Four new unitary authorities are to be created in Hertfordshire to replace the existing two-tier system of local government.
In our area, West Hertfordshire Council will replace Dacorum Borough and St Albans City and District Councils which will both be abolished in March 2028.
Hertfordshire County Council will be abolished too with their services, such as adult social care and public health, also being provided by the new unitary council.
Elections to West Herts Council will take place in May next year with the new Councillors forming a 'shadow' authority until it is fully established in April 2028.
The reorganisation has been ordered by the Government and you can find out more by clicking the button below.
Councillors have voted to set up a new parish council to cover central St Albans.
The decision by last month's meeting of Full Council was prompted by plans to reorganise local government across Hertfordshire.
St Albans City Centre Parish Council will cover an area containing around 28,000 households that was previously unparished.
There will be elections for 25 Councillors in May next year. The Parish Council is expected to take responsibility for some grassroot services and assets.
A shadow Parish Council is being formed to handle preparatory work such as developing a constitution and governance structure.
A refuse collection crew prevented a fire caused by a battery placed in a waste bin from getting out of control.
They spotted smoke pouring out of the rear of their lorry after emptying residual waste bins in Batford, Harpenden.
The smouldering rubbish was safely ejected before any major damage was caused and the Fire Service extinguished the fire.
Batteries are a major waste disposal hazard as they can catch light when crushed by a bin lorry’s compactor and one was identified as the probable cause of the fire.
Residents should put batteries in a bag along with small electricals and place them beside their bins or containers for weekly kerbside collections.
Alternatively, they can be taken to household recycling centres or to disposal points at supermarkets and other stores. Batteries can be found in vapes, children's toys and other common items and are not always visible so please consider what you throw away carefully.
Nomansland Common has been awarded a Green Flag for the first time – national recognition of its outstanding condition.
The open space lies between Sandridge and Wheathampstead and is a popular spot for walkers and dog owners.
It is one of five 2026 Green Flags won by the Council for our work in maintaining parks and open spaces.
Verulamium Park, Clarence Park and Hatfield Road Cemetery retained their Green Flags while Verulamium Park also kept its Green Heritage Site Accreditation.
The annual Green Flag scheme is the benchmark for well-managed parks and open spaces.
We have given residents and community groups in St Albans District 12,000 free trees as part of the annual Your Tree Our Future scheme.
The scheme, run in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council, was launched four years ago and has seen almost 47,000 free trees distributed in the District.
The giveaway is one of many actions we are taking to tackle climate change and reduce harmful emissions.
Trees improve the local environment by keeping the atmosphere rich in oxygen and supporting wildlife.
Your Tree Our Future applicants will be emailed details later this year of where and when they can pick up their five free trees or hedgerow packs.
Help young trees during the hot, dry weather by providing them with some water.
Where possible, you should use grey water such as that left over from baths or washing-up.
Reusing water in this way helps young trees thrive while supporting water conservation.
Young trees are particularly vulnerable during dry periods and regular watering improves their chances of becoming healthy, long-lived trees to benefit our communities for generations to come.
* We are establishing a network of volunteer Tree Wardens across the District and are looking for people with an interest in their local environment to sign up. You can find out more, including how to register, by clicking the button below.
Scaffolding will be in place inside and outside St Albans Museum + Gallery until December while essential repairs are carried out to the roof. The work is being funded by Arts Council England.
The Museum will stay open as normal so you can continue to enjoy the galleries, exhibitions, shop, Courtroom Café and events.
During some phases of the project, the main toilets may be unavailable. There are alternative facilities, including toilets in the historic cells downstairs.
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We're looking for talented individuals to join our Legal Shared Services Team in a variety of rewarding roles.
Current opportunities include lawyers specialising in procurement and contracts, litigation and regulatory (planning) and conveyancing.
This is your chance to work on a diverse range of high-profile and meaningful legal matters that help deliver services and make a real difference to our communities.
If you're looking to build your career in local government within a supportive, collaborative and professional environment, we'd love to hear from you.
We are also recruiting a full-time Electrical Compliance Officer, from £42,500 up to £46,871, a £3,000 market supplement, plus car allowance and entry to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Click the button below to view all our current vacancies, find out more about the roles and explore opportunities across the Council.
A new look is coming to the MyStAlbans District account on Tuesday 18 August.
Designed in line with GOV.UK design standards and accessibility guidelines, the account and web forms will be easier to use and look more modern.
You can sign in with your current details and access the online services you need, from accessing your Council Tax account to signing up for garden waste collections.
While we make these changes, MyStAlbans and web forms will not be available from Friday 14 until Monday 17 August. We apologise for the disruption.
The Government's new Crisis and Resilience Fund can help households in severe financial difficulty.
It is aimed at low-income households who are struggling to meet the cost of essentials such as energy, food, clothing and furniture.
Please note: if contacting Citizens Advice about the fund, you will need to produce evidence of your financial circumstances such as bank statements.
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Council tenants and leaseholders in Redbourn should look out for our housing and resident engagement team on Wednesday 16 September.
The team - who will be wearing lanyards with their Council ID - will be knocking on doors from 3pm to 5pm to discuss any housing issue you may have.
This could include an outstanding repair, antisocial behaviour in your neighbourhood or ideas for improving our service. There will also be a chance to win a £50 shopping voucher.
