Hertfordshire council reorganisation paused as costs hit £1.5m
Hertfordshire councils aim for promised funding as reorganisation plans paused
Plans to reorganise local government in Hertfordshire have been paused amidst concerns about mounting costs, which have already reached £1.5m, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
At present, only £400,000 of the expenses incurred by Hertfordshire’s councils have been covered by the Government, leaving a £1.1m shortfall to be funded from existing council budgets that could otherwise support essential services.
On 7th September, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner announced a "pause" in the reorganisation process, triggering a review for Hertfordshire and 13 other areas.
The £1.5m in "direct costs" reported incorporates programme management, consultancy, external recruitment, and other direct expenses but excludes contributions from existing staff across the councils in departments such as finance, legal, HR, communications, and data analytics.
A spokesperson for the Hertfordshire Local Government Reorganisation Programme confirmed the costs, noting the significant resource contribution from officer and leadership teams across all 11 councils.
They stated, "Alongside these direct costs, the programme has required a significant contribution of officer and leadership resources across all 11 councils."
Officials emphasize their commitment to protecting service delivery throughout the programme and continue to advocate for adequate funding from the Government, including the previously announced £1m per unitary council.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, responding to enquiries by LDRS, acknowledged the substantial work done by councils and partners, indicating a review of council costs as part of the reorganisation process pause.