Misplaced Pages

#732267

64-748: North Hertfordshire is one of ten local government districts in the county of Hertfordshire , England . Its council is based in Letchworth Garden City and the largest town is Hitchin . The district also includes the towns of Baldock and Royston and numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. Part of the district lies within the Chiltern Hills , a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The neighbouring districts are East Hertfordshire , Stevenage , Welwyn Hatfield , St Albans , Luton , Central Bedfordshire , South Cambridgeshire and Uttlesford . North Hertfordshire

128-418: A parish meeting , being those marked with asterisks(*) below. In addition, the three towns of Baldock, Hitchin, and Letchworth are unparished areas , as no successor parishes were created for those three former urban districts on their abolition in 1974. A Letchworth Garden City Parish was subsequently created in 2005, but was abolished in 2013. In 2021 the council adopted a new logo of four hearts (shown in

192-415: A "town council". The majority of successor parishes, and a number of other small market towns now have town councils , with the power of parish councils but their chairmen are entitled to style themselves as " town mayor ". Similarly, a handful of parishes have been granted city status by letters patent : the council of such a parish is known as "city council" and the chairman is entitled to be known as

256-415: A geographical area known as a civil parish. The civil parishes were also grouped to form rural districts , which became the geographical areas of rural district councils. Civil geographical parishes continued to exist in urban districts, but did not have parish councils. Whilst the bulk of the rationalised activities went to district councils, parish councils took over a number of lesser powers including all

320-519: A parish council has been able to alternatively style itself as a "village council", "neighbourhood council" or "community council". A provision of this Act is that is that civil parishes may now be established in the London boroughs. Since the enactment of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 , district and unitary councils may create a parish council for a new civil parish either through

384-407: A parish council must be formed. Where there are between 151 and 999 electors the principal council may recommend the establishment of either a parish council or parish meeting. Where there are 150 electors or fewer a parish council may not be formed. Reviews come into effect on 1 April in the year following the date the reorganisation order is made. Where a new parish council is created, elections to

448-587: A parish council: smaller ones, typically those with fewer than 150 electors, often have parish meetings instead, which can fulfil many of the functions of a parish council. Alternatively, parishes with small populations may apply to be grouped together with one or more neighbouring parishes under a common parish council. Civil parish councils were formed in England under the reforming Local Government Act 1894 ( 56 & 57 Vict. c. 73) to take over local oversight of civic duties in rural towns and villages from

512-458: A petition of local government electors for an area. A petition is deemed valid where it is signed by a sufficient proportion of the electorate (ranging from 50% in an area with fewer than 500 electors to 10% in one with more than 2,500). The sufficient proportion of the electorate necessary in areas with more than 2,500 electors was reduced from 10% to 7.5% under an amendment to the Act made in 2015. At

576-604: A radical new power: to "do anything that individuals generally may do" as long as that is not limited by some other Act. This is known as the General Power of Competence (GPC), and is available to "eligible" parish councils. An eligible council is one which has resolved to adopt the GPC, with at least two-thirds of its members being declared elected, rather than co-opted, and the Clerk must hold an appropriate qualification. However

640-491: A review or in response to a petition. This has led to the creation of new parish councils at an increased rate, especially in large towns and cities which do not have a history of parish governance. Since 13 February 2008 the power to create new parishes and parish councils, to alter parish boundaries, to dissolve parish councils and to abolish parishes has been devolved to district , unitary and London Borough councils (collectively known as "principal councils"). This process

704-576: 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 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

SECTION 10

#1732780225733

768-461: A two-tier structure of local government. Two-tier non-metropolitan counties have a county council and several districts, each with 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

832-399: 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 ). Parish council (England) Parish councils receive the majority of their funding by levying a precept upon the council tax paid by the residents of the parish (or parishes) covered by

896-404: Is a power awarded in 2012 to eligible councils, which further broadens the scope of activities that councils can be involved in. Parish councils may exercise powers to provide, maintain and manage certain facilities. There are large variations in the facilities provided by parish councils, but they can include any of the following: They may also provide the following, subject to the consent of

960-485: Is four years, and councillors are elected by the block vote system, with voters having the same number of votes as seats on the council, in a secret ballot . Those candidates with the highest number of votes sufficient to fill the number of vacant seats are elected. The legislation provides that the number of elected members of a parish council shall not be less than five. Larger parishes may be divided into parish wards, with separate elections for each ward. The timing of

1024-406: Is known as a "community governance review". Principal councils have the power to make a community governance review at any time for all or part of their district. It is envisaged that such reviews will occur at intervals of between 10 and 15 years, and will take into account population changes, the need for well-defined boundaries and the wishes of local inhabitants. Reviews may also be triggered by

