Decision Maker: Cabinet, Council

Outcome: Information Only

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: November 19, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Decision   RESOLVED that Cabinet: 1.1 noted the range of views expressed by members at the meeting of the Full Council held on the 19 November 2025. 1.2  agreed to submit to the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) the proposal for the reorganisation of principal authorities in the County of Hertfordshire set out in the Appendix to the report of the Chief Executive and identify the modified four unitary option as the Council’s preferred option and requests the Secretary of State to formally modify the proposal by agreeing to the boundary changes as set out in the proposal in respect of this option. 1.3  agreed the principle that no further action should be taken in relation to securing Hertsmere’s Borough status following Local Government Reorganisation and that the Royal Letters Patent should be allowed to fall into abeyance and that efforts should be made for the mayoral trappings and items to be gifted to local museums and bodies as appropriate. 1.4  delegated authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to: i.                    Authorise and make any minor modifications required to ensure that the proposal is compliant with the decision of Cabinet. ii.                  Instruct the Hertfordshire County Council Chief Executive to indicate Hertsmere’s preferred option within the submission. iii.                Authorise the Hertfordshire County Council Chief Executive Officer to submit the proposal.   Reasons for decision   Although the decision had been confirmed to rest with Cabinet, as set out in the Legal Implications section in the report, and as advised by Counsel, Cabinet had agreed that all Members should have the opportunity to debate the issue so that Cabinet can be informed of the areas of concern and how it might influence their decision. This had been done through an extraordinary Full Council meeting which was held on the 19 November 2025. As such all three options, allowing for a unitary structure of 2, 3 or 4 authorities in Hertfordshire, were presented for Cabinet to consider. With the dissolution of Hertsmere Borough Council there will no longer be an identifiable geographic area or collective identity for Hertsmere. Parish Chair’s and Town Mayor’s will retain their roles and therefore the new Unitary Chair will take on the Civic responsibilities as appropriate. Thus allowing the Royal Letters Patent to fall into abeyance and with it the dissolution of the Hertsmere Mayoralty.   Alternative Options Considered   The changes proposed were considered to be a once in a generation shift in local government.   Should Cabinet have determined not to submit a proposal on behalf of Hertsmere Borough Council, this would leave the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to consider proposals from the other local authorities in Hertfordshire and to make a decision without further reference to the input of Hertsmere Borough Council. The Cabinet could have elected to retain the Mayor of Hertsmere through the creation of Charter Trustees, despite Hertsmere Borough Council ceasing to exist. The Charter Trustees would be funded by a dedicated precept raised against the residents in the administrative area of the Borough of Hertsmere which would be in addition to the precept for the new unitary authority of which the Borough will form part. This would have funded the activities of the Mayoralty.   The elected Members of the new authority for the area covered by the Borough of Hertsmere would form the Charter Trustees. This would result in retention of an additional layer of civic administration in addition to existing town and parish Mayors and Chairs, the Civic Chair of the new unitary authority and any future Mayor of a Combined Strategic Authority.