Council & Democracy

The Council’s Standards Committee acts as a "watchdog" on Members and Officers behaviour.  Guidelines on behaviour are set out in the Council's Code of Conduct. The Committee is made up of four Borough councillors, two Parish/Town Councillors, and three members of the public who are not elected Councillors and are independent of the Council.

The Council is working to improve access to the information we hold. There is an ongoing review of the information and records management procedures and standards that the Authority uses.

This work is in response to ongoing Council projects and new legislation designed to improve access to public sector information.

Dacorum Borough Council is committed to reviewing and improving services to make sure we are providing the services needed by local people.  The feedback we receive from the Citizens Panel is central to getting this right.

The Panel consists of 1150 Dacorum residents, and is representative of the profile of the Borough in terms of gender, age, ethnic origin and geographic location.

You can use the following pages to search for and view Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes for a variety of committees, Regulatory, Overview & Scrutiny and Council.

All members of the Council are required by law to complete a Declaration of Interest form to register their financial interests. These can include, Details of any employment or business carried out by them, the name of their employer, details of any directorships, contracts between themselves/their firm and the Council or interests in land in the area.

Dacorum Borough Council organise Parish, Borough and National elections.  Click Elections for details on the procedure and contact details.

Many services such as education, social services, highways & transportation, trading standards, libraries and fire & rescue are the responsibility of Hertfordshire County Council. Your County Councillors represent your views at County Hall in Hertford. Click Herts County Councillors to view contact details.

There are two groups of people who work together to run the Council and its services. Councillors or 'Members' and Officers or employees of the council.

Whereas the Councillors work at the strategic level, making decisions on what should be done, it is the officers who are charged with the task to deliver the work programme.

The Mayor of Dacorum is elected by the Councillors from the majority party. A new Mayor is elected each year in May, for one year, at the Annual Full Council Meeting.

The duties of the Mayor are to:
1. Chair the meetings of the Full Council.
2. Act as host at Civic gatherings and to receive visitors to the Civic Centre.
3. Represent the Council at a wide range of functions and events during the year.

Dacorum Borough Council is permitted to set the level of allowances that are paid to their Members to cover the expenses that they incur as part of being a local Councillor. Examples of these allowances can include a basic allowance, a special responsibility allowance, travel & substistence allowances or special carers allowance.

Details of your elected MP's and MEP's

Parish Councils exist in all parts of Dacorum outside Hemel Hempstead. Parishes may administer some local amenities such as allotments, playing fields and Village Halls. Parish Councils are asked for their opinion on planning applications or on any issue which might have an impact on the Parish.  All Parishes employ a Clerk and some have a Parish or Town Council Office. Click Parish & Town Council's to view their contact details.

There may be an issue on which you have strong views and want the chance to discuss with Councillors. You can talk directly to the Councillor elected to represent you, but you can also ask questions of the Members of the Cabinet at the meetings of the Council.  Most council meetings include a section on Public Participation. This gives people an opportunity to put questions and comments to councillors at that meeting. 

Dacorum Borough Council has 51 elected Members to represent each Ward within the Borough. Click Your Councillors for their contact details.