Local Government

Local Goverment can be confusing for many people. This can be because there is no obvious hierarchical structure. The three authorities with responsibility for Hertford are:

• Hertfordshire County Council
• East Herts District Council
• Hertford Town Council

These authorities are funded by government grants, local taxes and charges for facilities. Local taxes are collected by the district council and distributed to the town and county councils. In addition, the Hertfordshire Police Authority is also funded through local taxes.

Hertfordshire County Council

The County Authority is made up of 77 councillors and has its headquarters at County Hall in Hertford. Meetings are open to the public and it reports are available at local libraries and on the council's wbsite. The councilors are unpaid, but get an allowance and expences to cover their costs.

The authority is responsible for the following:

• Education
• Environment - managing and planning the environment, roads and transportation, and countryside issues.
• Fire and Rescue
• Libraries
• Social Services
• Trading Standards

County Councillors are elected every four years, with the next election due in 2009.

If you have any enquiries contact:

Hertfordshire County Council
County Hall
Pegs Lane
HERTFORD
SG13 8DE
Tel: 01992 555555
Minicom: 01992 556611
Or visit their website at HertsDirect.

East Herts District Council

The District Authority has a Chief Executive and 6 Directors, who oversee the day-to-day operational activities of the Council and its 450 members of staff.

The Executive Directors and the seven Executive Members make up the Executive Board, which is responsible for policy.

The authority is responsible for the following:

• Art and Leisure Services
• Housing and Council Tax Benefits
• Building Planning
• Car Parks
• Council Tax Collection
• Electoral Registration
• Environmental Health
• Housing Policy
• Land Changes
• Markets
• Parks and open spaces
• Refuse Collection and street cleaning
• Swimming Pools

District Councillors are elected every four years, with the next election due in May 2007.

If you have any enquiries contact:

East Herts District Council
Wallfields
Pegs Lane
HERTFORD
SG13 8EQ
Tel: 01279 655261
Email: info(at)eastherts.gov.uk
(see note below about email addresses)
Minicom: 01279 658512
Or visit their website at www.eastherts.gov.uk.

Hertford Town Council

The Town Council was formed on 1st April 1974, succeeding Hertford Brough Council and for 2006-7 have a net budget of £496,000. The authority is responsible for the following services:

• Open Spaces
• Allotments
• Cemetries
• Bus Shelters
• Public Amenities
• Tourist Information Centre
• Closed Circuit Television
• Hertford Museum
• The Downshire Suite (at Hertford Castle), The Corn Exchange, Millbridge Rooms and other venues

During 2000-1, the Town Council was responsible for the restoration work on the War Memorial and operation of the popular Tourist Information Centre, which promotes the town to visitors from far and wide. In addition, the council run CCTV system, which was installed in 1999, detected 20 incidents needing police attention dring 2000, leading to 40 arrests.

Town Councillors are elected every four years, with the next election due in May 2007.

If you have any enquiries contact:

Hertford Town Council
The Castle
HERTFORD
SG14 1HR
Tel: 01992 552885
Fax: 01992 505876

Email: town.clerk(at)hertford.gov.uk
(see note below about email addresses)
Minicom: 01279 658512
Or visit their website at www.hertford.gov.uk.

Note about email addresses
To prevent the harvesting of email addresses by spammers, the addresses shown on this page use the notation (at) instead of the @ sign.