Herts County Council will return to a full schedule of meetings this week – when a possible move towards a 'unitary' council model will be on the agenda for the first time.

Since April the usual meetings of 'cabinet panels' – each focussing on an area of the council's work – had been replaced by a single 'special cabinet panel', with a changing membership of 12 county councillors.

But from Friday (September 4) the county council intends to revert to the full programme of meetings, which will continue to be held virtually.

On the agenda of Friday's resources and performance cabinet panel (September 4) will be an 'update on central government's devolution agenda'.

And that will give county councillors the first opportunity to comment on and debate moves towards a unitary council model in the county.

Council leader Cllr David Williams highlighted the government's wish for two-tier authorities – such as Hertfordshire – to move to a unitary model, at a meeting of the full county council in July.

And he revealed that the council had already commissioned consultants to look at options for the future in Hertfordshire.

But at that meeting county councillors did not have the opportunity to comment on or debate the issue.

According to a report prepared for the meeting of the resources and performance cabinet panel on Friday, the government's expected Devolution and Recovery White Paper will contain proposals for the structural reform of local government in England.

And that, says the report, will include a commitment to more Mayors and more unitary councils.

The report notes the 'options appraisal' commissioned by the county council. And it says a further report will be made to the cabinet panel, following the publication of the government's white paper.

The government's white paper – says the council report – was initially expected in June 2020 and then in September. But now, says the report, it is anticipated that it will be published in the autumn.

Leaders of all 10 district and borough councils have already publicly vowed to oppose any plans for a single unitary authority in Hertfordshire.

And in July Three Rivers District Council formally agreed to oppose any move to a single unitary authority in Hertfordshire.

Last month (August) an extraordinary meeting of North Herts District Council backed moves to consider 'alternative arrangements' for local government in the county – including the option of a unitary model.

Currently Hertfordshire operates a 'two-tier' system of local government with 10 district and borough councils and the county council.

The district and borough councils provide a range of services such as planning, environmental health, bin collection, housing and licensing.

And the county council provides Hertfordshire-wide services such as education, libraries, social care and highways.