Part One: How It Works Today

A Resident’s Guide to Roles, Responsibilities, and Representation

In recent weeks, we've received a number of thoughtful questions from Broxtown readers following our interviews with local council leaders and Members of Parliament. A recurring theme in this feedback is the uncertainty around how our local government actually works—who is responsible for what, how decisions are made, and why there appear to be overlapping layers of authority.

To address this, we're publishing a two-part editorial series to help residents better understand the structure of local government in Hertfordshire.

Part One – The System Today

In this first instalment, we’ll explore the current two-tier system that divides responsibilities between Hertfordshire County Council and the ten borough and district councils, including our own Broxbourne Borough Council. We’ll explain the division of powers, the roles of key leaders, and how services are delivered and decisions made. This is the system that most residents interact with daily, often without realising who is in charge.

Part Two – What’s Changing?

In the next editorial, we will look ahead to the anticipated local government reforms, which may see these boroughs merged into a centralised unitary authority. These changes are expected to streamline governance but also raise important questions about representation, local identity, and accountability.

But for now, let’s begin with Part One—your comprehensive guide to how things currently work in Hertfordshire’s local government landscape.

1. The Structure of Local Government in Hertfordshire

1.1 What Is a Two-Tier System?

A two-tier system means that two separate councils operate in the same geographical area. Each tier is responsible for different services:

• Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) oversees services that affect the entire county.

• Ten District and Borough Councils, such as Broxbourne Borough Council, handle more localised services.

This system aims to allow more efficient administration: the county handles big, strategic services like education and transport, while boroughs manage day-to-day services close to the community.

1.2 The 10 District/Borough Councils in Hertfordshire

Each borough or district council covers a defined geographic area within the county. These councils are the closest to the everyday concerns of residents, and their focus is on delivering neighbourhood-level services. The ten are:

1. Broxbourne Borough Council

2. Dacorum Borough Council

3. East Hertfordshire District Council

4. Hertsmere Borough Council

5. North Hertfordshire District Council

6. St Albans City and District Council

7. Stevenage Borough Council

8. Three Rivers District Council

9. Watford Borough Council

10. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

Each of these has its own elected councillors, leadership structure, committees, and governance responsibilities.

2. Division of Responsibilities

Understanding who does what is one of the most important aspects of navigating local government. The county councilis responsible for large-scale services that span the whole region, while the borough councils handle matters that are more local and specific to towns and neighbourhoods.

Here’s a simplified breakdown of how services are divided:

This split is not always obvious. Many residents mistakenly direct school or pothole concerns to borough councils like Broxbourne when they are the remit of the county council. That’s why clearer understanding is so vital.

3. Leadership Roles and Responsibilities

To navigate the structure of local government effectively, it helps to understand who leads each authority, what their roles entail, and how their responsibilities differ.

3.1 County Council Leadership

The Leader of Hertfordshire County Council is currently Richard Roberts. He is an elected councillor who heads the county’s executive team and cabinet.

Key responsibilities:

• Developing and implementing county-wide strategies

• Chairing cabinet meetings where major decisions are made

• Representing Hertfordshire in national and regional forums

• Overseeing services such as schools, roads, adult and children’s care

The Leader is supported by cabinet members who each oversee specific service areas such as education, highways, and health.

3.2 Borough Council Leadership – Broxbourne as Example

At the borough level, Broxbourne Borough Council is led by Mark Mills-Bishop. As Council Leader, his role is to set the direction and strategic focus of the council.

Key responsibilities as Borough Leader:

• Overseeing local services such as waste collection, planning, and housing

• Leading the borough's cabinet and setting strategic priorities for the local area

• Liaising with county council counterparts and other local bodies

• Ensuring delivery of council services to meet residents’ expectations

Broxbourne’s cabinet members also have specific portfolios, including economic growth, community safety, and environmental services.

3.3 Member of Parliament (MP)

The MP for Broxbourne is Lewis Cocking, who represents the borough in the UK Parliament. An MP’s role is national, not administrative, meaning they do not run local services but influence how the area is represented at the national level.

Key responsibilities:

• Representing the views and concerns of constituents in Parliament

• Taking up casework related to immigration, benefits, and national services

• Lobbying government for funding and support for local projects (e.g., transport upgrades)

• Participating in debates and national policy-making

MPs frequently collaborate with both county and borough councils but have no executive power in council decisions.

4. Committees, Cabinets and How Decisions Are Made

Local government decisions are rarely made in isolation. Instead, they are debated, refined, and implemented through committees, cabinet meetings, and standards panels that shape the delivery of services and the development of local policies.

