2022 District Ward Boundary Changes

The St Albans District Council (Electoral Changes) Order 2021 was made on 28 July 2021. It is a law to implement recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) for new electoral arrangements in St Albans District Council.

New ward arrangements for St Albans District Council have now successfully completed a 40 day period of Parliamentary scrutiny and will come into force at the local elections in May 2022.

The Order for St Albans District Council can be viewed through the following link.

Until May 2022, the civil parish of St Michael remains entirely within Redbourn Ward and is represented at District level by Redbourn Councillors. From the local elections in May 2022, you will vote, depending on which ward you live in, for the District Councillors standing in Redbourn or Verulam or St Stephen.

Here is a summary of the recommendations affecting St Michael civil parish:

  • Both the St Michael parish boundary and the overall number (seven) of St Michael Councillors are unaffected by the LGBCE’s review.
  • Parliamentary boundaries are also unchanged; St Michael will still be part of the constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden. (Update June 2021 – LGBCE propose that the constituency change to Harpenden and Berkhamsted in 2023)
  • The existing, larger, St Michael Ward to be split into two wards:
    • St Michael North Ward – remaining in Redbourn district ward, with three St Micahel Parish Councillors;
    • St Michael South Ward – to come under Verulam district ward, also with three St Michael Parish Councillors.
  • The existing, smaller, St Michael SE Ward to be retained but to come under St Stephen district ward, with one St Michael Parish Councillor.

Following LGBCE’s review, St Albans will be conducting its own Community Governance Review (CGR) of the parish and town councils’ electoral arrangements in the District, starting around October 2021.  Any changes arising from the CGR will take effect from the next scheduled parish council elections in May 2023 . Unlike the LGBCE review, a CGR can alter the outer boundaries of parishes.

Parliamentary constituency boundary review 2023

The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) published their initial proposal as part of the 2023 boundary review on 9th June 2021.

If you would like to see the proposal in detail, or wish to make any comment or representation, please follow this link to the Boundary Commission’s website. The period of consultation is open until Tuesday 2 August 2021. 

  • It is unlikely that electors within the St Michael Parish Council boundary will be affected, although some neighbouring areas will see degrees of change – the key points are outlined below. Please also be aware that St Albans Council is due to begin a Community Governance review in September 2021, which could bring in parish council boundary changes quite separate from the parliamentary boundaries.
  • Hitchin and Harpenden Constituency – replaced by Harpenden and Berkhamsted Constituency. The constituency compromises of the following SADC wards: Harpenden East, Harpenden North, Harpenden South, Harpenden West, Redbourn, Sandridge and Wheathampstead. The remainder of the constituency is made up of ten Dacorum district wards.
  • St Albans Constituency  – No longer takes in the Bedmond area from Three Rivers DC and unlike in previous proposals retains London Colney. The constituency comprises of and is coterminous (essentially shares boundaries) with the following wards: Ashley, Batchwood, Clarence, Colney Heath, Cunningham, London Colney, Marshalswick North, Marshalswick South, Park Street, Sopwell, St Peters, St Stephen and Verulam. The boundary with Welwyn Hatfield has been adjusted specifically affecting 9 properties in Franklin Close, Colney Heath.
  • Eastern England has gained 3 constituencies, from 58 to 61
  • Herts and Beds – number of constituencies has increased from 17 to 18

Roadworks M1 junction 6a to 8 NORTHBOUND (& surrounds)

Highways England will be carrying out essential work to the M1 between the above locations. SOME OTHER LOCAL ROADS WILL BE AFFECTED. The work is planned to be completed over 2 weeks from Tuesday 1 June to Friday 11 June 2021 on weeknights only between 10pm and 6am.

  • Lane 1, 2 and 3 will be closed between junction 6a and 8 – Tuesday 1 June to Friday 4 June.

To carry out this phase, we need to close the M25 northbound link roads. Whilst these are closed traffic will be diverted off the M25 at junction 21a onto the A405 North Orbital Road, A414 to rejoin the M1 northbound at junction 8.

  • Lane 3 and 4 will be closed between junction 6a and 8 – Monday 7 June to Friday 11 June

No diversion route is required.

Welcome to David Meachin

We are very pleased to announce that David Meachin has been appointed to join St Michael Parish Council at our last meeting. Following our statutory notification of the casual vacancy after the resignation of Sara Craven in January, David was co-opted unanimously on 26th March. We look forward to getting to know David better as we work together, and we are also very glad that his appointment brings us back to our full complement of seven Parish Councillors.

UPDATE on Parish Councillor Vacancy

17th February 2021 – the Elections Office at St Albans District Council has confirmed that no election has been requested. The vacancy will therefore be filled in due course by co-option, in accordance with the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 2006. If you are interested in being considered, please do get in touch.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a casual vacancy has arisen in the Office of Parish Councillor in the St Michael ward of the Parish of St Michael.

If by Friday 12 February 2021 (14 days* after the date of this notice), a request for an election to fill the said vacancy is made in writing to:

The Proper Officer, St Albans City and District Council, Civic Centre, St Peters Street, St Albans AL1 3JE, signed by ten electors for the said parish ward, an election will be held to fill the said vacancy.

Where ten valid requests for a by-election are received by the Proper Officer then under the provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 and The Local Government and Police and Crime Commissioner (Coronavirus)(Postponement of Elections and Referendums)(England and Wales) Regulations 2020 the by-election will not currently take place, and the vacancy will be held open until the by-election takes place. The 2020 regulations provide for the by-election to take place on the date for the Ordinary Election of Councillors due to be held on Thursday 6 May 2021. However, this date may be brought forward or deferred by the Government depending upon the circumstances. Any Election that is in due course called will be duly publicised as required by law.

If an election is not requested, the vacancy will be filled by St Michael Parish Council by co-option in accordance with the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 2006.

Dated: Monday 25 January 2021

Julia Reading, Clerk to St Michael Parish Council
Printed by the Returning Officer, St Albans City and District Council and published by the Parish Clerk, St Michael Parish Council

*In computing any period of time for this purpose, a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday, or bank or public holidays or any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning must be disregarded.

Welcome to Sue Lopes-Dias

We are very pleased to announce that Sue has joined St Michael Parish Council. She was appointed by formal co-option process at the Meeting held on Tuesday 12th January. We very much look forward to working with our new Councillor!