Established in 1974 Hertsmere is not an ancient borough, although it is certainly rich in history. The great Roman road Watling Street cuts a swathe through the Hertfordshire landscape here and serves to underline the fact that settled communities have existed in this area since early times.  Hertsmere was granted a charter giving it official borough status by the Queen Mother, in the Queen's absence, in 1977. The new borough merged Bushey Urban District Council, the Rural District of Elstree and the Urban District of Potters Bar. These areas have joined under one authority to give Hertsmere a varied and distinctive profile. The Council's Civic Offices are situated in Elstree Way, Borehamwood. In addition, two area offices are located in Potters Bar at the Wyllyotts Centre, Darkes Lane and in Bushey at The Bushey Community Centre, High Street, Bushey. The main business of the Council is carried out in Committees and Sub-Committees where groups of elected representatives debate and make decisions on a range of issues affecting the community. The three main committees are Policy and Resources, Environment and Leisure and Community Services. However, at the time of going to print Hertsmere, like other local authorities around the country, faced the prospect of the introduction of a new style of local Government from October 2000. Services operated by Hertsmere Borough Council: Building control, Council Tax, dog warden, domestic refuse, drainage, electoral services, environmental health, highways, household waste sites, housing services, leisure, licences, listed buildings, parks, pest control, pollution control, planning (general enquiries, appeals, applications, enforcement, tree preservation orders), recycling, refuse collection, land searches, street cleaning. Other key services like education and social services are the responsibility of Hertfordshire County Council. The four Parish Councils in Hertsmere deal with local community issues at grassroots level. For example, Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council organises the annual Civic Festival in Borehamwood. The three main offices are: Hertsmere Borough Council Civic Offices Elstree Way, Borehamwood Herts WD6 1WA Tel: 020 8207 2277 Potters Bar Area Office The Wyllyotts Centre, Wyllyotts Place Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 2HN Tel: 01707 652406 Bushey Area Office The Bushey Community Centre, High Street, Bushey Herts WD23 1TT Tel: 020 8386 4048