LOCAL GOVERNMENT REOrGANISATION & devolution

In recent weeks we have seen an increasing number of comments regarding Local Government Reorganisation and have been asked questions by residents and partner organisations. 

Given that this is such an important topic, in that it could have a direct impact on the Town, we have put together some FAQ’s that we hope gives a simple overview of what this is all about. These are set out below and will be updated as things develop. 

Carl Cheevers – Town Clerk & Chief Executive 

Harpenden Town Council 

20 March 2025 

What is Local Government Reorganisation?  

In a Government white paper, plans have been outlined for local government reorganisation for all two-tier areas (areas where services are delivered by two tiers of Principal Authorities i.e. a county council and borough/district councils - which includes Hertfordshire). 

Councils are now expected to develop proposals for the introduction of unitary authorities across England, which will see the end to all existing two-tier arrangements. 

In two-tier areas, Town Councils are often referred to as the third tier of local government or as a ‘Local/Community Council’.  

What is a white paper?  

White papers are policy documents, produced by the Government, which outline their proposals for future legislation. 

What is devolution?  

Devolution is the transfer of power and funding from central government to local or regional government, enabling them to make decisions or manage resources on issues that affect their areas at a more local level. The white paper outlines plans to extend and expand devolution in England, setting out an enhanced “devolution framework”, which is to be available by default rather than by individual deals (as is currently the case). The default part is important as this sets out that this is going to happen and is not a choice locally. 

The Government also proposes to introduce in law the concept of a “strategic authority”, and give more powers over transport, skills, employment, housing, strategic planning, public safety and environment.  

What is a unitary authority? 

This refers to an area with one tier of local government providing all of the local services, as opposed to an area with two tiers of local government (county council, and district, borough councils). The London boroughs are examples of unitary authorities.  

When will the reorganisation happen?  

It is expected that new Unitary Authorities will be in place by April 2028. The Government have set a deadline of the 21 March for the submission of interim Local Government Reorganisation proposals. 

The deadline for final Local Government Reorganisation submissions is the 28 November 2025. 

Who will be submitting proposals?  

The County Council and District/Borough Councils in Hertfordshire (the two-tier authorities) are working to explore options for what reorganisation could look like. The white paper has set out the expectation that all councils in an area will work together to develop unitary proposals that are in the best interests of the whole area, rather than developing competing proposals. 

The interim submission developed by two-tier authorities in Hertfordshire can be found at this link: 

Appendix 1 - Hertfordshire LGR Submission Update.pdf 

What has the Government said about the role of Town & Parish Councils in reorganisation? 

Government Ministers have repeatedly set out that there is a key role for Town & Parish Councils as part of Local Government Reorganisation. Some key quotes include: 

‘We know people value the role of governance at the community scale and that can be a concern when local government is reorganised. We will therefore want to see stronger community arrangements when reorganisation happens in the way councils engage at a neighbourhood or area level. We will also rewire the relationship between town and parish councils and principal Local Authorities, strengthening expectations on engagement and community voice’. 

‘Government is committed to building socially and economically stronger communities and understand that town and parish councils have a major role in this; improving the quality of life and wellbeing of their communities and creating places where people are proud to live. They are close to the communities they serve, know their communities' needs, and can champion the priorities of local people and design the right services that work for their places’. 

‘The English Devolution White Paper sets out that the government understands the value people place on the role of governance at the community scale and recognises this can be a concern when local government is reorganised. We will therefore want to see stronger community arrangements when reorganisation happens in the way councils engage at a neighbourhood or area level. We will also work with the town and parish council sector to improve engagement between them and local authorities’. 

How will this impact Harpenden Town Council?  

The Town Council is watching how this develops closely and as yet does not have an agreed position on Local Government Reorganisation. However, the Town Council has always been ambitious for the Town and reorganisation provides the opportunity for the Town Council to take on even more responsibilities for assets and services. This includes assets that historically were owned by previous councils such as the Harpenden Urban District Council. 

What was the Harpenden Urban District Council (HUDC)? 

Up until 1974, HUDC was the Council covering this area. However it was abolished in 1974 as part of a Local Government Reorganisation. A large number of Harpenden assets were transferred to St Albans City & District Council which was formed at this time. In recent years the Town Council has been working successfully to bring many of these assets back into local Harpenden ownership. 

What additional responsibilities could Harpenden Town Council take on? 

The Town Council already owns and manages a large number of community assets across the Town. However in other areas of England that have already moved to a Unitary model, there are Town Councils that have taken on more assets and services. 

Whilst there is not a one size fits all approach to this, these assets and services have tended to be those that could be described as locally differentiated and so would benefit from hyper-local ownership and governance. There is not an exhaustive list as to what could sit under this definition however it could include things such as: 

• Greenspaces 
• Community Events, Markets and Fairs
• Community Centres/buildings
• Parking (on-street and off-street)
• Local Museums and Galleries
• Local Economic Development
• Neighbourhood planning
• Neighbourhood Community Safety
• Play areas
• Public Conveniences
• Sports and Arts Centres
• Public Footpaths and Bridleways
• Environmental health  
• Libraries
• Localised elements of Highways, Planning and Licencing 

The majority of these could be delivered by the Town Council under existing Powers, however in some cases new Powers would need to be set out in legislation. 

How could this be positive for Harpenden? 

Town councils are the closest tier of government to local people. They are agile, responsive, and deeply embedded in their communities. Unlike district, unitary, and county authorities, which can be remote and unfamiliar with the nuances of smaller localities, Town Councils operate at a scale that allows them to deliver services and advocate for their areas with unmatched local knowledge. 

Town councils are the only tier of authority where residents contribute funding directly to services within their own communities and can see for themselves how that funding is being spent. By contrast, principal authorities pool resources across much larger areas. While this can provide scale for strategic services, it often results in policy decisions that fail to reflect the priorities of smaller, distinct communities.  

There are countless examples across the country where local communities have struggled to have their voices heard by higher tiers of government. All too often, local issues are escalated to districts or counties where decision-makers lack the local knowledge required to act effectively. Whether it’s a dispute over a planning matter, a boundary change, or infrastructure investment, distant authorities often struggle to grasp the specifics of place-based needs. 

What happens next? 

The Town Council is closely reviewing how Local Government Reorganisation is progressing and in June 2025 the Council will consider its formal view on the changes and on possible areas in which it may wish to explore further. Any opportunities to take on more responsibilities locally will be scoped in detail and, where appropriate, we will develop business cases setting out how we could deliver those responsibilities and what resources would be required. 

Please revisit this page to read further updates.