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The Government is planning major changes to local government in Hertfordshire and other counties.
Currently, there is a two-tier system with Hertfordshire County Council having one set of responsibilities, including roads and social care, and District Councils like ourselves having another set, including planning and housing.
Under the proposals, new unitary councils will be created to replace both county and district councils and to deliver the services provided by them.
To explain what is happening and hear feedback from residents, St Albans City and District Council is holding an information evening on Thursday 18 September.
This will take place at the Civic Centre, St Albans, at 6.30pm and feature a presentation from our Council Leader, Councillor Paul de Kort (pictured), and a question-and-answer session with a panel that will include representatives from Hertfordshire County Council.
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We’re celebrating the achievements of our interns who have completed their placements with the Council.
We’re delighted that most of them will be staying on with us on a permanent or temporary basis, while others have exciting new opportunities ahead elsewhere.
We’re very grateful for the energy, ideas, and contributions our interns brought to the Council this summer.
If you’re interested in joining us next year, recruitment for our 2026 summer internships will begin in March – keep an eye on our current vacancies page for updates.
Congratulations to exercise specialist Delia Dorcioman - who has helped hundreds of local people improve their health - for being named a finalist for a major national award.
Delia coordinates GP exercise referral programmes across the District's leisure centres run by Everyone Active on the Council’s behalf.
She has been shortlisted in the Physical Activity Hero category at the 2025 'ukactive Awards' for individuals who go above and beyond to make a difference.
For the past nine years, Delia has supported residents through personal training, specialist classes and health checks.
As a GP Referral Instructor, she helps patients with long-term conditions, chronic pain and lifestyle-related diseases.
She is a specialist instructor for people with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, holding classes in St Albans and Harpenden. She also runs tailored sessions for people recovering from strokes or living with multiple sclerosis.
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A one code system has been introduced for payments by mobile phone for on-street parking in Harpenden and St Albans.
Previously, users were required to input two separate codes for payment via the PayByPhone app.
One code covered the free half-hour parking and the other code was for paid parking beyond those first 30 minutes.
Some residents had complained to the Council that they found the two code system confusing.
PayByPhone agreed to modify their software to allow for one code to cover both the free and paid for time and the new system went into operation last month.
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We are helping schools to embark on Simpler Recycling following new Government legislation that requires them to recycle efficiently.
Schools must now separate food waste and dry mixed recycling - paper, card, glass, plastic and metal - from general waste.
This law aims to standardise recycling across the UK, reducing confusion and increasing recycling rates to support the conservation of resources.
We have had a separate recycling collection set up for residents for many years and are offering recycling help to all schools in the District.
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We are holding a Community Day in Redbourn to discuss housing issues with residents.
Everyone is welcome to attend the drop-in event on Thursday 18 September, 3pm to 6pm, at the grassland between Lybury Lane and Downedge.
Housing officers, Citizens Advice and the Police will be on hand to deal with any enquiries you may have about repairs, antisocial behaviour, safety and benefits.
There will also be fun activities for children and a prize draw that is free to enter.
St Albans Mayor, Councillor Teresa Heritage, led a moving ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day.
She was joined at the City’s War Memorial on Friday 15 August by other Councillors, Honorary Aldermen, senior Council officers, Royal British Legion veterans and around 30 residents.
Cllr Heritage (pictured centre) laid a wreath at the memorial as did Patricia Bennett (left) and May Welch (right) from the Burma Star Association.
In a further show of respect and commemoration, the Union flag was flown from St Albans Museum + Gallery.
 Our housing repairs contractor Morgan Sindall Property Services (MSPS) has relaunched their popular Energy Cafes as HEAT – Home Energy Advice Tips.
HEAT offers free online sessions every Wednesday where residents can speak directly with the MSPS Social Value Team and get clear, practical advice on a wide range of issues.
This includes understanding your energy bills, managing your account and finding the best tariff, improving energy efficiency at home, what to do if you’re struggling to pay, and support with damp, mould or condensation
Sessions are held monthly and are open to all St Albans residents.
