The Environment, Transport and Growth Cabinet Panel of Hertfordshire Council met on Thursday 11 June 2026, discussing a range of issues including road safety, public transport reform, and air quality. Key decisions included endorsing the progression to a statutory franchising assessment for bus services in North Herts, East Herts, and Stevenage, and recommending the adoption of the East Herts Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. The panel also noted the draft Speed Management Strategy for public consultation and supported the continuation of trials for autonomous delivery robots in Stevenage.

Bird's Hill/Norton Way South Roundabout Safety

The panel received a petition from residents concerned about the safety of pedestrians at the Bird's Hill/Norton Way South roundabout in Letchworth Garden City. While acknowledging the petition's alignment with the North Herts Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), officers noted that current collision data did not meet the threshold for designation as a hazardous site. However, the panel agreed to request officers to undertake further work to validate proposed crossing upgrades and to consider the site within the ongoing 20mph zone programme for Letchworth. Councillor Alistair Willoughby proposed, and Councillor Mark Pope seconded, a modification to recommendation three to request officers undertake further work and liaise with local members and the relevant executive member.

East Herts Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)

The panel was presented with the final East Herts LCWIP, developed in partnership with East Herts District Council and incorporating feedback from extensive stakeholder and public consultation. The plan identifies walking and cycling improvements across the district, focusing on larger settlements and key links between them. The panel endorsed the adoption of the East Herts LCWIP, which will support the development of proposed improvements, aid in securing funding, and facilitate planning contributions from developers. Councillor Eric Buckmaster noted the inclusion of rights of way and the positive collaboration with the Rights of Way team, while Councillor Ben Crystall expressed thanks to the officers for their work. The panel unanimously recommended the adoption of the plan by Cabinet.

Bus Services Franchising Assessment

The panel received an update on the progression of the bus reform and franchising pre-assessment for North Herts, East Herts, and Stevenage. The pre-assessment indicated that a phased franchising approach is the preferred model. The panel noted the continued positive progress and recommended that Cabinet decide to progress to a full statutory franchising assessment process, subject to Department for Transport confirming funding. Councillor Ruth Brown questioned the difference between pre-assessment and full assessment, and Councillor Nigel Taylor raised points about public information, real-time data, and fair integration. Councillor Mark Pope inquired about the success of the £1 million funding bid, and Councillor Caroline Smith-Wright asked about the effectiveness of disruption notifications. Councillor Alistair Willoughby expressed his view that a do minimum approach was not viable and that significant network expansion was necessary. Councillor Matt Fisher raised a point about the electrification of the fleet.

Healthier Air Strategy

The panel reviewed the final draft of the Healthier Air Strategy, which has been updated following a six-week public consultation that received 455 responses. The revised strategy strengthens links to the health agenda, aligning with World Health Organization guidelines, and expands its focus to include indoor environments. The strategy aims to promote community voices in future activity. Councillor Alistair Willoughby welcomed the focus on anti-idling, and Councillor Matt Fisher praised the exemplary work and focus on education and children's involvement. Councillor Ruth Brown sought reassurance on how the strategy's outcomes would be measured, and Councillor Caroline Smith-Wright highlighted the importance of communication regarding indoor pollutants and wood burning. The panel endorsed the adoption of the Healthier Air Strategy, subject to any minor amendments.

Hertfordshire's Speed Management Strategy

A new draft Speed Management Strategy (SMS) was presented, proposing a shift towards setting speed limits based on the function and character of a road rather than solely on existing traffic speeds. The strategy emphasizes a balanced approach combining street design, appropriate speed limits, enforcement, technology, and community engagement. Councillor Tony Kingsbury raised concerns about the potential controversy of 20mph limits and how compliance would be monitored and feedback provided. Councillor Matt Fisher inquired about the rationale for using the 85th percentile speed. Councillor Eric Buckmaster supported a specific approach for rural roads, while Councillor Nigel Taylor questioned how compliance with limits would be ensured. Councillor Alistair Willoughby advocated for the strategy to include options for reducing speeds on roads that are not currently 20mph but connect lower-speed areas. Councillor Caroline Smith-Wright welcomed the consideration of national speed limits on rural roads and the potential for sat-nav integration. The panel noted the report ahead of the draft SMS going to public consultation in June 2026.

Starship Technologies Robot Delivery Trial

The panel discussed the opportunity to support a trial of Starship Technologies' autonomous delivery robots (ADRs) in Stevenage. The trial aims to evaluate operational, safety, and community impacts before considering wider rollout. Councillor Alistair Willoughby expressed hope for chair-carrying robots but also raised concerns about potential job losses. Councillor Eric Buckmaster acknowledged that innovation often leads to job displacement but also creates new opportunities. Councillor Gary Beaumont highlighted the potential benefits for individuals who cannot currently access delivery services. Councillor Caroline Smith-Wright voiced concerns about job losses and a preference for human interaction, while Councillor James Watson noted that human deliveries would still be required in certain circumstances and highlighted benefits for vulnerable people. The panel supported the development of a framework for safely implementing, monitoring, and refining ADR trials. Councillor Caroline Smith-Wright expressed further concerns about the robots operating on pedestrian paths even without council involvement, and Councillor Ruth Brown raised questions about security and cyber security. The panel ultimately supported noting the opportunity to enable the trial.

Corporate and Operational Performance (Q3)

The panel received an update on the Corporate and Operational Performance for Quarter 3. The report, presented by Paruk, detailed performance against deliverables aligned to the administration's corporate plan, with a significant focus on areas relevant to the Environment, Transport and Growth directorate. Councillor Ruth Brown found the snapshots particularly helpful and praised the progress made. The panel noted the new format of the quarterly performance report and agreed to the recommendations.

Response to Motion: Adoption of Streets

Mark Youngman, Development Group Manager, provided an update on the work being undertaken to respond to a motion concerning the adoption of streets. He explained that research is ongoing with similar councils in the eastern region to gather data on the challenges faced. A key issue identified is the lack of data on private streets where developers have chosen not to engage with the council for adoption. The panel discussed the complexities of the current regulatory framework and the difficulty in forcing developers to adopt roads. Councillor Alistair Willoughby proposed an additional recommendation that the Executive Member for Environment, Transport and Growth write to the government to advocate for national reforms to ensure highways within new developments are constructed to adoptable standards. This was seconded by Councillor Ruth Brown and agreed by the panel.

The meeting concluded with the Chair thanking officers and members for their contributions. The next Environment, Transport and Growth Cabinet Panel meeting was scheduled for 24 September 2026.