We are supporting Herts Fire and Rescue Service's new campaign to encourage residents to keep their homes safe from fire.
Be HomeFireAware aims to raise understanding of the risks and what safety measures householders should take.
Across the county, there were more than 400 home fires last year with one in four caused by a cooking accident.
Other top causes include faulty electrical appliances, overloaded sockets, damaged chargers, cigarettes, lithium-ion batteries and candles.
To find out more about the campaign including seven top tips to protect your property, click on the button below.
Thinking about serving notice on a tenant - call us first.
Our Call Before You Serve initiative provides landlords with free advice and support to help resolve tenancy issues before formal action is taken.
Whether you're experiencing rent arrears, communication difficulties or other tenancy concerns, our team may be able to work with you and your tenant to find a solution.
One phone call could make the difference - and prevent homelessness and avoid costly possession proceedings.
Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious ukactive annual awards.
The centre, run by leading operator Everyone Active on behalf of the Council, has been shortlisted in the Centre of the Year (South of England) category.
In addition, Everyone Active’s Parkinson’s Community Programme for St Albans has been named a finalist in the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award category.
And to complete a hat-trick of nominations, Kirsty Jones - Everyone Active’s Regional Health and Wellbeing Manager for Herts - is shortlisted for the Physical Activity Hero of the Year award.
Ukactive is a trade body for the fitness, leisure and physical activity sector with more than 4,000 corporate members. The award results will be announced in October.
Photo: Westminster Lodges staff celebrate the nomination.
Peter Goate celebrated his 95th birthday with a personal training session at Harpenden Leisure Centre.
He enjoyed his regular workout, a mix of cardio and strength exercises - working his legs, arms and core.
Peter first started attending his local centre 10 years ago after completing the NHS Cardiac Rehabilitation programme. He has trained weekly ever since and for the past four years has worked with Everyone Active's GP referral manager Delia Dorcioman.
Everyone Active currently supports 326 local people who have been referred by their GP for health conditions including cardiac issues, diabetes and poor mental health.
Delia, pictured with Peter, said: "Peter is an absolute inspiration to everyone at the centre. He's a fantastic role model for healthy ageing and lifelong fitness."
Congratulations to our business tenant Inn on the Park for winning a Gold Standard Award from the Hertfordshire Responsible Food Award scheme.
The popular café, located in Verulamium Park, was promoted from the silver category after providing healthier options in their adult and kids' menus.
The awards celebrate businesses that offer healthy food choices and adopt sustainable practices.
Photo: Inn on the Park staff with the award certificates.
Our Electoral Services team is currently carrying out the annual Household Voter Registration Canvass across the District.
The canvass plays a vital role in making sure that the electoral register is accurate and up to date. With local elections scheduled for May next year, it’s important that all residents check that the details held for their households are correct.
In July, every residential property in the District was sent either an email or a letter containing details of how to respond to the canvass. If you have not yet responded, please do so as soon as possible.
Properties that are required to respond and have not yet done so will receive a hand-delivered reminder later in the autumn.
Don’t forget – there are two outstanding summer attractions coming to St Albans during the school holidays.
Tuff Nutterz, a giant inflatable obstacle course, will be at Verulamium Park from Friday 7 to Monday 10 August. Click on the button below for tickets.
St Albans Pop-Up Beach returns for a second year next month when part of the City Centre is transformed into a giant sandy playground.
Located at Civic Close, by the Alban Arena, this free attraction will open at 1pm on Saturday 8 August and continue daily, 10am to 4pm, until Sunday 23 August.
Children can build sandcastles, dig, play and enjoy a taste of the seaside while parents watch from deck chairs.
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Verulamium Museum Annual Pass
This summer, a ticket to Verulamium Museum doesn't just get you one visit - it gets you a whole year!
Whether you want to spend more time exploring our Roman collections, take part in our family craft activities at weekends or simply drop in to explore our Roman heritage, your ticket now offers even more value.
Discover Roman Britain's finest treasures and then come back again and again!
Verulamium Museum Annual Pass is now included at no extra cost with every paid admission ticket, including residents and concessions.
Community Painting Sessions, St Albans Museum + Gallery, Saturday 22 and 29 August, Free
Join us at our community painting days. We’re bringing our ideas to life and need your help to paint our mural.
Everyone is invited and all ages are welcome - no experience is necessary. Just bring your energy as we work together to create something beautiful for our local community to enjoy.
With artist Aisha Adi and the Black History Research Group
Accessory Maker Showcase Opportunity - could your accessories be featured in our museum shop?
We're inviting local makers to apply for the chance to take over our special accessory showcase as part of the Accessories: Wearing Your Story exhibition, opening in September.
Successful applicants will be featured for a month in the Museum + Gallery shop during the exhibition.
St Albans Healthy Hub, located at the Civic Centre, is the place to go for health and wellbeing 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'll find more information on the Healthy Hub webpages.
Healthwatch Herts produced seven high-impact reports last year on improvements people would like to see to the county's health and social care services.
The reports included 71 recommendations to decision makers in the NHS and other bodies.
During their research, they gained valuable feedback from more than 3,000 people who shared their experiences with them.
They have championed the Armed Forces community, tackled the health challenges faced by women and shown how people with learning difficulties and Autism can be better supported.
You can find out more about their work in their annual report which was published last month.
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