HERTSTOWN
Hertfordshire's power and accountability brief
Free, every other Monday.
Why Hertstown
Eleven councils run Hertfordshire. We read their papers so you don't have to.
Hertstown is a free fortnightly brief on the decisions, documents and money behind Hertfordshire's county, district and borough councils, explained in plain English and linked to the original record.
INSIDE EVERY BRIEF
01
The decision
What was decided, who decided it, and what changes for you.
02
The document
The committee paper, report or notice behind it, linked so you can check it yourself.
03
The money
Where public money goes: budgets, contracts and developer deals.
WHY IT MATTERS
The decisions that shape your county are made on paper. Very few people read it.
Decided in committee
The choices behind your roads, schools, care services and new housing are set out in committee papers and decision notices most residents never see.
Paid for by you
Council tax, business rates and developer contributions fund local services. You should be able to see where that money goes and who signed it off.
Fewer people watching
Local reporting has thinned across the county. When nobody reads the papers, decisions get less scrutiny. Hertstown reads them for you.
WHAT WE TRACK
The issues that cost you money or change your street
Budgets and council tax
What each council plans to spend, cut and charge you.
Planning and developer deals
Major applications, s106 agreements and what developers are asked to pay.
SEND and social care
The services under the most pressure, and the money behind them.
Reorganisation and devolution
How Hertfordshire's councils may be restructured, and whether a mayor is coming.
Policing and safety
Decisions and budgets from the police, fire and crime commissioner.
NHS and health
Changes to local health services, and who decides them.
Contracts and spending
Who wins council contracts, and for how much.
Councillors and elections
Who holds power, how they vote, and when you get your say.
HOW WE WORK
Facts from the record. No spin, no sides.
Sourced to the record
Every story links to the original paper, minutes or decision notice.
Every council
The county council and all ten district and borough councils, not just the loudest.
Independent
We report what was decided and what it costs. We don't tell you how to vote.
Short enough to finish
One brief every other Monday, readable in under ten minutes.
WHO IT'S FOR
For anyone who wants to know who decides
Residents
Councillors
Council officers
Planning and property
Public affairs
Charities and community groups
Business owners
Journalists and researchers
Know what's being decided before it's decided for you.
Join the free fortnightly brief. Two minutes to sign up, ten minutes to read.
Live in Broxbourne? Get local news and events every Tuesday from our sister newsletter, Broxtown, at broxtown.com.