This week in Hertfordshire:

Council Faces Pressure to Reorganise Local Government Amidst Funding Concerns

Hertfordshire County Council is grappling with the government's invitation to reorganise local government, a move that could reshape the delivery of services and impact residents across the county Link to meeting. The Cabinet met to discuss the proposal, following an extraordinary meeting of the County Council Link to meeting where councillors were invited to recommend one of the options to the Cabinet.

• The Stakes: Local government reorganisation could lead to significant changes in how services are delivered, funded, and managed, potentially affecting everything from bin collections to social care.
• The Options: The council is considering three options for unitarisation[^1]: two, three, or four unitary councils for Hertfordshire. [^1]: Unitarisation is the process of merging local authorities to create a single, unified authority.
• The Vision: The council desires a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) for Hertfordshire by 2028, aiming to devolve greater power and funding to the local area.
• The Engagement: The council has engaged with stakeholders and the public through roundtables, webinars, and a dedicated microsite.
• The Transition: The council proposes a three-phase plan for transitioning to the new unitary councils, overseen by a Member-led Board.
• The Finances: The financial implications of the proposed unitary options have been assessed using a modelling approach developed collaboratively with Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) from all 11 councils.

Council Discusses Local Government Reorganisation

The Hertfordshire County Council held an extraordinary meeting to discuss the Local Government Reorganisation Business Case Link to meeting.

• The Focus: The meeting was called to address the issue of Local Government Reorganisation in Hertfordshire.
• The Report: A report from the Chief Executive regarding this matter was presented.
• The Public: The agenda allowed for members of the public to participate in the meeting through questions and petitions.

Other Matters

• The Hertfordshire Police and Crime Panel met on Thursday 20 November 2025 Link to meeting. No video was provided.

Upcoming Meetings

• Public Health & Community Safety Cabinet Panel on Monday 01 December 2025. Link to agenda
• Pensions Committee on Wednesday 03 December 2025. Link to agenda
• Audit Committee on Thursday 04 December 2025. Link to agenda
• Resources and Performance Cabinet Panel on Tuesday 25 November 2025. Link to agenda
• Employment Committee on Monday 24 November 2025. Link to agenda
• Cabinet on Tuesday 02 December 2025. Link to agenda
• County Council on Wednesday 26 November 2025. Link to agenda

This week in Hertfordshire:

Mental Health Services Face Increased Demand and Bed Shortages

Hertfordshire's Health Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the challenges facing mental health and learning disability services, revealing a surge in demand, particularly among young people, and a persistent shortage of adult mental health beds Link to meeting. The committee agreed to write to the Secretary of State to advocate for increased funding to address these critical needs.

• The Stakes: Insufficient mental health resources can lead to longer waiting times, inadequate care, and increased risk of crisis for vulnerable individuals.
• The Demand: The Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) has seen a 25% increase in demand from young people since COVID-19, especially for ADHD and ASD assessments, with waiting times up to two years. Adult demand has also risen by 20%.
• The Beds: HPFT has only 98 adult mental health beds across Hertfordshire, far short of the benchmarked national number of 160. This forces the trust to spend £16 million annually on independent sector beds.
• The Cost: Karen Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, HPFT, stated that it would cost about half that amount to run their own beds, saving about £8 million.
• The Letter: The committee agreed to write a strong letter to the Secretary of State in support of funding for adult acute mental health beds. Councillor Seamus Quilty BEM emphasized the need for a strong letter to demonstrate the committee's commitment to addressing the issue.
• The Strengths: Karen Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, HPFT, highlighted the strong partnership between HPFT and Hertfordshire County Council as a unique strength in the region.

This discussion echoes previous concerns about mental health funding and service provision, as reported in earlier newsletters.

Phlebotomy Services Under Scrutiny Amidst Growing Waiting Times

The Health Scrutiny Committee also addressed concerns about increasing waiting times for phlebotomy services, with residents in Broxbourne facing waits of up to three weeks for routine blood tests Link to meeting. The committee agreed to investigate the issue and explore potential solutions.

• The Stakes: Delays in phlebotomy services can hinder diagnosis and treatment, potentially impacting patient outcomes.
• The Concerns: Councillor Dee Hart raised concerns about residents in Broxbourne waiting three weeks for routine blood tests, calling the situation totally unacceptable.
• The Investigation: The committee agreed to send an email to the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to investigate phlebotomy waiting times.
• The Countywide Issue: Councillor Richard Roberts stated that long phlebotomy waiting times are an issue countywide.

Health Scrutiny Committee to Review Work Programme and Prioritize Key Issues

The Health Scrutiny Committee discussed and agreed upon their work programme for the coming year, prioritizing key issues such as patient experience, ICB changes, and gambling harms Link to meeting.

