A review of how communities in the district of St Albans are governed is to be undertaken next year with residents being asked to give their views.

The review will examine if governance arrangements at parish and town council level can be improved to better reflect local identities and serve communities more effectively.

Among the issues that will be considered are whether there is a need to create a new parish or town council or alter the number of wards and councillors of existing ones.

The review, which will be undertaken by St Albans City and District Council, will also look at whether the boundaries of the existing nine parish and town councils need to be changed.

The councils involved are Colney Heath Parish Council, Harpenden Rural Parish Council, Harpenden Town Council, London Colney Parish Council, Redbourn Parish Council, Sandridge Parish Council, St Michael Parish Council, St Stephen Parish Council and Wheathampstead Parish Council.

A public consultation will start early next year with people able to give their views by email or letter.

The consultation is scheduled to run from January 4 to March 31 with a report proposing recommendations going to the June meeting of the district council's policy committee.

A further period of consultation on any proposed changes will take place between July 1 and September 1 2022.

Final recommendations will be made to full council in December 2022 with any changes taking effect at the May 2023 parish and town council elections.