivers good value for money and responds to the needs of local areas.

Over the next month, councils will hold a mix of in-person and online events across the county. A dedicated website will also give further information on the changes, how you can get involved and share your views at Local Government Reorganisation | Shaping Hertfordshires Future. This will remain open until 30 September 2025. After this date councils will review all the feedback before submitting the final proposal to Government at the end of November.

Councillor Sally Symington, Leader of Dacorum Borough Council said: ‘This is an important moment for Dacorum and the whole of Hertfordshire. How our councils are structured will shape the way services are delivered for generations to come. We want to make sure the voices of our residents, businesses, and community groups are at the heart of these decisions. We all want Dacorum to be a place where services work well for people in their everyday lives, from emptying the bins to caring for our most vulnerable residents. By sharing your views, you can help us build on what already works well and make changes that will benefit our communities for years to come.’