The Cabinet of Hertfordshire Council met on Wednesday 18 March 2026 to discuss a range of important issues, including the review of the street lighting policy, the adult care services plan, the refreshed Hertfordshire carers strategy, the Crisis Resilience Fund, and the new SEND strategy. Key decisions were made regarding the adult care services plan, the carers strategy, the Crisis Resilience Fund, and the SEND strategy, alongside the approval of significant capital investment for new SEND provisions.

Street Lighting Policy Review

The Cabinet agreed to endorse the scope of a review into the council's street lighting policy. This review will examine the implications of potential changes to the current part-night lighting policy, which sees street lights switch off between 1 am and 5 am, and reduced lighting between 9 pm and 1 am. The review will consider financial implications, the effect on carbon emissions, and local circumstances, with findings to be reported back to the Highways Cabinet panel. The current policy, introduced in 2012, affects approximately 118,000 street lights across the county.

Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Plan Performance Report

The Cabinet noted the Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Plan Asset Performance Report for 2024-25. This report, which looks back at the previous financial year, is used to support bids for additional funding from the Department for Transport. While the report highlights concerns, particularly regarding U-class roads, it also details areas where funding has been allocated to maintain highway infrastructure. Members acknowledged the significant national shortfall in highway infrastructure funding and agreed to explore ways to produce more up-to-date and relevant performance reports in the future.

Adult Care Services Plan 2026-2028

The Cabinet approved the overarching Adult Care Services Plan for 2026-2028. This plan outlines the strategy for adult care services over the next two years, encompassing a wide range of existing strategies and an action plan currently under development. The services provided are extensive, handling approximately 75,000 requests for support annually, providing care for over 30,000 residents, and supporting 43,000 unpaid adult carers. Key themes within the plan include promoting independence, preventing the need for higher levels of social care through initiatives like the Connect and Prevent programme, tackling loneliness, and improving accommodation strategies for supported living and nursing care.

Refreshed Hertfordshire Carers Strategy

The Cabinet approved the refreshed Hertfordshire Carers Strategy, an all-age strategy covering both children and adult carers. Developed through co-production and consultation with carers and relevant organisations, the strategy acknowledges the foundational role of unpaid carers, whose work, if paid, would be valued at £184 billion annually. The strategy emphasises enhancing carers' well-being, identifying carers who may not self-identify, and providing early support to prevent them from becoming overburdened. The strategy also highlights the importance of collaboration with children's services and the NHS. A key development is the bringing of the young carers support contract in-house, with a report to the Children's Services panel planned for the autumn to ensure the effectiveness of these new arrangements.

Crisis Resilience Fund

The Cabinet approved the allocation plan for the Crisis Resilience Fund, which replaces the Household Support Fund. While the new fund offers three years of funding, it represents a 26% reduction in overall allocation compared to previous years. The fund aims to support individuals and households in crisis and build resilience within both their lives and the community. The guidance for the fund prohibits blanket provision of vouchers for households with children in receipt of free school meals, instead establishing a crisis support fund for essential goods. The plan includes provisions for crisis payments, resilient services, and community coordination, with discretionary housing payments managed by districts and boroughs. The council acknowledged the significant reduction in funding and the challenges this presents, particularly the end of blanket holiday food voucher provision, but affirmed its commitment to distributing the available resources as effectively as possible. The HAPI (Holiday Activities and Food) programme, which provides activities and hot food during school holidays, will continue to receive government funding and will support some children who previously benefited from the Household Support Fund.

New SEND Strategy and Provision

The Cabinet approved the new SEND Strategy for 2026-2029, which sets out six strategic priorities for improving outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Hertfordshire. This strategy is the culmination of extensive consultation, including the SEND Summit. The council committed to an annual review of the strategy and continuous engagement with stakeholders.

In addition, the Cabinet approved significant capital investment of £5.494 million for the establishment of new SEND provisions across four primary schools. These include:

• A 12-place SEND unit at Morgan School in Hertford for children with cognition and learning needs.
• A 24-place SEND unit at Sheppard School in Rickmansworth for children with cognition and learning needs.
• A 12-place SEND unit at Westfield Primary School and Nursery in Berkhamsted for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs.
• A 32-place expansion of Wattling View Special School through a satellite provision at Oakmere Primary School in Potters Bar for children with severe learning difficulties.

These units are designed to be integrated within the school communities, fostering a sense of belonging while providing specialised support. The proposals received broad support during the consultation process, with over 80% of respondents backing each initiative. The investment will cover building adaptations and staffing requirements to ensure these provisions are fit for purpose and effectively support children and young people with SEND.