The Government has announced it is pausing Local Government Reorganisation in Hertfordshire
Councillor Corina Gander, Leader of Broxbourne Council said:
"Today's announcement by the Government, with no notice, to pause Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Hertfordshire is yet another example of how it has mishandled the whole LGR process.
“Over many months, councils across Hertfordshire have committed substantial officer time and taxpayer-funded resources to developing proposals and meeting Government deadlines. The Government’s decision to change direction now creates further confusion and uncertainty, while wasting valuable time that could be spent focusing on delivering services for local residents.
Today’s announcement brings uncertainty for residents and staff and has resulted in abortive expenditure which could have been used on vital services such as SEND.
“Broxbourne Council never wanted local government reorganisation. Nevertheless, we worked constructively and made the case for a four unitary model because it is the option that maintains the strongest links to local communities and preserves local accountability.
“Our priority remains ensuring that any future arrangements put communities first. We continue to believe that if we are to have LGR forced upon us, a four unitary model would provide the best outcome for residents and businesses across Hertfordshire."