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1. Proposing to close the town’s museum with the loss of heritage, local distinction and historic interest that involves;
2. Closing public conveniences, essential services for increasing numbers of shoppers, visitors and tourists to the town;
3. Reducing the annual grant of £27,500 to the Town Centre Manager to zero by 2013;
4. Vastly reducing the powers and responsibilities of the Hitchin Committee, the only democratically elected body acting for Hitchin;
5. Selling off the ‘family silver’ such as the Old Town Hall (now a bar) in Brand Street, something that would be unthinkable anywhere that has a shred of civic pride.
6. Transferring the management of Hitchin Town Hall to a third party and refusing to confirm any public hirings after 30 September 2007, threatening its future as a public facility.

All of these decisions have been taken by the Council without any public consultation whatsoever, prompting people to feel that more local management of such facilities is needed.

One way would be through a Hitchin Town Council which could gradually take on many of these responsibilities.  However, the implications of this are very far-reaching so the benefits and disadvantages of a Town Council need careful consideration.  We have tried to give a balanced presentation of the issues here. 

Please read this and let us know what you think.

1. It would be yet another tier of government
   - but -
   It would be a valid voice for Hitchin.  This may become more important in time with increasing powers going up to Regional government and NHDC taking powers from the Hitchin Committee.
   
   
2. It would only have a small budget and limited powers
   - but -
   It would have a very local focus and it is often the little things that can make a big difference, such as grants for local organisations or floral planting.  It would have fewer Government restrictions than other tiers of government and would not have NHDC’s top-heavy bureaucracy so it should be able to take care of town matters far more efficiently and economically.
   
   
3. It would mean additional charges to the taxpayer
   - but -
   Money raised in Hitchin would be spent in Hitchin only, rather than dispersed around the rest of North Herts.  A Town Council could also generate money for capital expenditure via loans and grants which NHDC cannot.
   
   
4. There could be difficulty getting good candidates to stand as Councillors
   - but -
   Dealing with ‘Hitchin-only’ matters might be more interesting and invigorating than some of the responsibilities of District councillors (like ticking boxes and meeting Government targets), so a more local focus might attract fresh faces and more young people.
   
   
5. The lack of facilities like council offices would be a problem
   - but -
   This is not insurmountable and a Town Council could be instrumental in saving others, like the Museum, Town Hall, public conveniences.  This would encourage civic pride in Hitchin.  A town which feels valued and cared for has pride in itself.
   
   
6. The relationship with NHDC could be tricky at first
   - but -
   Over time a Town Council could take on more powers from NHDC, such as public conveniences, the Market, floral planting, the Town Hall etc.  A Town Council can take on the powers it chooses.
   
   
7. A Town Council would not have planning powers
   - but -
   It would have to be consulted on all planning applications in Hitchin and would be a statutory voice for Hitchin’s forward planning.  It could have a strong tempering influence on NHDC as the planning authority.

“Hitchin is a visible entity and one that has existed since the Domesday Book.  North Herts is, and always will be, bounded by an arbitrary line on a map drawn by someone not so long ago, will never have a real identity and could disappear at another stroke of a pen one day.”
“A Hitchin Town Council would be of Hitchin, by Hitchin, for Hitchin.”
(Quotes from Hitchin Forum members)

Recent Developments

Some of the pros and cons of town councils were presented to a well-attended meeting hosted by Hitchin Forum in October 2007. The meeting probably raised more questions than it answered, so a working group of volunteers has been set up to gather more information and see how this can be related specifically to Hitchin’s particular situation.

This working group is independent of Hitchin Forum. It will be looking at questions such as:

• What powers a town council in Hitchin could have?
• Could it, for example, run the Town Hall, the market or the museum?
• Could it fund town centre management in Hitchin, or help pay for Christmas lights, or better street maintenance?
• How much might it cost and how would it be paid for?
• What is the legal framework within which a town council would have to operate?
• How would it relate to North Herts District Council and Herts County Council?
• What process would be needed to create a town council in Hitchin?

When this and more information has been collected, a further public meeting is likely to be held to present these findings and discuss a way forward. (This page was updated om 15th January 2008.)

Let us have your views.
Visit our Discussion Forum now.