Local government reorganisation is coming to Hertfordshire

In late 2024, the Government set out plans to change how local councils across England work together. This means areas like Hertfordshire that operate a two-tier system – where some services are run by district councils and others by the county council are being asked to rethink how things are organised.

Faced with tough financial pressures, councils are being encouraged to find smarter ways to deliver services and make better use of public money. That’s why the Government has asked the 11 council leaders in Hertfordshire to work together and come up with a joint plan for how local government could be reshaped to better serve our communities.

These changes affect the ten district councils that exist in Hertfordshire, as well as Hertfordshire County Council.

  • Hertfordshire County Council
  • Broxbourne Borough Council
  • Dacorum Borough Council
  • East Herts District Council
  • Hertsmere Borough Council
  • North Herts District Council
  • St Albans City & District Council
  • Stevenage Borough Council
  • Three Rivers District Council
  • Watford Borough Council
  • Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

How does it affect residents?

LGR will shape how your services are delivered – from bins and planning to libraries and social care. The objectives are:

  • Simplified council structures

  • More consistent service access

  • Greater transparency in decision-making

  • A stronger local voice in how councils operate

The goal is to keep what works well in Hertfordshire and improve the things that could be better and for this to be delivered by councils that are closer to communities and better equipped to plan for the future.

Further Information & links

A dedicated website has been designed to:

  • Inform and educate Hertfordshire residents on what Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is, and how it impacts them.

  • Provide Hertfordshire residents with the opportunity to have their say – we really want to hear from our communities.

Visit website

Attend Engagement Events

Have your say 

 

 

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Your Tree Our Future Scheme is back

This year, over 60,000 trees will be made available free of charge to residents, enabling them to plant at home and improve their area. Since the launch, 191,000 trees have been given away for free to residents by the county council in partnership with local district and borough councils through the scheme.

Following on from high demand from residents last year, the project has been expanded and aims to provide habitat for wildlife, improve air quality, and help the county reduce its overall carbon footprint.

Order your trees 

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OHRA AGM – Today 15 May 2025. See you there!

The Oxhey Hall Residents Association’s AGM will be held today, Thursday 15 May 2025 at 8 pm in the Community Hall in Broadfields Lane for all Oxhey Hall residents. Doors will open half hour early to give you time to read the reports. As usual, the AGM will be followed by some wine and cheese and a chance to chat with all.

We look forward to seeing you there.

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Collect Free Compost Giveaway – 14 May

Compost made from recycled garden waste will be available for free for green-fingered Three Rivers residents to pick up.

The council’s garden compost giveaway will take place at Leavesden Country Park on Wednesday 14 May from 10 am until 2 pm or sooner if the compost runs out. Residents are asked to bring their own shovels and bags to fill.

Read more

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Save the date & Agenda – OHRA AGM, 15 May 2025

The Oxhey Hall Residents Association’s AGM will be held on Thursday 15 May 2025 at 8 pm in the Community Hall in Broadfields Lane for all Oxhey Hall residents. Doors will open half hour early to give you time to read the reports. As usual, the AGM will be followed by some wine and cheese and a chance to chat with all.

The agenda will be:

  • Apologies and Introductions.
  • Approval of the Minutes of the 2024 AGM.
  • Matters arising from the 2024 minutes which are not on the agenda.
  • *Chairman’s Report.
  • *Treasurer’s report and accounts for approval.
  • *Report from Local Police Officer.
  • *Report from Councillors (County, District and Parish).
  • *Report on Neighbourhood Watch.
  • Election of Officers for 2025/26.
  • Election of Committee Members for 2025/26.
  • Confirmation of Road Representatives for 2025/26.

Refreshments will follow the meeting

We look forward to seeing you there.

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Three Rivers residents need photo ID to vote at elections in May

Three Rivers residents need photo ID to vote at elections in May

Residents in Three Rivers will need to show photographic ID to vote in local elections on 1 May, and they are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote by checking they have an accepted form of ID.

Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport or drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

Read more…

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Easter Bin Collections – Note the change

A gentle reminder about your bin collection week commencing 14 April 2025

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Three Rivers Council launches ‘sticker-less’ garden waste collection scheme

Gardeners across Three Rivers will no longer need to display stickers on their brown bins to have garden waste collected after an improved collection scheme is launched.

A change to how the council identifies registered users of the popular service is coming this spring, which is designed to improve the efficiency of the subscription process for residents.

From 15 March, residents who sign up for the service will no longer need to display a sticker on their bin. Instead, new technology within the collection vehicles will allow the council to identify which bins should be collected, and which have not paid for the service. Residents do not need to do anything if they have already signed up.

Watch the video below to learn more:

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Is building noise annoying you?

An increase in noisy works has been noticed around Oxhey Hall over the past 12 months, with contractors involved in refurbishing and extending houses on the estate. This is contributing to disturbance for residents at all sorts of hours.

So, are there any rules that should be being followed and do you have any rights to get the noise reduced?

Householders’ responsibilities

If you are employing anyone to carry out building works that will involve noisy works – which may include the installation of scaffolding – you need to ensure that any noise only takes place when it is allowed to.

The Control of Pollution Act 1974 gives the Council powers to control noise and vibration from construction sites and other works.

So, according to the Council’s Residential Environmental Health Department, when is noise allowed?

Noisy work should only take place on:

  • Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm
  • Saturdays between 8am and 1pm, and on
  • Sundays or public/Bank Holidays no noisy works should take place at all.

So if you are having work done in your home, please be considerate and mindful of the times above.

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Op Sceptre – Knife Crime Awareness Survey

Op Sceptre is a week of intensified work around knife crime and is a national initiative supported and co-ordinated by the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC).
Sceptre complements existing work carried out by Hertfordshire Constabulary around knife crime throughout the year and is an opportunity to focus in on efforts to tackle knife crime at several levels – from engaging with young people in schools to proactive patrols, amnesty bins and knife sweeps.
We have created a short survey for you to tell us how you feel about knife crime, how it affects you and what Herts Police can do to make you feel safer in your local area.
Please click on the link below to complete the survey

Op Sceptre Survey 

 

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