1088-402: Is not a quorum elected the district council must dissolve it and order fresh elections. Where there are more candidates than vacancies, a poll must be held. Undivided parishes, or multi-member parish wards, hold elections under the block vote system. If a vacancy occurs during the term of a parish council, it may be filled by either election or co-option. Elections only occur if, following

1152-423: Is taken. Where there are fewer candidates than vacant seats, the parish council has the power to coopt any person or persons to fill the vacancies. This power, however, may only be exercised if there is a quorum of councillors present and within 35 days of the election. If the parish council fails to fill the vacancies within this period, the district council may dissolve it and order fresh elections. If there

1216-495: Is the formal point of contact with the public, and a source of information for the public about the Council's activities. The necessary financial monitoring and reporting are the clerk's responsibility, and in this role the clerk is known as the "Responsible Financial Officer" (RFO) of the Council. The clerk also provides procedural guidance for the Council itself, and ensures that statutory and other provisions governing or affecting

1280-464: Is the role of the local planning authority to agree who should be the neighbourhood forum for the neighbourhood area. Neighbourhood forums and parish councils can use new neighbourhood planning powers to establish general planning policies for the development and use of land in a neighbourhood. These are described legally as "neighbourhood development plans". In an important change to the planning system, communities can use neighbourhood planning to permit

1344-604: 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

SECTION 20

#1732780225733

1408-507: The county council , unitary authority or London borough council of the area in which they lie: Parish councils have the statutory right to be consulted by the local district, borough, county council or unitary authority on: Parish councils may also exercise the following powers: Under the Localism Act 2011 eligible parish councils can be granted a " general power of competence " (GPC) which allows them within certain limits

1472-529: The vestry committee . Parish councils are generically referred to as "local councils" to distinguish them from " principal councils " (e.g. district councils , county councils , unitary authorities or London borough councils) and most are affiliated via County Associations to the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), which represents their interests at a national level. Their activities fall into three main categories: representing

1536-553: The "city mayor". In England, there are currently eight parishes with city status, all places with long-established Anglican cathedrals: Chichester , Ely , Hereford , Lichfield , Ripon , Salisbury , Truro and Wells . Despite its name, the City of Durham Parish Council is not a city; Durham's city status is held by charter trustees . Following the enactment of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 ,

1600-452: The 1894 Act and subsequent legislation. Compared to higher tiers of English local government, parish councils have very few statutory duties (i.e. things they are required to do by law) but have a much more extensive range of discretionary powers which they may exercise voluntarily. For this reason, there are large variations in the activities of parish councils, depending on their size, resources and abilities. The "General Power of Competence"

1664-476: The Clerk. The Clerk as the Proper Officer "enacts" (cause to happen) the decisions of the Council, and they receive official correspondence and issue correspondence on the instructions of the Council. The clerk also prepares agendas for meetings of the Council and its committees, gives notice of these to the Council members and the public, and records and publishes the minutes of these meetings. The Clerk

1728-410: The Council is managed by its Clerk, a paid employee appointed by the council, who acts in a combined statutory role of Proper Officer (secretary or chief executive) and Responsible Financial Officer (treasurer). They may be full-time or part-time, depending on the amount of council business, and large parish councils may require more than one official for these tasks, in which case they are a group led by

1792-456: The English ratepayers is between 28,000 and 29,000. Not only are we exposed to this multiplicity of authority and this confusion of rating power, but the qualification, tenure, and mode of election of members of these Authorities differ in different cases." The government chose the civil parish as the basic unit of local government in rural areas. Each parish council's area of responsibility was

1856-418: The GPC can allow councils to engage in a range of activities such as setting up a trading company or co-operative to operate commercial activities, such as lending or investing money, or running a local shop, post office or energy company. Or allow it to contribute towards the provision of a service by another authority. The central function of the Council, the making of local decisions and policy relevant to

1920-414: The advertisement of the vacancy for 14 days, 10 electors send a written request to the returning officer. If no request is received, the parish council will be required to fill the vacancies by co-option. If vacancy occurs within 6 months of a scheduled election, then a by-election cannot be called, but the council has the power to co-opt. The nomination qualifications required of a candidate for co-option are

1984-399: The area are: Local newspapers for the area are: 52°00′N 0°12′W  /  52.0°N 0.2°W  / 52.0; -0.2 Non-metropolitan district Non-metropolitan districts , or colloquially " shire districts ", are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties (colloquially shire counties ) in

North Hertfordshire - Misplaced Pages Continue

2048-454: 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

2112-401: The chairman, and a quorum of the main council committee is at least one-third of the members, or three members, whichever is the greater. Every meeting is open to the public, who are encouraged to attend, except for those items where the Council formally resolves to exclude the public and press on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest. This would have to be due to

