Have your say on the creation of a new parish council for Welwyn Garden City

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (WHBC) is exploring whether creating a new parish council for Welwyn Garden City would benefit residents, following feedback from an initial consultation in October to December 2025. 

The process to establish a new parish council is called a Community Governance Review and this review is being undertaken 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.

Welwyn Garden City is the only area in Welwyn Hatfield which does not have a town or parish council.  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.  To this end, WHBC are exploring whether the creation of a new parish council would be in the best interests of residents.  A new parish council would be independent of the new Unitary Councils.

The role of a parish 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 Community Governance Review will explore if there is a need to strengthen representation and community empowerment and engagement in Welwyn Garden City.   WHBC are consulting with residents on whether to:

• set up a new parish council for Welwyn Garden City
• set up a Neighbourhood Area Committee to engage with the residents of Welwyn Garden City
• take no action for now.

The consultation will run from Tuesday 19 May to Tuesday 30 June.

You can take part in the consultation by:

• viewing the Community Governance Review Terms of Reference and the background information
• completing the online form before 30 June.

Paper copies will also be available from council offices and local libraries.

Councillor Kieran Thorpe, Executive Member for Governance, said:

 It was clear from last year’s consultation that residents do want to have their say on the creation of a new parish council for Welwyn Garden City.  The Community Governance Review is an opportunity for residents to share their views at this time of major change for Local Government.  It is important that we hear from as many people as possible so I would encourage residents to take part in the consultation.