Three Rivers District Council
Three Rivers District Council is the local authority for the Three Rivers non-metropolitan district of England, the United Kingdom. Three Rivers is located in the south-west of Hertfordshire, in the East of England region. The Council itself is based in Rickmansworth, the largest settlement in the district, but also comprises Abbots Langley, Chorleywood, Croxley Green, Maple Cross, Mill End, Sarratt and South Oxhey.
Three Rivers District Council | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Leader | Councillor Sarah Nelmes, Liberal Democrats |
Leader of the Opposition | Councillor Alex Hayward, Conservative |
Leader of the Labour Group | Councillor Stephen Cox, Labour |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 39 councillors |
 | |
Political groups | Executive (22)
Opposition (15)
|
| Elections | |
| First past the post | |
Last election | 2 May 2018 |
| Meeting place | |
| Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth, WD3 1RL | |
| Website | |
| http://www.threerivers.gov.uk | |
The Council consists of 39 elected members, representing thirteen electoral wards following a Boundary Commission review which came into effect on 22 May 2014. Each ward returns three councillors.
History
Three Rivers District Council was established in 1974 by combining the former Urban Districts of Rickmansworth and Chorleywood with part of the Rural District of Watford.
The main offices are located in Rickmansworth in Three Rivers House, opened in 1991.
Responsibilities
Three Rivers District Council carries out a variety of district council functions including:
- Benefits - Housing and Council Tax
- Car Parking
- Concessionary Travel
- Council Tax - Administration and Collection
- Elections and Electoral Registration
- Environmental Health (includes Domestic and Commercial Premises)
- Food Safety and Hygiene Complaints
- Noise Pollution and Pest Control
- Housing Administration
- Licensing
- Caravan Sites
- Planning, including Planning Applications, Advice and Appeals
- Public Conveniences
- Health and Leisure Centres
- Refuse Collection
- Recycling
- Tourism and Visitor Information
Composition
The Council is controlled by the Liberal Democrats, who hold 20 of the 39 seats. The Conservatives form the second-largest faction, with 16, of the seats followed by Labour with 3 seats.[1]
Three Rivers is a non-metropolitan district that elects one-third of its councillors at any one time with councillor elected three times every four years, with the fourth for elections to Hertfordshire County Council). In the 2016 elections, the council remained under a minority Liberal Democrat administration. The Liberal Democrats regained their majority following a by-election in January 2017. Previously, there were 48 seats: half of the wards elected two councillors each. Nine elected three councillors each. Sarratt ward elected one.
Councillors are divided into classes depending on the year of their retirement. Usually, this will be four years after their election. However, if a ward elects two members at a given election (because of a by-election being held at the same time as a normal election), the councillor with the most votes receives the later of the two available retirement dates.