2176-622: The confidential nature of the business. This latter also applies to any subcommittee of the parish council. A Council can form committees with delegated powers for specific purposes; however these must adhere to the protocols for public attendance, minute-taking and notice of meetings that apply to the main Council. A committee may form sub-committees. A Council can also appoint advisory groups which are exempt from these constraints to give flexibility, but these have no delegated powers and cannot make financial decisions. Such groups may contain members who are not councillors. Public notice of meetings of

2240-556: The council and its committees must be given at least three clear days before and be displayed in a "noticeable place" in the Parish, giving time, date and venue. A summons to attend the meeting is also issued, specifying the agenda, to every member of the Council. Items not on the agenda cannot be formally debated or resolved. Items brought up by the attendance of the general public or in correspondence can be discussed, but formal resolutions on these must be deferred if they are not covered by

2304-551: The council was created in 1974, it inherited five sets of offices from the five former authorities, spread across the four towns of Hitchin , Letchworth , Baldock and Royston . Initially the new council used the former Hitchin Rural District Council's offices (later called Centenary House) on Grammar School Walk in Hitchin as its headquarters, with the other offices providing additional accommodation. In 1975,

2368-600: The council. In 2021-22 the amount raised by precept was £616 million. Other funding may be obtained by local fund-raising or grants for specific activities. They can vary enormously in size, activities and circumstances; representing populations ranging from fewer than 100 (small rural hamlets) to up to 130,000 ( Northampton Town Council ). Most of them are small: around 80% represent populations of less than 2,500; Parish councils are made up of unpaid councillors who are elected to serve for four years: there are about 70,000 parish councillors country-wide. Not every civil parish has

2432-404: The development they want to see - in full or in outline – without the need for planning applications. These are called "neighbourhood development orders". In 1974, the local government reforms allowed the creation of successor parish councils, to cover those areas formerly the responsibility of a municipal corporation. Such an area could be declared a "town", and the council would then be known as

2496-407: The district is covered by civil parishes , which form a third tier of local government for their areas. The council has been under no overall control since the 2019 election . Following the 2024 election the council is being run by a Labour minority administration. The first election to North Hertfordshire District Council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside

2560-478: The election cycle is usually linked to that of the election of a district councillor for the ward containing the parish. Where the elections to a district council are delayed or cancelled (e.g due to its abolishment with the formation of a unitary council or a change from elections by thirds to the whole council), the term of a parish council may be extended to match the next elections to the new authority. A candidate must be at least 18 years old and at least one of

2624-435: The end of the review process, which must be completed within 12 months, the principal council is empowered to issue a reorganisation order setting out the changes. This order may: In order to abolish an existing parish council, the principal council must provide evidence that this in response to "justified, clear and sustained local support" from the area's inhabitants. Where a new parish is formed with 1,000 electors or more,

North Hertfordshire - Misplaced Pages Continue

2688-487: 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

2752-445: The existing agenda to the next meeting so that due notice can be given. It is common practice to have a "public participation" item at the beginning of the agenda so that the public knows the time when this will occur. The minutes of the meeting are taken by the clerk, and are ratified at the next meeting of the council. They must also be displayed in a noticeable place in the parish, and for many councils, they are now also displayed on

2816-482: The following: and candidates must state on their consent for nomination form their qualification for election, which must be at least one of the following: The chairman of the previous council shall remain in office, even if not elected to the newly constituted council, until a new chairman is appointed at the first meeting of the new council. Where there are an equal number or fewer candidates than there are vacancies, all candidates are elected unopposed, and no poll

2880-529: The freedom to do anything an individual can do provided it is not prohibited by other legislation, as opposed to being limited to the powers explicitly granted to them by law. To be eligible for this a parish council must meet certain conditions, such as at least two-thirds of the councillors being elected as opposed to being co-opted or appointed, and having a clerk with suitable qualifications. However, such activities cannot use precept funding, and specific funding must be obtained from other sources. In principle

2944-514: The infobox above) and the style "North Herts Council" instead of its full formal name of "North Hertfordshire District Council". Prior to this, the council had used a logo of the initials "NHDC" in a green and purple square for approximately thirty years. In terms of television, North Hertfordshire is served by BBC East and ITV Anglia with television signals received from the Sandy Heath TV transmitter. Radio stations that broadcast to

3008-533: The internet. Procedures for the conduct of meetings are set out in Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972, and where this is not overridden by legislation, by the standing orders of the Council. Most adopt the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) model standing orders. Councillors are expected to adhere to the "Nolan principles" of conduct in public life The administration of

3072-477: The large number of bodies which existed for a variety of activities such as public health, secular burials, water supply and drainage. It also finally removed secular duties from the local vestry committees and gave them to the new parish councils. An idea of the scope of this huge re-organisation can be gained from the words of H H Fowler , President of the Local Government Board, who said in

