Three Rivers supports three unitary model for Hertfordshire
A plan for three unitary councils across Hertfordshire has been backed by Three Rivers District Council as its preferred model for the future of local government in Hertfordshire.
All ten councils, Hertfordshire County Council, and the Police and Crime Commissioner, have worked closely together over the past year to review options, considering a range of factors including local democracy and identity, local services, and key issues such as financial stability.
Councils agreed to detailed modelling of three different options, with two, three or four new councils being created, with varying geography, population and approach to services.
At a meeting of the district council’s Policy and Resources Committee on Monday, members decided that a three unitaries model is their preferred approach, for reasons of remaining close to the communities the councils serve, and to providing the best possible services in the future whilst being financially resilient.
Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Leader of the Council, said: “The council has made its decision on what we believe is in the best interests of this district and the residents we serve. It is vital that councils have a strong connection to the communities they serve in order that those communities still feel connected and that they have a say.
“For that reason, I am pleased that Three Rivers has backed the proposals for a three unitary model, meaning that all the councils in Hertfordshire, including the county council itself, would be replaced by three new councils. It will soon be up to the government to decide if it wants to follow Three Rivers and back the option we have chosen, or to go a different way.”
The district council’s Policy and Resources Committee agreed by seven votes to four to support the three unitaries model. This followed a full council decision in October at which an indicative vote also showed support for the three unitaries model.
Under the three unitaries model, Three Rivers would be joined with Watford Borough Council and Dacorum Borough Council to form one unitary area, with two further unitary authorities created to serve other areas of the county.
The final submission to the government will be made on 28 November, followed by a public consultation in the spring and the decision on which model it will support – two, three or four unitaries – is expected in summer 2026.
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