Thousands of Hitchin households could receive a £100 energy payment following the UK Budget, which also included plans to give Hertfordshire greater control over housing, transport and economic development through a new elected mayor.

The two announcements could have significant implications for residents across Hitchin and North Hertfordshire, offering potential financial support for households alongside longer-term changes to how the county is governed and funded.

More than 21,000 Hitchin properties potentially eligible for £100 payment

One of the Budget's most immediate announcements for local residents is a new £100 Household Energy Payment, aimed at properties in Council Tax bands A to D.

Figures suggest approximately 21,458 properties in the wider Hitchin area – around 71.3% of all properties with a Council Tax band – fall within these categories, making them potentially eligible for the payment.

The local figures are based on Valuation Office Agency (VOA) Council Tax data, published by Logica Properties.

They cover the wider Hitchin area rather than just the town itself, meaning the total number of eligible households within Hitchin town will be lower.

While the announcement could provide welcome financial assistance for thousands of local households, further details are needed on how the payment will be administered, when residents will receive it and whether any additional eligibility conditions will apply.

Alongside the household energy announcement, the Budget confirmed that the Government is in the final stages of agreeing a Mayoral Strategic Authority for Hertfordshire.

The proposed devolution agreement would bring greater powers, funding and decision-making responsibilities closer to local communities.

It could allow Hertfordshire to take greater control over investment in housing, transport, employment, infrastructure and economic development.

Leaders from North Herts Council, Stevenage Borough Council, Hertsmere Borough Council and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council issued a joint statement welcoming the announcement.

They said: "Following today's Budget, we are delighted that the government will be bringing power and funding closer to communities in Hertfordshire through a new Mayoral Strategic Authority.

"This is fantastic news for our towns and villages. It means we will be able to invest in local priorities like building more council homes, investing in transport, attracting new jobs for local people, and giving more powers to local communities to create a bright future."

The four council leaders said they had spent two years working with MPs, local partners and the Government to make the case for devolution.

They added: "We have been working with all our local partners, with MPs and with Government to make the case for a Mayor for Hertfordshire for two years, to secure the powers, freedoms, and funding for our communities.

"This is a great result for our towns and Hertfordshire."

The proposed changes could have important implications for Hitchin, particularly around issues such as affordable housing, transport infrastructure, economic development and employment.

A directly elected mayor would provide strategic leadership across Hertfordshire, helping coordinate investment and decisions affecting the county's towns and villages.

For Hitchin, this could mean greater opportunities to secure funding for local transport improvements, new homes and economic regeneration.

However, the precise powers and funding arrangements have yet to be agreed, and no timetable for the first mayoral election was included in the statements.

Cllr Steve Jarvis, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council and Chair of the Hertfordshire Growth Board, described the Budget announcement as an important opportunity.

He said: "This is positive development for Hertfordshire, and an important step towards unlocking the county's full potential.

"We are ready to work with Government and our partners to finalise the agreement of a Mayoral Strategic Authority as soon as possible so that the residents and businesses Hertfordshire can start to benefit."

Cllr Jarvis highlighted Hertfordshire's economy, worth more than £50 billion, and its strengths in life sciences, film and creative industries, defence, advanced engineering, space, clean growth and digital innovation.

He said devolution could help the county build on those strengths.

"Devolution gives us the opportunity to build on those strengths by bringing greater powers and investment closer to Hertfordshire and giving us a stronger voice nationally," he said.

"With their powers, investment fund and democratic mandate, a mayor can provide both the convening influence and strategic leadership needed to join up decisions on growth, infrastructure, transport, housing and skills and turn our ambitions into delivery."

Cllr Jarvis also stressed that the benefits should reach communities across the county.

"Our ambition is for good, inclusive growth that benefits every part of Hertfordshire," he said.

"We want to create new opportunities for all our residents and businesses thrive and ensure that prosperity reaches communities that have not always shared equally in Hertfordshire's success."

For Hitchin residents, the Budget announcements raise two separate questions.

The first is when eligible households will receive the £100 energy payment and what steps, if any, they will need to take to claim it.

The second is how the proposed Hertfordshire mayoral authority will operate, how much additional funding it will receive and what powers it will have over local priorities.

The Government and Hertfordshire's local authorities will now work towards finalising the devolution agreement.

While the £100 payment could provide more immediate help with household costs, the creation of a mayoral authority could have longer-term implications for investment and decision-making across Hitchin and the wider county.

Source for local Council Tax figures: Valuation Office Agency data published by Logica Properties. Figures relate to the wider Hitchin area and indicate potential eligibility rather than confirmed payment recipients.