North Herts Council
North Herts Council is a UK statutory district council serving 125,000+ residents across North Hertfordshire, delivering mandated local services including waste collection, planning, housing, Council Tax, leisure and parks through digital portals, a mobile app, and a network of operational partners.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersLetchworth, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What North Herts Council does
North Hertfordshire District Council, trading as North Herts Council, is a statutory local government authority established in 1974 under the UK local government framework, serving the North Hertfordshire district headquartered at Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City. It delivers mandated public services to a resident base of 125,000+ across the market towns of Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock and Royston plus surrounding villages, including waste and recycling collection (outsourced to Veolia), planning and development control, housing allocation (via Settle Housing partnership), Council Tax administration, business rates, licensing, environmental health, leisure and cultural services, parks, and community grants. The council has declared both a Climate Emergency (2019) and an Ecological Emergency, committing to zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2030, and is a member of the Co-operative Councils Innovation Network and the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership.
The council's technology footprint centres on the MyAccount self-service portal (Pay360 payments integration), a recently launched Bins and Recycling Collections mobile app (October 2025, built on Cloud9 Technologies and available on iOS and Android), online planning application viewing and commenting, GovDelivery-powered email and SMS alert subscriptions, Microsoft Forms for public consultations, and Zencity for bi-annual resident satisfaction surveys. Distribution combines digital channels (six social media platforms reaching 125,000+ residents, website, app) with a walk-in Customer Service Centre and community outreach at leisure centres, libraries, Hitchin Town Hall and pop-up park sessions. The council underwent a Corporate Peer Challenge review by the Local Government Association in November 2024 with follow-up in December 2025.
Revenue is generated primarily through Council Tax (the largest recurring stream), National Non-Domestic Rates (business rates), parking charges (off-street and on-street tariffs, season tickets, resident permits) and transactional fees (planning, licensing, garden waste subscription). A proposed net expenditure budget of £27.323m for FY2026/27 was reported, alongside a proposed 2.99% Council Tax increase and a 2% annual uplift in parking income. In 2022 the council acquired the leasehold of Churchgate Shopping Centre in Hitchin to anchor town centre regeneration, and it has submitted (December 2024) to the Government's local government reorganisation process for Hertfordshire alongside the county's 10 other councils.
North Herts Council firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- North Herts Council
- Legal name
- North Hertfordshire District Council
- Website
- https://north-herts.gov.uk
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- North Herts Council is a UK statutory district council serving 125,000+ residents across North Hertfordshire, delivering mandated local services including waste collection, planning, housing, Council Tax, leisure and parks through digital portals, a mobile app, and a network of operational partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
North Herts Council industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local Government Administration
- NAICS
- Waste Collection (56211), Services to Buildings and Dwellings (5617)
- SIC
- Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- C&D Transfer Stations & C&D Material Handling (EUAIAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Public Works / In-House Municipal Collection Operations (EUAIAAAF)
Keywords
Where North Herts Council is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Letchworth
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
North Herts Council business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Council Tax: Council Tax is the primary revenue source for the council. The council sets council tax rates annually to fund services. A 2.99% council tax increase was proposed for 2026/27. The council also provides a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for residents in need.
- Business Rates: Business rates (National Non-Domestic Rates) collected from businesses operating in the district, with some proposals to support businesses through the Churchgate regeneration and economic development initiatives.
- Parking Charges: Revenue from off-street and on-street car parking tariffs, season tickets, and resident parking zone permits. The Medium-Term Financial Strategy requires a 2% annual uplift in parking income.
- Fees and Charges: Various service fees including planning application fees, licensing fees, waste collection services (garden waste subscription), and other council service charges.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Off-street and on-street parking tariffs with differential pricing by location |
| Subscription | Monthly | Council Tax Reduction Scheme with banded income grid |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
North Herts Council product offering
Product offeringCore offering
North Herts Council is a statutory local government authority delivering mandated public services to residents and businesses of the North Hertfordshire district. Core offerings include waste and recycling collection, planning application processing, Council Tax administration, housing allocation, business rates collection, parking services, environmental health, licensing, leisure and cultural services, and community grants. Access to services is provided through the MyAccount online portal, a mobile app, and a physical Customer Service Centre.
Product overview
North Herts Council provides a comprehensive digital services portfolio centered around the MyAccount self-service portal as the primary gateway for residents to access council services. The offering includes a dedicated mobile application for bins and recycling management, online payment processing, planning application viewing and commenting, and various citizen engagement tools. The council maintains an active presence across multiple digital channels including email/text alerts, social media platforms, and the North Herts Hub consultation platform. Traditional service channels including telephone, in-person, and postal options remain available to support digital inclusion.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MyAccount Self-Service Portal Online customer portal enabling residents to access council services, make payments, report problems, manage Council Tax, find bin collection days, and view planning applications.
- North Herts Council Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android devices providing bin collection reminders, service disruption alerts, recycling guidance, councillor contact information, council service locations, and council news and updates.
- Online Payment Services Digital payment platform enabling residents to pay council tax, parking tickets (PCNs), and other council charges online.
- Report a Problem Online service for residents to report issues such as missed bins, fly-tipping, street cleaning problems, noise complaints, and other environmental concerns.
- Planning Application Portal Online service for viewing, searching, and commenting on planning applications within North Hertfordshire district.
- Email and Text Alert Service Free subscription service allowing residents to receive regular news updates and urgent service disruption alerts via email and text messages.
- Bin Collection Day Finder Online tool enabling residents to find their specific bin collection schedule and receive updates about service changes.
