Lib Dem District Council progress plans to establish new City Centre Council

In a meeting on 23 June, the Lib Dem led District Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee voted to back the creation of a new city centre parish council, delivering residents’ wishes for an additional representation ahead of the District Council being abolished.

The Lib Dem led council has held multiple consultations on this proposal as part of their Community Governance Review (CGR) which sought local residents’ views on parish council arrangements ahead of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) coming into force and abolishing the District Council (in 2028).

These consultations revealed overwhelming support for a new city centre council to represent the currently unparished areas of the district, receiving thousands of responses from local residents.

The proposal endorsed by the Strategy and Resources Committee will be voted on by the full council on 15 July 2026. Once confirmed, a new, elected, council will be established in May 2027, allowing it to consider taking over the running of substantial park and leisure space along with heritage assets like the St Albans Clock Tower.

Paul de Kort, Lib Dem leader of St Albans City & District Council, said:

“I know many local residents are very concerned about the impact Local Government Reorganisation is set to have on their representation, taking decisions on key local services miles away from the communities that use them.

“I’m therefore delighted that we are progressing this proposal, delivering residents’ wishes and enhancing local representation whilst the government ploughs ahead with the wider changes they are imposing on our area.”