3136-436: The local community, delivering services to meet local needs, and improving quality of life and community well being. Parish councils have the power to tax their residents to support their operations and to carry out local projects, and this is done through the council tax system. Although there is no limit to the amount that can be raised, the money can only be raised for a limited number of purposes, listed below, as defined in

3200-561: The northern, western and southern edges of Stevenage , and some parts of the latter's urban area lie within North Hertfordshire rather than the borough of Stevenage, notably including much of the Great Ashby area. Knebworth is a post town , but its parish council has not formally declared it a town. North Hertfordshire contains 35 civil parishes . Six of the smaller parishes do not have parish councils , having instead

3264-479: The original proposal to grant a general power of competence to councils was not carried through, and the doctrine of ultra vires remained. This meant that parish councils could not do anything outside their statutory powers. It was not until the Localism Act 2011 that parish councils were freed of the constraints of ultra vires which had limited the activities of parish councils to only those things for which they had been given statutory powers. They were given

SECTION 50

#1732780225733

3328-547: The outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 1 April 1974. Political control since 1974 has been as follows: The leaders of the council since 1974 have been: Following the 2024 election the composition of the council was: The next election is due in May 2028. Since the last boundary changes in 2024, the council has comprised 51 councillors representing 25 wards , with each ward elected one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. When

3392-443: The parish council was retained as the "grass roots" tier of local democracy for rural areas. In addition, many small towns which had previously formed municipal boroughs or urban districts became " successor parishes " within larger districts . The Act also recognised the role of parish councils in development planning in their parish, and gave them the right to be informed and consulted on applications for such development. However,

3456-399: The parliamentary debate for the 1894 Act: "62 counties, 302 Municipal Boroughs, 31 Improvement Act Districts, 688 Local Government Districts, 574 Rural Sanitary Districts, 58 Port Sanitary Districts, 2,302 School Board Districts ... 1,052 Burial Board Districts, 648 Poor Law Unions, 13,775 Ecclesiastical Parishes, and nearly 15,000 Civil Parishes. The total number of Authorities which tax

3520-562: The precept may not be raised specifically for activities which rely only on the power of the GPC, and such funding must be obtained from other sources. The Localism Act also introduced new rights and powers to allow local communities to shape new development by coming together to prepare neighbourhood plans. Neighbourhood planning can be taken forward by two types of body: town and parish councils or "neighbourhood forums". Neighbourhood forums are community groups that are designated to take forward neighbourhood planning in areas without parishes. It

3584-466: The public interest of the parish, is performed at the meetings of the Council. A parish council must hold an annual meeting and at least three other meetings in a year; however, monthly meetings are the most common, and some larger councils have fortnightly meetings. An extraordinary meeting may be called at any time by the chairman or members, but due notice must be given. A parish council consists of no fewer than five elected parish councillors, including

3648-565: The right to appoint a mayor . Borough status is granted by royal charter and, in many cases, continues 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

3712-580: The running of the Council are observed. Clerks are encouraged to have a formal qualification, such as the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA). A councillor cannot become the paid clerk of their council, due to conflict of interest, but they can be appointed on an unpaid basis; preferably temporarily. A councillor cannot become a paid clerk until 12 months after leaving office. The cycle of parish council elections

3776-564: The same as for those for election. If the number of vacancies on the parish council is such that there is no longer a quorum, the district council may temporarily appoint persons to bring the council up to strength in the interval prior to an election. Civil parish councils were formed in England under the reforming Local Government Act 1894 ( 56 & 57 Vict. c. 73) to take over local oversight of civic duties in rural towns and villages . The act created two new types of local authority, parish councils and district councils , to rationalise

3840-596: The secular activities of the parish Vestry committee; a system of local government based on ecclesiastical parishes that originated in the feudal system . Two principal Acts of Parliament have increased the general powers of parish councils, and removed onerous constraints. The Redcliffe-Maud Report led to the Local Government Act 1972 , which dramatically re-organised local government with amalgamation of district councils, large-scale changes to county boundaries and creation of metropolitan areas. However,

3904-526: 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

SECTION 60

#1732780225733

3968-589: The year after the new council's creation, it consolidated most of its functions into a new six-storey building called Council Offices on Gernon Road in Letchworth, designed by Tony Walker of architects Damond Lock, Grabowski and Partners. The building was formally opened on 22 July 1975 by Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester . The council rented the building until 2013, when it purchased it for £3.6 million. North Hertfordshire contains four towns, being Baldock, Hitchin, Letchworth, and Royston. The district also borders

4032-620: 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

4096-407: Was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 , covering the area of five former districts, which were all abolished at the same time: The new district was named North Hertfordshire, reflecting its position within the wider county. North Hertfordshire District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Hertfordshire County Council . Much of

#732267