- North Herts Hub Online engagement hub for sharing ideas and updates on district projects and initiatives including Budget Hub, Climate Hive, and Churchgate Conversation.
- Leisure and Cultural Services Council-operated leisure centres, swimming pools, sports pitches, and cultural venues including museums and community centres across the district.
- Digital Inclusion Services Services supporting residents without digital access including councillor surgeries for survey assistance, telephone support via Customer Services, and in-person assistance at Council Offices and libraries.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80%+ of residents receiving council tax reduction will see increased or same reduction under new scheme
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use North Herts Council
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
North Herts Council technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature2 records
North Herts Council partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- VeoliacoreVeolia is the contractor for waste collection services including bin collections. During hot weather, Veolia introduced lightweight trousers and encouraged water breaks for collection crews. The partnership manages waste collection operations across the district.
- ZencityminorIndependent community engagement experts commissioned by the council to carry out the digital community survey every six months, gathering resident feedback on council services and satisfaction.
- HeartfloodminorConsultants commissioned by the council to conduct surveys with businesses in Hitchin industrial areas, including assessment for potential Business Improvement District (BID) creation.
- Settle HousingcoreSettle Housing is the council's housing partner in the North Herts Housing Partnership, a strategic partnership managing the Common Housing Allocation Scheme. The council does not own housing stock; social housing is provided through this partnership.
- Black Squirrel Credit UnionminorCredit union providing assistance with homelessness prevention and relief for North Hertfordshire clients. Praised by the council for its work supporting residents.
- Hertfordshire County CouncilcoreUpper-tier local authority with responsibility for highways, social care, education, libraries, and public health. The council directs residents to HCC for highway-related queries and claims.
- Co-operative Councils Innovation NetworkminorThe council is a member of CCIN, a network of councils committed to co-operative principles and innovation in local government.
- Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability PartnershipcorePartnership working with other councils across Hertfordshire to reduce the county's carbon emissions and climate impact. Supports the council's Climate Emergency declaration.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
North Herts Council competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Cambridge City Council: Adjacent Cambridgeshire city council running similar district-level statutory functions for a comparable urban-rural mix but in a different county system. Useful for benchmarking service delivery and digital transformation in district authorities.
- Central Bedfordshire Council: Unitary council immediately north of the district with a similar resident base but operating as a single-tier authority rather than a district council. Comparable on service breadth but distinct in governance tier — a likely model for reorganised Hertfordshire structures.
- South Cambridgeshire District Council: Neighbouring Cambridgeshire district council delivering district-tier services including waste, planning, and council tax. Comparable operating profile but different county partnership and LGR pathway.
Direct peers
- Dacorum Borough Council: Hertfordshire borough council responsible for the same district-tier functions (waste, planning, council tax, leisure) across a similar resident base and is part of the same LGR consultation cohort.
- Hertsmere Borough Council: Hertfordshire borough council providing the same tier of services to a similar population, also operating waste collection contracts and engaged in the same county-level LGR process.
- East Hertfordshire District Council: Sibling Hertfordshire district council providing the same tier of statutory services (waste collection via Veolia, planning, council tax, housing) to a similar-sized resident population. Most directly comparable peer by geography, scale, and service mix.
- Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council: Hertfordshire borough council with parallel district-level statutory responsibilities and similar population profile. Operates under the same Hertfordshire County Council for upper-tier services and the same LGR review process.
- Stevenage Borough Council: Neighbouring Hertfordshire borough council delivering statutory district-level services including waste, planning, council tax, and housing. Closely comparable service offering and operating scale within the same county partnership.
- St Albans City and District Council: Hertfordshire city-and-district council delivering comparable statutory services and subject to the same local-government reorganisation proposals as North Herts Council.
Broad incumbents
- Hertfordshire County Council: Upper-tier authority that oversees highways, social care, education, and waste disposal across the county and is the council's mandatory referral partner. Not a competitor but the structural counterpart in the two-tier system under LGR review.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
North Herts Council social profiles
Digital presenceNorth Herts Council compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
North Herts Council financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
North Herts Council leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
North Herts Council funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
North Herts Council M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about North Herts Council
What does North Herts Council do?
North Herts Council is a statutory local government authority delivering mandated public services to residents and businesses of the North Hertfordshire district. Core offerings include waste and recycling collection, planning application processing, Council Tax administration, housing allocation, business rates collection, parking services, environmental health, licensing, leisure and cultural services, and community grants. Access to services is provided through the MyAccount online portal, a mobile app, and a physical Customer Service Centre.
Is North Herts Council a public or private company?
North Herts Council is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was North Herts Council founded?
North Herts Council was founded in 1974. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is North Herts Council based?
North Herts Council is headquartered in Letchworth, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does North Herts Council make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Council Tax is the primary driver. The others are business Rates, parking Charges and fees and Charges.
Who are North Herts Council's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Cambridge City Council, Central Bedfordshire Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council. Direct peers are Dacorum Borough Council, Hertsmere Borough Council, East Hertfordshire District Council, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Stevenage Borough Council and St Albans City and District Council. Hertfordshire County Council is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does North Herts Council have an API?
No public API is recorded for North Herts Council.
What industry is North Herts Council in?
North Herts Council's product category is Local Government Administration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAHAB, C&D Transfer Stations & C&D Material Handling, with a secondary code of EUAIAAAF, Public Works / In-House Municipal Collection Operations. Its NAICS code is 56211 and its SIC code is 7340.