Devolution and local government reorganisation in Hertfordshire

In December 2024, the government published the English Devolution White Paper which sets out proposals for major changes to the way local government is structured and run.

The ambition is for:

• all areas of the country to be covered by an elected Mayor – devolution
• all 2-tier areas, like Hertfordshire, to be reorganised into single tier unitary authorities – local government reorganisation.

Our priority is to ensure that any changes benefit Hertfordshire’s residents and businesses, and maintain our excellent local government services.

Read the English Devolution White Paper (GOV.UK)

• Devolution in Hertfordshire
• Local government reorganisation in Hertfordshire
• Next steps

Devolution in Hertfordshire

Devolution involves giving powers that currently sit with the government to a local area. This allows local decision-makers to have more say in what happens in their area.

The government wants to achieve this by establishing "strategic authorities" led by elected mayors.

A new strategic authority could be created covering just Hertfordshire, or Hertfordshire could join with neighbouring counties. The new authority would oversee areas such as:

• housing
• highways and transport
• economic growth
• skills and employment support
• environment and climate change
• health and public safety.

We have written to the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government (PDF 189KB) to express Hertfordshire's ambition to request progress towards the establishment of a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA), as soon as possible.

The Government’s announcement on local government reorganisation did not include an update on devolution.

Local government reorganisation in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire currently has a 2-tier system of local government with:

• Hertfordshire County Council providing countywide services such as social care, highways, and education
• 10 district and borough councils delivering local services such as planning, leisure, housing, and waste collection.
   

On Thursday 16 July the Government announced that Hertfordshire’s existing councils will be reorganised into four unitary authorities. These authorities will officially replace the existing councils on 1 April 2028.

Find out more about the proposal that the Government has selected for Hertfordshire.

Hertfordshire also has 124 parish and town councils. The government is not currently proposing any changes to these.

Next steps

Following the Government’s announcement on 16 July that Hertfordshire will have four unitary councils, work will begin in earnest to design and deliver these new councils.

Elections will be held in May 2027 to elect the councillors who will run the new councils.

The new councils will come into existence and start delivering services on 1 April 2028, known as ‘Vesting Day’.

In the meantime, the county council and district and borough councils will continue delivering services as normal.

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Timescales

We're working to these timelines, set out by the government:

• 21 March 2025 – interim submission to Government on local government reorganisation (PDF, 467KB) submitted.
• 1 May 2025 – Hertfordshire County Council elections were held.
• 15 May – Government feedback on interim submission on Local Government Reorganisation received.
• 28 November 2025 – submitted full local government reorganisation proposal.
• February 2026 – Government consultation starts early February and runs for 7 weeks.
• May 2027 – elections for shadow authorities. Shadow authorities are the new unitary council(s) before they formally take on all responsibilities.
• April 2028 – when the new authority formally takes on all responsibilities (this is sometimes called "vesting day").