• The Priorities: The committee agreed to focus on feedback from patient experience, the ICB changes, Mount Vernon, the gambling harms report, CAMHS, and phlebotomy services.
• The ICB Changes: The committee agreed to write a letter to the Integrated Care Board (ICB) reminding them of their responsibility to provide up-to-date contacts.
• The Generative AI: Councillor Jon Claydon inquired about the use of generative AI by NHS trusts, but no response had been received from Chief Information Officers (CIOs).

Other Matters

• HPFT representatives outlined key challenges, including addressing the needs of people with co-existing drug and alcohol conditions and mental illness, ADHD and ASD, and ensuring consistent support for individuals with mental illness and learning disabilities.
• HPFT highlighted the opening of a new mental health urgent care centre and the work done with Cherry Tree Cottage for children looked after as successes of the past year.

Upcoming Meetings

• Employment Committee on Monday 24 November 2025. Link to agenda
• Resources and Performance Cabinet Panel on Tuesday 25 November 2025. Link to agenda
• County Council on Wednesday 26 November 2025. Link to agenda

This week in Hertfordshire:

School Closures Loom as Cabinet Considers Reorganisation Plans

Hertfordshire's Cabinet met this week to discuss the future of several primary schools facing declining enrollment, sparking concerns about access to education in rural communities Link to meeting. While one school received a reprieve, the Cabinet approved public consultations on the potential closure of two others, highlighting the difficult choices facing the council amidst changing demographics.

• The Stakes: School closures can disrupt communities, displace students, and impact access to education, particularly for vulnerable children in rural areas.
• The Schools: Sandon JMI School, Albury C of E VA Primary School and St Nicholas Elstree C of E VA Primary School were all under consideration for potential closure.
• The Numbers: Pupil numbers have been declining in Hertfordshire since 2019, with a projected 74 fewer classes needed in the coming years.
• The Decision: The Cabinet voted to proceed with public consultations on the proposed closures of Albury C of E VA Primary School and St Nicholas Elstree C of E VA Primary School, while deferring a decision on Sandon JMI School for one year.
• The Rationale: Councillor Mark Watkin, Executive member for Education, SEND and Inclusion, emphasized the need to consider the education of children currently attending the struggling schools, stating, We cannot continue to allow schools to sort of struggle and go on and incurring, I'm afraid to say, huge deficits.
• The Concerns: Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst OBE, Executive member for Highways, cautioned against repeating past mistakes of closing schools only to later need to expand them again, urging serious consideration of future population growth.
• The Rural Impact: Councillor Steve Jarvis, Leader of the Council, expressed his pleasure with the panel's decision to provide an extra year for Sandon JMI School to demonstrate its potential for growth, recognizing its importance to the rural community.

This decision follows previous discussions about declining enrollment and financial pressures on Hertfordshire schools, as reported in earlier newsletters.

Care Home Strategy Aims to Address Growing Needs of Older Population

The Cabinet also endorsed a proposed five-year care homes commissioning strategy for older people, acknowledging the increasing number of older adults with complex needs and the challenges of providing affordable care Link to meeting.

• The Stakes: The strategy aims to ensure that older people in Hertfordshire have access to high-quality, affordable care as their needs increase.
• The Challenges: The report highlights significant increases in the number of older people with frailty, dementia, and nursing needs, as well as economic, operational, and workforce challenges that are driving an undersupply of affordable care.
• The Priorities: The strategy sets out four priority areas: addressing the increasing needs of older people with complex conditions, tackling the undersupply of affordable care, improving outcomes for people with dementia, and enhancing support for those with non-cognitive symptoms of dementia.
• The CQC Findings: The strategy references a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report that highlighted priorities concerning nursing care.
• The Financial Commitment: Residential and nursing care commissioning for older people represents a major financial commitment for the council, totaling £110.7 million for 2025/26.
• The Market Shaping: Councillor Sally Symington, Deputy Leader of the Council; Executive member for Adult Care Services, emphasized the council's proactive efforts to shape the market and ensure the best possible care at the best rates for residents.

Active Travel Plan Approved for Three Rivers District

The Cabinet adopted the Three Rivers District Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), signaling a commitment to promoting active travel and addressing climate change Link to meeting.

• The Stakes: Increasing the uptake of cycling and walking is seen as a key strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, meeting clean air targets, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
• The Focus: The Three Rivers LCWIP identifies key walking and cycling networks across the district, with infrastructure improvements focused on the larger settlements of Rickmansworth, Maple Cross, and Chorleywood.
• The Consultation: The draft LCWIP underwent public consultation in May 2023, receiving over 1500 responses.
• The Priorities: The plan identifies five top priority cycle routes and three potential areas for walking improvements.
• The Balance: Councillor Paul Zukowskyj, Executive member for Environment, Transport and Growth, noted the importance of balancing walking and cycling infrastructure, emphasizing the need to carefully consider walking infrastructure in future plans.