4.1 Committees in Hertfordshire County Council

Hertfordshire County Council operates under a cabinet model, but also uses committees to examine and develop policy. These include:

• Education, Libraries & Lifelong Learning Panel

• Adult Care and Health Cabinet Panel

• Highways and Transport Panel

• Resources and Performance Cabinet Panel

These panels are made up of councillors from across the county - elected by residents (next election is 1st May 2025), and they provide oversight, evaluate budgets, and make recommendations to the full cabinet. While the cabinet has executive power, panels play a crucial role in shaping its decisions.

4.2 Committees in Broxbourne Borough Council

Broxbourne Borough Council also uses a mixture of cabinet and committee governance. Key committees include:

• Planning and Regulatory Committee – decides planning applications and development control

• Environment Sustainability Committee – oversees environmental sustainability across all sections of the community.

• Audit and Standards Committee – holds the cabinet to account and reviews service delivery

• Employment Panel – monitors the Council's recruitment, staff structure, employment policies and the appointment of senior officers.

Committees are composed of elected councillors from various wards within the borough, and are usually chaired by councillors with experience in that subject area.

4.3 Cabinet Structure

Both HCC and Broxbourne Borough Council have executive cabinets—these are groups of senior councillors led by the council leader. Cabinet members are assigned specific portfolios such as environment, finance, or public health. They are responsible for day-to-day decision-making and for driving the strategic objectives of the council.

4.4 Liaison and Joint Committees

Because Hertfordshire uses a two-tier system, coordination between the tiers is essential. This happens through:

• Hertfordshire Growth Board – brings together county and district/borough leaders to coordinate economic and infrastructure planning.

• Countywide Liaison Meetings – scheduled meetings between officers and members of different councils to align local priorities.

• Taskforces and Joint Projects – councils often work together on shared concerns such as sustainability, regeneration, and public safety.

This collaboration ensures that, despite being split between two tiers, local governance remains coherent and aligned to county-wide ambitions.

5. The Role of the Mayor

In addition to council leaders and Members of Parliament, residents often ask about the role of the Mayor—a position that holds ceremonial and, in some cases, political significance depending on the local authority’s structure.

5.1 The Ceremonial Mayor (Broxbourne and Most Boroughs)

In boroughs like Broxbourne, the Mayor is largely a ceremonial figurehead. This role is traditionally rotated each year among the elected councillors and is non-political.

Key responsibilities include:

• Representing the borough at official events and public engagements

• Chairing full council meetings in a neutral and impartial capacity

• Supporting local charities and community causes during their term

• Acting as an ambassador for the borough at civic ceremonies and special functions

The Mayor does not set policy or lead the council’s strategic direction—those responsibilities lie with the Council Leader and cabinet.

5.2 Executive Mayors (Not Present in Broxbourne)

In some parts of England, local authorities operate under a directly elected Mayor model (e.g., in Watford or London boroughs). These Mayors have executive powers similar to a Council Leader.

However, Broxbourne does not currently have an elected executive Mayor. The borough uses the more traditional Leader and Cabinet model where the Mayor’s role is civic rather than political.

Summary Table

Understanding the difference between a ceremonial and executive Mayor helps clarify who really leads your local authority—and where to turn for policy decisions versus civic representation.

6. Why Two Tiers? And What Might Change

The two-tier system of local government in Hertfordshire was introduced as part of national reforms in 1974. The intention was to provide a balance between strategic county-wide services and locally responsive delivery. The county council could manage complex systems like education and roads, while borough and district councils focused on more community-based services.

Over time, this structure has been praised for maintaining local representation and service specialisation, but also criticised for:

• Confusion among residents about where responsibilities lie

• Duplication of administrative costs

• Slower coordination between tiers

In response, discussions at both county and national levels have explored moving toward a unitary authority model. This would mean dissolving the borough councils and transferring all local government responsibilities to a single county-wide council—or to a smaller number of larger combined authorities.

Such a change would aim to:

• Reduce duplication and costs

• Simplify governance and decision-making

• Strengthen strategic planning across housing, infrastructure, and sustainability

However, critics argue it may also:

• Dilute local identity and democratic accountability

• Distance decision-makers from community needs

These are the themes we’ll explore in Part Two of this editorial series, where we’ll unpack the potential future of local government in Hertfordshire, the voices both for and against reform, and what it could mean for residents and the future of Broxbourne.

What Do You Think?

Did you find this editorial helpful? We’d love to hear your thoughts on this educational series. Is it helping you better understand how local government works?

Reply to this newsletter and let us know what topics you'd like us to explore next—whether it's council budgets, planning decisions, local elections, or anything else you’d like broken down in plain terms. Your feedback helps shape what we write next!

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Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya

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