Executive mayor elected by the people, elected legislative City council
39-697: Hertsmere is a local government district with borough status in Hertfordshire , England. Its council is based in Borehamwood . Other settlements in the borough include Bushey , Elstree , Radlett and Potters Bar . The borough contains several film studios , including Elstree Studios and the BBC Elstree Centre at Borehamwood. The borough borders Three Rivers , Watford , St Albans , and Welwyn Hatfield in Hertfordshire and
78-434: A borough or district council. In these cases local government functions are divided between county and district councils, to the level where they can be practised most efficiently: Many districts have borough status , which means the local council is called a borough council instead of district council and gives them the right to appoint a mayor . Borough status is granted by royal charter and, in many cases, continues
117-577: A coalition which comes together to elect a leader. The council elects the leader, and the leader appoints the other members of the cabinet. Each cabinet member holds a separate portfolio, such as housing, finance, economic development, or education. Decisions may be delegated to the individual members, or taken by the cabinet as a whole. These decisions are scrutinised by one or more "overview and scrutiny" committees, which may be dedicated to one or more service areas. The leader and cabinet are responsible for policies, plans, and strategies, which must be within
156-450: A council-controlled company. Hertsmere is also the location for BBC Elstree Centre , the site of EastEnders , Holby City , and formerly the home to Top of the Pops , before its move to BBC TV Centre. The area was also home to other TV and film studios , including MGM , until this was demolished for residential development, and is now an area called Studio Way. Hertfordshire has
195-425: A district will consist of a market town and its more rural hinterland. However districts are diverse with some being mostly urban such as Dartford, and others more polycentric such as Thurrock. Non-metropolitan districts are subdivisions of English non-metropolitan counties which have a two-tier structure of local government. Two-tier non-metropolitan counties have a county council and several districts, each with
234-510: A majority of the seats on the council since 1999. Whilst the Conservatives were still the largest party on the council, a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition formed to take control of the council instead. Labour group leader Jeremy Newmark became leader of the council and Liberal Democrat group leader Paul Richards became deputy leader of the council. The first elections to Hertsmere District Council were held in 1973, initially acting as
273-467: A shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control since 1974 has been as follows: The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Hertsmere, and is usually held by a different councillor each year. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council . The leaders since 1999 have been: Following the 2023 election
312-457: A style enjoyed by a predecessor authority, which can date back centuries. Some districts such as Oxford or Exeter have city status , granted by letters patent , but this does not give the local council any extra powers other than the right to call itself a city council . By 1899, England had been divided at district level into rural districts , urban districts , municipal boroughs , county boroughs and metropolitan boroughs . This system
351-404: A system of committees for decision making. There was no legislative requirement for any councillor to be declared the leader, with the principle being that all the elected councillors were equal in status. In practice, political groups had their own leaders, and when a council was under the control of a particular party, local media would commonly refer to the leader of the controlling party as being
390-402: A two-tier structure of local government, with the ten district councils (including Hertsmere Borough Council) providing district-level services, and Hertfordshire County Council providing county-level services. In some areas there is an additional third tier of civil parishes . The council went under no overall control at the 2023 election . Prior to that election the Conservatives had held
429-491: A type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties (colloquially shire counties ) in a two-tier arrangement. Non-metropolitan districts with borough status are known as boroughs , able to appoint a mayor and refer to itself as a borough council. Some shire counties now have no sub divisions so are a single Non-metropolitan district such as Cornwall. Typically
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#1732772721303468-466: A unitary authority or those that transferred from one county to another, including those that changed name. Nor does it include unitary authorities that have been abolished ( Bournemouth and Poole ). Leader of the council Council - Manager Executive leader elected by the council from among themselves Elected mayor and cabinet Executive mayor elected by the people Committee system Executive leader and executive committees elected by
507-485: Is Oliver Dowden of the Conservative Party , who served as deputy Prime Minister from 2023 to 2024. Until 2024 , the constituency was coterminous with the district, but since the boundary changes which took effect at that election, this has no longer been the case. All but one of the wards in Hertsmere district still belong to the constituency of the same name, but Bushey North ward in Hertsmere district
