Watford council news
Watford council news, newest first: decisions, budgets, council tax, bins and services, each linked to the council's own papers.
Top story
Watford's Woodside Community Centre Reopens in Spring 2027
Chime Housing will run Woodside Community Centre and fund a refurbishment before it reopens. Residents can join a stakeholder group at a meeting on 18 November.
More stories
Recycling
Watford Recycling Now Takes Soft Plastics: What Goes In
Bread bags, sweet wrappers, cling film and bubble wrap can now go loose in Watford's blue-lidded bin. Pouches, blister packs and bags of other items cannot.
Environment
Gum Scraped From 5,718m² of Watford's Shopping Parades
Veolia cleared chewing gum from about 1km of pavement at Watford shopping parades, funded by grants of almost £25,000 over three years. Updated November 2026.
Council
Watford Council Abolition Delayed to 2029 at the Earliest
The government has withdrawn Hertfordshire's four-council plan. Any new council now starts in April 2029, 11 months after Watford's mayoral term is due to end.
Council
Watford Drinking Ban Expires in December: Have Your Say
Watford's 24-hour no-drinking order expires in December. A one-question survey on renewing it runs for three weeks from 14 October; the £500 fine stays.
Council
Watford Council Carbon Down 21.4%, Just Short of Its Target
The council cut its own emissions 21.4% against a 22% target for 2025. Trees and green space beat their goals; recycling, water and borough carbon lag.
Politics
Watford Mayor Peter Taylor to Stand for MP for the Lib Dems
Peter Taylor, mayor since 2018, is the Lib Dem candidate for Watford MP. He took 14,583 votes in May; Labour won the seat in 2024 with 15,708.
Council
Watford Ice Rink: £173,803 Contract, Ticket Sales to Charity
Cabinet papers show the festive rink on The Parade costs £173,803, awarded without a tender to Ice Park Ltd. Half of ticket sales go to local charities.
Council
Watford Council Abolition Paused, May 2027 Election Back On
The government has paused Hertfordshire's four-council plan, so May 2027 is an ordinary borough election again. The council's own page still says otherwise.
Council
Watford Council Named 6 Times on UK Service Awards List
Watford appears more often than any other body on APSE's 2026 finalists list, and is one of nine up for Overall Council of the Year on 17 September.
Bins
Watford Bin Collections Move a Day From 31 August
Every Watford collection runs a day late from Monday 31 August, so Friday rounds land on Saturday 5 September. Garden waste card payers must renew by the 31st.
Council
Watford's Elected Mayor Was to End in 2028. Now Paused
Watford Borough Council was to close on 1 April 2028, and its replacement would have had a leader, not a mayor. The government paused the plan on 7 September.