To find out more or sign up for the next session, please email csrbox@morgansindall.com
Sustainable St Albans is offering people the chance to check the energy efficiency of their home with a thermal imaging camera.
The camera detects how well your windows, doors, floors and walls are insulated and even how well your radiators are working.
You can borrow it for free with a returnable deposit, learn how to use it in a short online Zoom session and then find out if you are losing heat from your home.
Improving energy efficiency not only cuts harmful emissions, but also reduces your bills. Click on the button below for details on how to borrow the camera.
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An exhibition of local artist Hilary Taylor’s work is being held throughout September at the Eric Morecambe Centre in Harpenden.
It features her town and cityscapes along with other drawings, sketches and photography.
Hilary will be at the centre to talk to visitors from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 20, Wednesday 24 and Saturday 27 September.
The event is part of the Herts Open Studios 2025 programme.
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An Independent Person is wanted to serve on the Council’s Audit and Governance Committee.
The Committee’s task is to ensure high standards of financial and risk management as well as governance.
It already has an Independent Chair, but now the Council is seeking another Independent Person to join it.
The role has an allowance of £800-a-year plus expenses and applicants are required to be impartial and independent-minded, with relevant experience. The closing date is 5pm on Monday 22 September.
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We are holding our next St Albans District Landlord Forum on Tuesday 25 November and you can book a place now.
This is a chance for private landlords and letting agents to network, learn new information and discuss housing issues.
Among the presentations is an update on legislation by the National Residential Landlords Association.
There will also be a question and answers session on the Renters’ Rights Bill and a briefing on what sustainability grants are on offer.
Our private sector housing team will be among the experts at the event as are Mosaic Lettings who will present on their Help To Rent scheme.
The Forum takes place from 6.30pm at the Civic Centre and you can book your place by emailing landlordforum@stalbans.gov.uk, by calling 01727 814674 or by clicking on the button below.
Verulamium Museum reopens on Thursday 18 September after being closed for repairs since Tuesday 26 August. The nearby Roman Hypocaust and Mosaic remained open every day, 10am-4pm.
Fakes, Frauds & Forgeries Talk, Thursday 18 September, 7pm, St Albans Museum + Gallery, Tickets £10 in person, £6 by Zoom
Join Museum Curator David Thorold as he recounts some of the many hoaxes that have been perpetrated over the years, from Piltdown Man to the Cardiff Giant, as well as some examples of oddities that have been brought to the Museum over the years.
Last chance: Firm Foundations: St Albans School of Art, St Albans Museum + Gallery, Closes Sunday 21 September, Free
Celebrate 150 years of St Albans School of Art which was founded in the St Albans Museum + Gallery’s building. Explore paintings, prints, sculpture, photography, mixed-media and video works by over 30 alumni and staff alongside historical archive material, sharing the memories and stories of those who have worked, studied or visited the school. Curated by UH Arts + Culture.
Image: Jo Stockham, any which way (speak modernity), 2013, screenprint.
 St Albans Healthy Hub is your local centre for health and wellbeing information, advice and support.
You can get help with many issues including how to lose weight, quit smoking, cut down on alcohol, become more active and manage money.
The organisations involved include Citizens Advice, Communities 1st, Mind in Mid Herts and many more. You can find more information on the Healthy Hub webpages.
We have been helping the NHS carry out its breast screening programme in Harpenden.
Our car parking team has found a place for their mobile screening unit at Amenbury Lane, beside Harpenden Leisure Centre, and provided the space free of charge.
The unit will be there until January next year as they screen women, aged 50 to 70, from the local area.
The screenings, which can save lives by an early diagnosis, are by appointment only with women being invited along through their GP surgery.
Hertfordshire Health Walks – which are open to people of all ages and abilities – have published their autumn timetable.
All Health Walks are graded from gentle First Steps walks, to more brisk Grade 3 and 4 walks, so there is something for all abilities.
There are plenty of weekly walks in St Albans District as well as a brand-new gentle Grade 1 walk in Harpenden and an evening walk around Verulamium Park.
Herts Health Walks is actively recruiting volunteers in the area to help develop their programme.
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