A new town council for Hemel Hempstead could be set up after Dacorum Borough Council agreed to begin a review of governance arrangements in the area.

Currently, town and parish councils – the lowest tier of local government – cover most of Dacorum, but Hemel Hempstead and parts of Nash Mills, Bourne End and Felden do not have one.

Residents will soon be able to have their say on whether to change that as part of a Community Governance Review that was agreed by Dacorum Borough Council at a meeting yesterday.

The Liberal Democrat minority administration at the borough council fears that the Government’s upcoming shake-up of local authorities, which will abolish both the borough council and the county council, could lead to a lack of representation for Hemel Hempstead residents.

Dacorum Borough Council's offices at The Forum in Hemel Hempstead. Credit: Will Durrant/LDRS.

placeholder image — Dacorum Borough Council's offices at The Forum in Hemel Hempstead. Credit: Will Durrant/LDRS.

Dacorum as a whole will become part of a new unitary authority, taking on the responsibilities of both the borough and county councils. The smallest option on the table would combine Dacorum and St Albans, while the largest option would join Dacorum with Hertsmere, St Albans, Three Rivers and Watford.

With the first elections for the new unitary authorities set to be held in May 2027, Dacorum Borough Council wants to have completed its Community Governance Review by the end of 2026.

Cllr Sally Symington (LD), leader of the borough council, warned that leaving the governance review until after the creation of the unitary authority would risk it not being a priority for the new authority.

She said: “It’s really important that we have a tier of government for Hemel Hempstead that can look after and promote Hemel Hempstead.

“We know that there are many areas in Hemel that need investment … areas that have been neglected, areas of deprivation, and we want the people of Hemel Hempstead to have the ability to invest in those areas and to have a voice.”

Town and parish councils can take responsibility for amenities including parks, allotments, car parks, street lighting and public toilets, and can also offer funding for projects in the area.

They are funded through a parish precept, which is added to the council tax bill for residents, with the average precept for band D properties across England working out to around £92 a year.

Borough councils that want to consider creating new town and parish councils are legally required to carry out a Community Governance Review, where the authority consults with residents on the best way of representing people in the area.

The review in Dacorum is expected to cost between £80,000 and £100,000, and will involve contacting the 40,810 households and 67,000 electors in the unparished area of Dacorum.

Cllr Pete Hannell (Lab), who represents Bennetts End ward at Dacorum Borough Council, said that he hopes the review could “resurrect” a town council for Hemel Hempstead. Its previous town council was abolished in the 1970s when Dacorum Borough Council was created.

But Cllr Andrew Williams, leader of the Conservative group at Dacorum Borough Council, questioned whether it was the right time to be conducting the governance review.

He said the process should instead be carried out after there is certainty as to the make-up of the planned new unitary authority covering Dacorum and further afield.