Have your say on the creation of a new Town Council for Welwyn Garden City

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (WHBC) is exploring whether creating a new Town Council for Welwyn Garden City would benefit residents in light of the Government’s Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) programme and its plans to replace current County Council and District and Borough Councils, including WHBC, with unitary authorities.

While the LGR programme does not include proposals to change existing Town and Parish Councils or to create new ones, the Government has said that it is aware of the need to maintain a strong local voice after the creation of new Unitary Councils for Hertfordshire and to this end we are exploring whether the creation of a new Town Council, at this time, would be in the best interests of residents. A new Town Council would be independent of the new Unitary Councils.

The role of a Town Council is to focus on much more localised activities like organising local events, local community projects and providing allotments where there is a local need although their functions and responsibilities vary.  Whereas the new Unitary Councils would be responsible for things such as infrastructure planning, highways maintenance, adult social care, children’s services, waste, planning, licensing, running elections and Council Tax collection.

The process to establish a new Town Council is called a Community Governance Review and WHBC would like to hear the views of residents that live in Welwyn Garden City, particularly regarding the impact on local representation.  A consultation on the creation of a new Town Council will be live from today (20 October) to 30 November.  Click here for more information and to take part in the consultation.

Councillor Kieran Thorpe, Executive Member for Governance, said:

“This consultation is an opportunity for residents that live in Welwyn Garden City to have their say on the creation of a Town Council at this time of major change for Local Government.  It is important that we hear the views of as many people as possible so I would encourage residents to take part in the consultation.”