County rules out fast-track devolution bid

Hertfordshire County Council leader Richard Roberts said he recognised there were a range of views on devolution

The leader of a county council has ruled out making a fast-track bid to reorganise local government.

It means Hertfordshire County Council will not be submitting an application ahead of the government's 10 January devolution deadline and May's local elections will go ahead as planned.

Conservative Richard Roberts said he still believed a single, unitary council delivering all local services "would serve the best interests" of residents but acknowledged more time was needed "to jointly explore all options with district and borough [council] partners".

In a joint statement the leaders of the county's 10 district councils said they "do not support the creation of one unitary council for Hertfordshire".

Hertfordshire has retained a two-tier local governance system, but in September 2024 the Conservative-led county council submitted an "expression of interest" in a devolution deal that would have seen that system scrapped.

At the time Roberts said any arrangement would include its district and borough councils that provide services alongside the county council for about 1.2 million people.

Neighbouring Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire both have single-tier unitary systems of local government, when one council provides all local services in their area.

'Rushed decisions'

In December, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner announced an English Devolution White Paper, with local authorities encouraged to submit fast-track bids by 10 January.

However, Roberts said he "recognised there are a range of views" on devolution and ruled out formally responding to that request.

"It is the responsibility of all local leaders to prioritise working together to develop an evidence-based way forward that will ensure local government in Hertfordshire can provide the best possible public services to our residents," he said.

Following the publication of the white paper, the leaders of the 10 district and borough councils released a statement that confirmed they did not support the creation of one unitary council in Hertfordshire.

It said: "Any reform of local government should follow a period of proper consultation with residents, businesses, elected representatives and stakeholders."

They added that "we want to work collaboratively with others to agree how we respond to this" and that "our objective must be to get this right for our residents and businesses rather than make rushed decisions".

It means Hertfordshire County Council will join the Buckinghamshire Council unitary authority in holding local elections as planned on Thursday, 1 May.