546-557: Is exercised through various committees rather than being focussed on one person. Many councils which use the committee system still nominate one of the councillors to hold the title 'Leader of the Council', albeit without the same powers as a leader under the leader and cabinet model. From the establishment of elected local authorities in England in the nineteenth century until the Local Government Act 2000 , councils used
585-624: Is instead now part of Watford constituency, whose current MP is Matt Turmaine of the Labour Party . All but one of the wards in Hertsmere constituency are part of Hertsmere district, but the seat now also includes the Northaw & Cuffley ward from Welwyn Hatfield district. In 2003, the Borough Council started to present a small number of Civic Awards to people who live or work in Hertsmere 'in recognition of work undertaken for
624-604: The District Councils' Network , special interest group which sits within the Local Government Association . The network's purpose is to "act as an informed and representative advocate for districts to government and other national bodies, based on their unique position to deliver for local people." This is a list of two-tier non-metropolitan counties and their districts. All unitary authorities are also non-metropolitan districts, which, with
663-713: The United Kingdom , with Jews comprising one in seven residents (the area with the highest Jewish population being the London Borough of Barnet). In the 2021 census Hertsmere overtook Barnet to become the most Jewish local authority area, with Jews comprising one in every six residents. Jews form a plurality of the population in two wards of the borough, Bushey Heath and Elstree. 51°40′N 0°16′W / 51.66°N 0.27°W / 51.66; -0.27 Non-metropolitan district Non-metropolitan districts , or colloquially " shire districts ", are
702-434: The 'Leader of the Council'. It was also generally recognised that the most powerful political position on a council was the person who chaired the main policy-making committee, which in most councils was called the policy and resources committee. Usually, the leader of the largest party would chair that committee. Some councils explicitly acknowledged the existence of a leader of the council, others did not. The role of Leader of
741-495: The Council in that regard was similar to that of the British prime minister ; the post had not been explicitly created, but gradually emerged. The Local Government Act 2000 sought to strengthen public engagement with local democracy, and streamline the system of committees, introducing the models of directly elected mayors and cabinets, leaders and cabinets, as well as a third option for an elected mayor and council manager, which
780-471: The Localism Act 2011, principal authorities (such as unitary authorities, county councils, and district councils) were allowed to return to decision-making by committees, the method of local government administration for all councils prior to 2000. Under this model power is exercised, alongside full council, by a number of committees, made up of councillors in proportion to their parties' representation on
819-454: The areas for Wales and England had been enacted separately and there were no Welsh metropolitan areas, the term 'non-metropolitan district' does not apply to Wales. A similar system existed in Scotland , which in 1975 was divided into regions and districts, this was also abolished in 1996 and replaced with a fully unitary system . In England most of the district councils are represented by
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#1732772721303858-472: The benefit of residents of the Borough'. Faith in Hertsmere (2021) The borough contains five parishes: Four of the parishes have parish councils , with Hertsmere Meriden instead having only a parish meeting. Bushey and Potters Bar are unparished areas , being directly administered by Hertsmere Borough Council. The 2011 census showed that Hertsmere was the second most Jewish local authority area in
897-403: The budget adopted by the full council. These will be reported to the overall "full" council, which is convened to bring together all elected members of the authority at regular meetings. One or more overview and scrutiny committees holds the cabinet to account for its decisions and is responsible that the democratic checks and balances are maintained. The principal executive decisions taken by
936-694: The coming into effect of the Localism Act 2011 this can be dispensed with and its functions can be delegated to a monitoring officer. The elected mayor and cabinet model was introduced by the Local Government Act 2000. Councils currently operating the mayoral model include: The elected mayor and council manager option was also introduced by the Local Government Act 2000, but withdrawn by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 . The only local authority to adopt
975-590: The composition of the council is as follows: The next election is due to be held in 2027. The council inherited offices at Rudolph Road in Bushey, Darkes Lane in Potters Bar, and Shenley Road in Borehamwood from its predecessor authorities. A new building, called Hertsmere Civic Offices, was built in 1975–1976 on Elstree Way in Borehamwood to serve as the council's principal offices and meeting place. Since
1014-436: The council as a whole are to appoint the leader, to approve the leader's budget, to adopt development plan documents, and to agree on the council's constitution. Beyond that, it may raise issues, urge the leader, cabinet, or cabinet members to take actions, or pass a vote of no confidence in the leader. In addition, the compliance of councillors with their code of conduct may be overseen by a standards committee, although since
