The county council has resubmitted its request for Hertfordshire to have an elected mayor as soon as possible.

Last month, Hertfordshire was named one of eight proposed areas nationwide for the development of spatial development strategies, which are designed to meet housing need, grow the local economy and improve the environment.

And, in tandem, the county council was invited to apply to become a foundation strategic authority, which would bring greater powers over local transport and skills, as well as responsibility for the spatial development strategy.

In response, Liberal Democrat leader of the county council, Cllr Steve Jarvis, welcomed the Government's recognition that Hertfordshire has the size, scale and identity for strategic spatial planning, and potentially devolution.

He accepted that a foundation strategic authority would be a "good start".

However, he stressed that the county needs the powers, influence and funding of a mayoral strategic authority to "unlock our ambitions so that all residents and businesses can benefit".

Cllr Jarvis and other Hertfordshire representatives then met with Devolution Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh to discuss the way forward.

In the wake of that meeting, the county council has formally submitted a request to move to a mayoral strategic authority as quickly as possible, while recognising that the foundation strategic authority would be an important stepping stone.

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"Hertfordshire is already one of the largest, most productive local economies in the country, and there is agreement across Hertfordshire's political and business leaders that mayoral devolution can unlock our full potential," said a spokesperson for the authority.

"Following a constructive discussion with the Devolution Minister about our ambitions, we have formally submitted our request to move quickly to a strategic authority for Hertfordshire, and a mayor as soon as possible, so that all residents and businesses can benefit from the further sustainable economic growth that devolution would enable."

According to the Government letter, sent by Minister of State for Housing and Planning Matthew Pennycock last month, spatial development strategies will deal with strategic and cross-boundary issues and set the context for local plans.

They will, it says, help to "build more homes, co-ordinate the delivery of strategic infrastructure, grow the economy and improve the environment and climate change".

In areas that already have an elected mayor, according to the letter, the mayoral strategic authority would be empowered to produce the spatial development strategy.

But in other areas, like Hertfordshire, the letter suggests the strategies need to be developed across a number of "sensible geographies", of which Hertfordshire is one.

The county is already undergoing a period of local government reorganisation, with the 11 existing councils expected to be replaced with a smaller number of unitary councils in 2028.

At the same time, the county council has formally requested that Hertfordshire becomes a mayoral strategic authority, whose responsibilities could include policing, the fire and rescue service, transport and skills, as well as spatial and infrastructure planning.

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However, the latest letter from the minister has raised doubts about whether Hertfordshire would be allowed to become a mayoral strategic authority in 2028.

It suggests that areas that are not already operating unitary authorities may become foundation strategic authorities (FSA) first.

It states: "The Government remains firmly committed to mayoral devolution and is forging ahead with it – including through our Devolution Priority Programme –, but we have been clear that this model works best when built on firm foundations.

"This includes the strong unitary structures we are creating through local government reorganisation, and we remain fully committed to delivering these important reforms within this Parliament to the timetable set out.

"Alongside this, we see FSAs – as non-mayoral combined or combined county authorities – to be a valuable way to build local capacity and partnerships, and as a stepping stone towards mayoral devolution in the future.

"While we recognise the demands that delivering reorganisation places on local authorities, we do not see that as a barrier to conversations about the establishment of FSAs and how to devolve powers to unleash local growth."

The Government is now seeking views on the proposed geographies earmarked for strategic development strategies – ahead of necessary legislation.

The letter invites these areas to express interest in becoming one of a new wave of foundation strategic authorities, which would also have devolved powers over local transport and skills.