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Why Is Local Government Changing? | Reform UK Hertsmere
Council & GovernanceExplainer10 August 2026•1 min read
Why Is Local Government Changing?
Hertfordshire’s existing 11 principal councils will be replaced by four unitary councils, bringing county and borough services together under one authority for each area.
Article Summary
At a Glance
The key points you need to know.
What This Means For Residents
The change is intended to make local government simpler by bringing services currently divided between county and borough councils under one authority. Nothing changes immediately: existing councils will continue delivering services until the new unitary councils take over on 1 April 2028.
Key Facts
✓Hertfordshire currently has 11 principal councils: one county council and ten district or borough councils.
✓The existing 11 principal councils will be replaced by four unitary councils, subject to Parliamentary approval.
✓Each unitary council will provide services currently divided between county and district or borough councils.
✓Hertsmere, Three Rivers and Watford will form the new South West Hertfordshire unitary authority.
✓Elections to the new Shadow Authorities are scheduled for May 2027.
✓The new unitary councils are due to take full responsibility for services on 1 April
What Happens Next
Elections will be held in May 2027 to choose councillors for the new Shadow Authorities. Those councillors will help establish the new councils, agree how they will operate and oversee the transfer of services from the existing authorities. On 1 April 2028, the four unitary councils will take full responsibility for local services. Until then, Hertfordshire County Council and Hertsmere Borough Council will continue operating and delivering their existing services. The final article in this series explains what the new South West Hertfordshire unitary council will mean for Hertsmere residents.
The Full Story
Local government in Hertfordshire is undergoing its biggest reorganisation for more than 50 years.
The current two-tier system will be replaced by four new unitary councils. The aim is to create a simpler structure, reduce duplication and make it clearer which council is responsible for local services.
How does the current system work?
Hertfordshire currently has 11 principal councils:
✓Hertfordshire County Council
✓Ten district and borough councils, including Hertsmere Borough Council
Responsibilities are divided between these two levels.
Hertfordshire County Council provides services such as education, highways, social care, libraries and public transport.
District and borough councils provide services such as planning, housing, bin collections, parks, parking and environmental health.
This means residents sometimes need to deal with two different councils, depending on the service involved.
What is changing?
From 1 April 2028, Hertfordshire County Council and the ten district and borough councils will no longer exist.
They will be replaced by four new unitary councils, subject to Parliamentary approval.
Each unitary council will provide all the services currently divided between the county and district or borough councils in its area.
For Hertsmere, this means joining with Three Rivers and Watford to form the new South West Hertfordshire unitary authority.
Why is the system being reorganised?
The Government has said the four-council model offers the best balance between financial stability, local decision-making and the reliable delivery of services.
The intended benefits include:
✓A simpler system for residents
✓Less duplication between councils
✓Clearer responsibility for local services
✓More joined-up decision-making
✓Opportunities to deliver services more efficiently
✓A stronger foundation for future devolution
Instead of separate county and borough councils being responsible for different services, residents will have one unitary council responsible for the full range of council services in their area.
Will it save money?
Reducing the number of councils is intended to lower duplication and create opportunities for savings.
However, bringing councils, staff, systems, buildings and services together will be a major and complex process. The precise costs, savings and service arrangements will become clearer as detailed plans for the new authorities are developed.
Reorganisation does not automatically guarantee better or cheaper services. The success of the new system will depend on how carefully the transition is planned and how effectively the new councils are run.
What about town and parish councils?
Hertfordshire also has town and parish councils. These are separate from the 11 principal councils being replaced.
Town and parish councils are not currently being abolished as part of this reorganisation. They will continue to represent communities and provide services at a very local level.
Are council services changing now?
No. Hertfordshire County Council and the existing district and borough councils will continue providing their normal services until 1 April 2028.
Residents should continue contacting their current council about local services during the transition.
Unitary councillors will combine the responsibilities currently divided between county and borough councillors, overseeing the full range of local council services.
County councillors represent larger areas and help oversee important services including education, highways, social care, libraries and public transport.
Borough councillors represent local wards and help oversee services including planning, housing, bin collections, parking, parks and environmental health.
