Hertsmere was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of three former districts and a single parish from a fourth district, which were all abolished at the same time:[2]
The Potters Bar Urban District (which coincided with the parish of South Mimms) was historically part of Middlesex, but had been transferred to Hertfordshire on 1 April 1965 when Greater London was created and Middlesex County Council abolished.[3]
The name "Hertsmere" was coined for the new district by combining the common abbreviation of Hertfordshire ("Herts") with "mere", an archaic word for a boundary, referencing the area's location on Hertfordshire's border with Greater London and also the fact that it straddles the historic county boundary between Middlesex and Hertfordshire. The name is reflected in the council's coat of arms, which shows a hart upon the battlements of a boundary wall.[4]
The district was awarded borough status on 15 April 1977, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[5]
The area was also home to other TV and film studios, including MGM, until this was demolished for residential development, and is now an area called Studio Way.
On a Wreath Argent and Azure in front of an Oak Tree proper fructed Or a demi Hart Royal guardant proper gorged with a Mural Crown Or and resting the sinister forehoof on a Cinematograph Spool loaded with film proper.
On either side a Hart Royal guardant proper gorged with a Mural Crown Or that on the dexter charged on the shoulder with an Artist's Palette proper and that on the sinister with a Potter's Wheel Or.
On a Roundel Or environed of a Garland of Oak proper fructed Or issuant from an embattled Wall of grey stone throughout in base a Hart Royal's Head affronty proper.
Hertfordshire has a two-tier structure of local government, with the ten district councils (including Hertsmere Borough Council) providing district-level services, and Hertfordshire County Council providing county-level services. In some areas there is an additional third tier of civil parishes.[12]
Political control
The council went under no overall control at the 2023 election. Prior to that election the Conservatives had held a majority of the seats on the council since 1999.[13] Whilst the Conservatives were still the largest party on the council, a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition formed to take control of the council instead. Labour group leader Jeremy Newmark became leader of the council and Liberal Democrat group leader Paul Richards became deputy leader of the council.[14] Newmark narrowly survived a vote of no confidence in his leadership when a call from the Conservative group for Newmark to resign lost by a single vote at a council meeting on Wednesday, March 26[15].
The first elections to Hertsmere District Council were held in 1973, initially acting as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control since 1974 has been as follows:[16][17]
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Hertsmere, and is usually held by a different councillor each year. Alpha Collins, a member of independent Hertsmere First group, is the present incumbent. He was elected unanimously at the council's Annual General Meeting held on 14th May 2025. Labour Group leader, Councillor Newmark, backing the choice of an independent mayor said he had taken the message from recent election results that people were looking to political leaders to do things differently[18].
Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1996 have been:
The three independent councillors sit together as the 'Hertsmere First Group'.[29] Hertsmere First's stated priorities include protecting the green belt, supporting another GP surgery in Borehamwood, and calling for regular inspections of housing association properties.[30] The next election is due to be held in 2027.[28]
Premises
The council inherited offices at Rudolph Road in Bushey, Darkes Lane in Potters Bar, and Shenley Road in Borehamwood from its predecessor authorities. A new building, called Hertsmere Civic Offices, was built in 1975–1976 on Elstree Way in Borehamwood to serve as the council's principal offices and meeting place.[31]
Since the last boundary changes in 2019, the council comprises 39 councillors elected from 16 wards, each of which returns either two or three councillors. Elections for the whole council are held every four years.[32]
Prior to 1983, the borough was included in the parliamentary constituency of Hertfordshire South. In 1983 the constituency was renamed Hertsmere, whose current MP is Oliver Dowden of the Conservative Party, who served as deputy Prime Minister from 2023 to 2024.
Until 2024, the constituency was coterminous with the district, but since the boundary changes which took effect at that election, this has no longer been the case.
All but one of the wards in Hertsmere district still belong to the constituency of the same name, but Bushey North ward in Hertsmere district is instead now part of Watford constituency, whose current MP is Matt Turmaine of the Labour Party. All but one of the wards in Hertsmere constituency are part of Hertsmere district, but the seat now also includes the Northaw & Cuffley ward from Welwyn Hatfield district.[33]
Civic Awards
In 2003, the Borough Council started to present a small number of Civic Awards to people who live or work in Hertsmere 'in recognition of work undertaken for the benefit of residents of the Borough'.
Four of the parishes have parish councils, with Hertsmere Meriden instead having only a parish meeting. Bushey and Potters Bar are unparished areas, being directly administered by Hertsmere Borough Council.
Demographics
The 2011 census showed that Hertsmere was the second most Jewish local authority area in the United Kingdom, with Jews comprising one in seven residents (the area with the highest Jewish population being the London Borough of Barnet).[35] In the 2021 census Hertsmere overtook Barnet to become the most Jewish local authority area, with Jews comprising one in every six residents. Jews form a plurality of the population in two wards of the borough, Bushey Heath and Elstree.
↑ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 5 March 2025. (Put "Hertsmere" in search box to see specific results.)
↑ Planning Application 75/209: Offices and ancillary accommodation of Hertsmere District Council at Elstree Way, Borehamwood. Permission granted 3 April 1975. (Referenced in planning application TP/13/0014.)
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