North Herts Council

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.

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

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

• Local government services
• Waste collection services
• Council tax administration
• Planning application services
• Public sector administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Letchworth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VeoliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeolia 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.
• ZencityminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndependent 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.
• HeartfloodminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsultants commissioned by the council to conduct surveys with businesses in Hitchin industrial areas, including assessment for potential Business Improvement District (BID) creation.
• Settle HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSettle 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 UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCredit union providing assistance with homelessness prevention and relief for North Hertfordshire clients. Praised by the council for its work supporting residents.
• Hertfordshire County CouncilcoreOthersUpper-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 NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 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 PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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

Regional 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

• Xx.com/NorthHertsDC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/North-hertsGovUk
• Facebookfacebook.com/northhertsdc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-hertfordshire-district-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/northhertsdc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Herts Council