Summer can make local politics feel quiet. Meetings slow down, decisions are deferred and many people are understandably focused on holidays, family and getting through the heat safely.

Yet a significant change is quietly moving forward in Hertfordshire. The county is preparing for a move from eleven main councils to four unitary authorities, while local leaders continue to seek a devolution deal that could bring a Strategic Authority, and potentially a directly elected mayor - to the county.

I plan to use this to provide you with a regular Hertstown briefing tracking the decisions, meetings, consultations and behind-the-scenes preparation that will determine how the county is run in the years ahead.

Each update will bring you:

For now, the big picture is straightforward: four new unitary councils are planned, but Hertfordshire does not yet have an agreed mayoral-devolution deal, a confirmed mayor or a mayoral election date. We will follow the detail as it emerges, and separate what has been decided from what is still only being discussed.

Watch this space.

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Where it stands: Four unitary authorities (North West, South West, Central, Eastern Hertfordshire) confirmed by the Secretary of State on 16 July, replacing the county council and the ten district and borough councils, subject to parliamentary approval. Two districts are being split rather than moving whole:

North Herts (five wards to Central Hertfordshire, the rest to Eastern Hertfordshire and Broxbourne) and Welwyn Hatfield (the Northaw & Cuffley ward to Eastern Hertfordshire and Broxbourne, the rest to Central Hertfordshire).

Staff in post at vesting day are expected to transfer under the standard Staffing Regulations/TUPE default, not a bespoke Hertfordshire arrangement.

Next formal step: Shadow authority elections. Date: May 2027 (exact date not yet published)

Source: HCC's letter to the Secretary of State, 4 November 2025, and the Government's 16 July decision letter, which did not address devolution. See The Document and Decided, below.

Hertfordshire County Council full council backed a motion, 65 for, 6 against, 1 abstention, to seek independent legal advice on whether the Government's four-unitary decision gives grounds for judicial review, Tuesday 21 July. Report, Bishop's Stortford Independent

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed Hertfordshire will move from 11 councils to four unitary authorities, subject to parliamentary approval. Decision letter, 16 July 2026

MHCLG designated Dacorum Borough Council under Section 62A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for poor-quality decision-making on major development applications, taking effect Monday 15 June, after more than 10% of the council's major-development refusals were overturned on appeal in the two years to March 2025. Developers can now apply directly to the Planning Inspectorate for major schemes, and Dacorum forfeits the application fee when they do. Notice of designation, GOV.UK

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Hertfordshire County Council committed circa £30m through an Investment Fund to back its Economic Strategy and growth ambitions ahead of devolution, intended to lever further private and national investment over the next two years. MSA letter, 4 November 2025

Dacorum Borough Council loses application-fee income on every major planning application redirected to the Planning Inspectorate under its new Section 62A designation; no total has been published. Leader Sally Symington said the two-year assessment period "does not recognise the significant improvements we have already made." Notice of designation, GOV.UK

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This issue: Hertfordshire's letter to the Secretary of State requesting a Mayoral Strategic Authority. Signed by council leader Steve Jarvis alongside the Hertfordshire Growth Board (the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Integrated Care Board, the university, and business representatives), it asks for the MSA's vesting day to align with LGR on 1 April 2028, with the first mayoral election in May 2028, and sets out the circa £30m Investment Fund as a down payment on that ask. The letter is dated 4 November 2025; the Government's 16 July decision letter confirming the four-unitary model was silent on devolution, so this request remains unanswered on the public record. Full letter, PDF

Now through autumn 2026, North Herts running its annual electoral canvass; residents in wards moving to Central Hertfordshire or Eastern Hertfordshire and Broxbourne are being contacted to verify registration ahead of the May 2027 shadow elections. North Herts Council

May 2027, shadow authority elections for Hertfordshire's four new unitary councils (exact date not yet published).

Saturday 1 April 2028, vesting day: the four unitary authorities take over full responsibility from the county, district and borough councils. HCC has proposed aligning an MSA vesting day and first mayoral election with this date, but government has not confirmed either.

No appointments, departures or candidate declarations identified in the last month.

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Wishing you a fantastic rest of your day!

Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya

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