1053-399: The council from among themselves In England, local authorities are required to adopt one of three types of executive arrangements , having an "elected mayor and cabinet ", a "leader and cabinet", or a "committee system". The type of arrangement used determines how decisions will be made within the council. In councils which use the elected mayor system, the mayor is directly elected by
1092-438: The council. Such councils may choose to nominate a councillor as Leader of the Council for the purposes of representing the political leadership of the council, particularly in relations with external bodies. If no leader is nominated, as was the case prior to 2000, the chair of the council's main policy committee may be informally deemed to be the council's de facto leader. Some councils operate governance arrangements which have
1131-458: The electorate to provide political leadership for the council and has power to make executive decisions. In councils which use the leader and cabinet model (the most commonly used model), the elected councillors choose one of their number to be the Leader of the Council , and that person provides political leadership and can make executive decisions. Where the committee system is used, executive power
1170-487: The exception of those of Berkshire , are coterminous with non-metropolitan counties. For a full list of districts of all types including unitary authorities, metropolitan districts and London boroughs , see Districts of England . This is a list of former two-tier districts in England which have been abolished, by local government reorganisations such as the 2009 structural changes to local government in England . It does not include districts that still exist after becoming
1209-505: The fact that it straddles the historic county boundary between Middlesex and Hertfordshire. The name is reflected in the council's coat of arms , which shows a hart upon the battlements of a boundary wall. The district was awarded borough status on 15 April 1977, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. The borough was originally in the Metropolitan Police District , despite being outside
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1248-414: The last boundary changes in 2019, the council comprises 39 councillors elected from 16 wards , each of which returns either two or three councillors. Elections for the whole council are held every four years. The borough's 16 wards are: Prior to 1983 , the borough was included in the parliamentary constituency of Hertfordshire South . In 1983 the constituency was renamed Hertsmere , whose current MP
1287-407: The model was Stoke-on-Trent City Council , reverting to leader and cabinet in 2008. Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2000 allowed district councils in two tier areas, with populations under 85,000, to propose alternative executive arrangements. This was superseded by the changes made by the Localism Act 2011 and the renewed availability of the committee system to all local authorities. Under
1326-496: The modern Greater London boundaries. It was transferred to Hertfordshire Constabulary in 2000. Hertsmere is the location of Elstree Film and TV Studios , which produces such shows as Strictly Come Dancing , Who Wants To Be A Millionaire , Dancing on Ice , and was the location for the Big Brother house. The studios were bought by Hertsmere Borough Council in 1996 and are now operated via Elstree Film Studios Limited,
1365-485: The three north London boroughs of Harrow , Barnet and Enfield . Hertsmere is located mainly within the M25 Motorway . Hertsmere was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 , covering the whole area of three former districts and a single parish from a fourth district, which were all abolished at the same time: The Potters Bar Urban District (which coincided with the parish of South Mimms )
1404-526: The two-tier structure, but reforms in the 1990s and 2009 reduced their number to 192. A further 55 non-metropolitan districts are now unitary authorities, which combine the functions of county and borough/district councils. In Wales , an almost identical two-tier system of local government existed between 1974 and 1996 (see Districts of Wales ). In 1996, this was abolished and replaced with an entirely unitary system of local government, with one level of local government responsible for all local services. Since
1443-620: Was abolished by the London Government Act 1963 and the Local Government Act 1972 . Non-metropolitan districts were created by this act in 1974 when England outside Greater London was divided into metropolitan counties and non-metropolitan counties. Metropolitan counties were sub-divided into metropolitan districts and the non-metropolitan counties were sub-divided into non-metropolitan districts. The metropolitan districts had more powers than their non-metropolitan counterparts. Initially, there were 296 non-metropolitan districts in
1482-422: Was historically part of Middlesex , but had been transferred to Hertfordshire on 1 April 1965 when Greater London was created and Middlesex County Council abolished. The name "Hertsmere" was coined for the new district by combining the common abbreviation of Hertfordshire ("Herts") with "mere", an archaic word for a boundary, referencing the area's location on Hertfordshire's border with Greater London and also
1521-412: Was only adopted by one authority and was later withdrawn. Additionally, lower tier authorities with a population under 85,000 were allowed to continue to use a committee system. The leader and cabinet model was introduced under the Local Government Act 2000 . It consists of the leader and the cabinet itself, which is usually formed by the majority party in the local authority , where there is one, or by
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