An important message from Cllr Steve Jarvis, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council

Late last year the Government set out their plans to simplify existing local government structures in England to make it easier for residents to access local services and to save money. In Hertfordshire, there are currently two types of council: district and borough councils and the county council.

District and borough councils, provide services such as housing, planning, bin collections, car parks and leisure services, while we are responsible for schools, libraries, roads, caring for children, the fire and rescue service and supporting adults who need help with daily living.

Under the Government’s plan, these councils will be replaced by new unitary councils that will deliver all services currently provided by the two separate types of council. All councils in Hertfordshire are working together to explore what this would look like, with the aim of creating a system that is easy to understand, delivers good value for money and responds to the needs of local areas.

Over the next month, councils will hold a mix of in-person and online events across the county. A website will also give further information on the changes, how you can get involved and share your views at www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk. This will remain open until 30 September 2025. After this date councils will review all the feedback before submitting the final proposal to Government at the end of November. I’d encourage you all to take advantage of this once in a generation opportunity to help shape the future of Hertfordshire.

If you haven’t already, do sign up to receive regular updates from Hertfordshire County Council directly at: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/updateme

Stanstead Abbotts is one of five Hertfordshire communities taking part in an important new pilot scheme to help prepare for flooding.

Led by Hertfordshire County Council and funded by the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, the initiative provides a shared community flood kit tailored to our local risks, along with a Stanstead Abbotts-specific flood plan developed with input from residents.

With climate change making extreme weather events more frequent, being prepared has never been more important. The scheme, launched in June 2024, aims to strengthen local resilience by making sure communities like ours have the tools and plans in place to respond quickly if flooding occurs.

Climate change is making extreme weather more common, and that includes flooding. As a county, we can’t stop the rain, but we can support communities to be better prepared. This scheme is about people coming together, planning, and making sure the right equipment is ready and available when it’s needed most. We’re proud to be leading this pilot, especially as other areas across the country already benefit from similar support via the Environment Agency. In Hertfordshire, we’ve taken the initiative ourselves, with funding from Thames RFCC, to make it happen.
(Cllr Paul Zukowskyj, Executive Member for Environment, Transport and Growth at Hertfordshire County Council)

What’s in the Flood Kit?

Each flood kit in the scheme has been tailored to meet local needs. Here in Stanstead Abbotts, our kit includes:

• Puddle pumps
• Flood sacks
• High-vis jackets
• Flood warning signs
• Brooms
• Poly boom barriers

The equipment is stored in a secure shed provided by Shedstore, with contents supplied by Arco, and supported by our local council.

Our community flood plan sets out who does what in a flooding emergency, using local knowledge to ensure the response is fast and effective.

Looking Ahead

The pilot scheme also includes Kimpton, Harpenden, Hunsdon and Watton-at-Stone, and now the County Council is inviting other communities across Hertfordshire to register their interest in receiving a similar kit and support.

To be eligible, communities must:

• Have a shared space with public liability insurance
• Get landowner permission for storage or meetings
• Show there is local interest and support
• Have a venue for an initial community meeting

If you’re interested or you know another community that might be interested, it only takes a few minutes to apply via a short survey:
Hertfordshire Flood Kit Application form

In the three villages, we know the importance of working together. This flood kit gives us peace of mind that, should the worst happen, we’re ready to act quickly to protect homes, businesses and our shared spaces.