By March 26, the government decides if Hertfordshire becomes 2, 3, or 4 new councils. This changes everything, your bin collections, school admissions, social care, planning applications. Most residents have no idea this is happening. Here's what's at stake, and more importantly, how to make your voice count.

The Government is asking a fundamental question: Should Hertfordshire have 2, 3, or 4 unitary councils?

Here's the timeline:

Why it matters: Every single local service you use will be reorganised. From the moment you wake up to when you go to sleep, local councils touch your life, collecting your bins, maintaining your roads, providing social care, processing planning applications, running libraries and leisure centres.

The government will decide based on what Hertfordshire residents say in this consultation. Your answers matter. But you need to understand what you're actually being asked.

We have 40 days left.

The councils have submitted three proposals. Here's what each actually means:

East Hertfordshire:
Broxbourne, East Herts, North Herts, Stevenage, Welwyn Hatfield

West Hertfordshire:
Dacorum, Hertsmere, St Albans, Three Rivers, Watford

What this means for you:
Bigger councils with larger teams and more resources. In theory, this could mean better specialist services—more social workers, better planning departments, stronger economic development.

But your council headquarters might be 30 miles away. If you live in Stevenage and need to visit the council office, you might be traveling to Hertford. Customer service becomes more centralized, potentially more remote.

Think: Economies of scale vs. distance from decision-makers.

East: Broxbourne, East Herts, North Herts, Stevenage
West: Dacorum, Three Rivers, Watford, plus Bushey (from Hertsmere)
Central: Hertsmere (minus Bushey), St Albans, Welwyn Hatfield

What this means for you:
A middle ground between size and proximity. Three councils gives you more local presence than two, but still benefits from reasonable scale.

However, this option includes boundary changes. Bushey residents would move from Hertsmere to the West council. If you live near these boundary areas, your identity might shift—you'd be answering to different councillors, different planning departments, different service centers.

Think: Balance between efficiency and accessibility, but some communities get split.

Eastern: Broxbourne, East Herts, six wards from North Herts, plus Cuffley & Northaw from Welwyn Hatfield
Central: Remaining North Herts, Stevenage, remaining Welwyn Hatfield
South West: Hertsmere, Three Rivers, Watford
West: Dacorum, St Albans

What this means for you:
Councils closer to you, potentially more responsive to local issues. Four councils means more local decision-making, councillors who know your area better, council offices within easier reach.

But smaller councils have less capacity for big projects. Major infrastructure, economic development, strategic planning all require resources. Can a 300,000-person council negotiate effectively with developers, attract investment, or handle complex social care cases?

This option also has the most boundary changes. Wards get split, communities divided between different councils.

Think: Local responsiveness vs. capacity to deliver big projects.

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Here's what most people don't realize: the consultation isn't just asking "which option do you prefer?"

It's asking you to make informed judgments on specific claims. And your answers will directly shape the government's decision.

Simple agree/disagree, but this is where you state your preference.

Each proposal claims specific benefits, better services, cost savings, improved efficiency. The government wants to know: do you believe these claims? Or are you skeptical?

This requires you to actually read what each proposal promises. You can't answer this honestly without understanding what they're claiming to deliver.

This is about financial sustainability. Bigger councils might weather budget crises better. Smaller councils might be more efficient day-to-day. What matters more to you?

For Options 2, 3, and 4, which split wards and move communities between councils—you're asked: will these boundary changes ensure efficient public services and financial sustainability?

This is crucial if you live in affected areas. Bushey residents: do you want to be part of the West council instead of Hertsmere? Cuffley and Northaw: should you join the Eastern council instead of staying with Welwyn Hatfield?

The government isn't just counting votes for Option 1, 2, or 3.

They're assessing whether residents believe the proposals will actually work. If thousands of people say "I agree with Option 2, but I don't think it will deliver the promised outcomes," that's a problem for Option 2.

If residents in boundary-change areas overwhelmingly reject the splits, the government might reconsider those specific boundaries.

Your detailed explanations carry weight. The consultation gives you space to explain WHY you agree or disagree. Use it. Don't just tick boxes, write your reasoning.

Many residents will:

Don't do this.

If you don't understand what each proposal actually promises, you can't honestly answer whether it will deliver those outcomes. And if you don't explain your reasoning, your response gets lost in the noise.

Here's what you should do before filling out the consultation:

Each option has a detailed proposal document explaining:

Find them here: hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/proposed-options

You don't need to read every page. But scan the executive summary and the section on outcomes for each option.

Ask yourself:

Each proposal makes promises. Examples:

Do you believe these claims? Why or why not?

When the consultation asks you to explain your position, be specific:

Weak response:
"I prefer Option 2 because it seems balanced."

Strong response:
"I support Option 2 because I live in Welwyn Hatfield and the Central council keeps services within reasonable distance while maintaining enough capacity for complex cases like SEND support. However, I'm concerned about the Bushey boundary change—it feels arbitrary and might disrupt established community ties."

The government reads these. Detailed, specific responses carry more weight than generic statements.

Possibly, but it depends. Different districts currently have different collection schedules. The new unitary councils will need to harmonise these, and that might mean changes to your current service.

Whichever new unitary council you're in. Currently, Hertfordshire County Council handles this. After 2028, it'll be split between 2, 3, or 4 councils depending on which option wins.

No one knows yet. It depends on which option wins AND how efficiently the new councils operate. The government claims reorganisation will save money through reduced duplication, but transition costs are real.

They'll transfer to the new unitary council. Whether they stay open, get upgraded, or face cuts depends on the new council's priorities and budget. Smaller councils might struggle to maintain as many facilities.

No. The decision to move to unitary councils has been made. The only question is: 2, 3, or 4? You can't vote to keep the current 11-council system.

Be honest with yourself: No one, not the councils, not the government, not experts, can guarantee what your specific services will look like in 2028. That depends on which option wins AND how the new councils implement it.

What we DO know: everything changes. The question is how much, and who makes those decisions.

Complete the statutory consultation at:
consult.communities.gov.uk/local-government-reorganisation/hertfordshire/

Before you start:

Closes: March 26, 2026

Tell us which option you prefer and why: [Survey]

We'll analyse the results, share them with readers, and submit a summary to the consultation.

Join us to discuss what this really means and how to respond effectively:

Free to attend. Register here: [Hertstown Eventbrite]

We'll walk through the proposals, discuss the implications, and help you think through your response before the March 26 deadline.

This is happening whether you engage or not.

The biggest mistake you can make is assuming:

By April 2028, your council will be different. The question is whether you had a say in what it looks like.

The government will decide based on who showed up and what they said. If you don't respond, someone else decides for you.

Read the proposals. Understand the outcomes. Explain your reasoning.

That's how you make your voice count.

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Wishing you a fantastic rest of your day!

Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya

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