Other Matters

• The Cabinet agreed to a 12-week public consultation on the draft SEND Strategy 2026-2029, aiming to improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Link to meeting

Upcoming Meetings

• Hertfordshire Police and Crime Panel on Thursday 20 November 2025. Link to agenda
• County Council on Wednesday 19 November 2025. Link to agenda
• Cabinet on Thursday 20 November 2025. Link to agenda

This week in Hertfordshire:

Pension Fund's Climate Goals at Risk as Decarbonisation Lags

The Hertfordshire Council Pensions Committee convened this week to discuss the Hertfordshire Pension Fund's progress on responsible investment, risk management, and financial performance Link to meeting. While the fund has made strides in reducing its carbon footprint, it's currently behind the pace needed to meet its 2030 and 2050 decarbonisation targets, potentially jeopardizing the long-term sustainability of investments and the environment.

• The Stakes: Failure to meet decarbonisation targets could lead to stranded assets[^6] and increased financial risks for the pension fund, impacting the retirement savings of Hertfordshire residents. [^6]: Stranded assets are assets that have suffered from unanticipated or premature write-downs, devaluations or conversion to liabilities.
• The Targets: The Pensions Committee previously agreed to a transition plan with a baseline of 31 March 2020, targeting a 43% reduction in the fund's carbon footprint by 2030 and net zero by 2050, in line with the 2022 IPCC median curve.
• The Progress: The fund's listed equity portfolio's carbon footprint has decreased by approximately 19.3% from 2020 to 2025, but is currently behind the IPCC decarbonisation pathway.
• The Strategy: As part of the fund's decarbonisation efforts, the Pensions Committee previously agreed to disinvest £600m from the UBS passive global equities and invest in climate-aware funds.
• The Future: Fund officers will propose additional targets aligned with Border to Coast Pensions Partnership's targets and plans.

This discussion builds on previous commitments to responsible investment and decarbonisation, as highlighted in earlier newsletters.

Member Data Security Risks Re-Evaluated After Concerns Raised

Following concerns raised at a previous meeting, the Pensions Committee received an update on the risk levels associated with compromised member data within both the Hertfordshire Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and Hertfordshire Fire Pension Scheme Risk Registers Link to meeting. While the risk levels have been revised following a review, the potential impact of a data breach remains a significant concern for pension scheme members.

• The Stakes: A data breach could expose sensitive personal and financial information, leading to identity theft, financial loss, and reputational damage for the council.
• The Risks: Risk E4 concerns compromised member data due to lack of control around data sharing, poor staff training, and inappropriate sharing of member data. Risk E5 concerns compromised member data through a breach of IT security controls.
• The Revisions: Following a review, Risk E4 has been revised to a tolerance level of 9 and risk level of 9, based on a likelihood of 'possible' and an impact of 'moderate'. Risk E5 has been revised to a tolerance level of 16 and risk level of 16, based on a likelihood of 'probable' and an impact of 'major'.
• The Safeguards: LPPA prioritizes staff training and development, including data protection, cyber security, information security, and financial crime. LPPA also holds ISO27001 certification and cyber essentials plus accreditation, and commissioned KPMG to undertake an Auditors Assurance Faculty (AAF) 01/20 report.

Pension Fund Shows £6.4 Billion in Assets, KPMG Review Underway

The Pensions Committee received an update on the Pension Fund Statement of Accounts for 2024/25, revealing a net assets value of £6.411 billion as of 31 March 2025 Link to meeting. The accounts are currently under review by KPMG, with findings expected to be reported at the Audit Committee on 4 December 2025.

• The Stakes: The accurate and transparent reporting of the pension fund's financial position is crucial for ensuring accountability and maintaining the trust of scheme members.
• The Numbers: The Pension Fund Statement of Accounts for 2024/25 shows a net assets value of the scheme available to fund benefits as of 31 March 2025 of £6,403m, which has since increased to £6,411m.
• The Review: KPMG are expected to finish their field-testing work by the end of October 2025, with their findings to be reported at the Audit Committee on 4 December 2025.

Upcoming Meetings

• Environment, Transport & Growth Cabinet Panel on Wednesday 05 November 2025. Link to agenda
• Cabinet on Thursday 06 November 2025. Link to agenda
• Children's Social Care Cabinet Panel on Monday 03 November 2025. Link to agenda
• Local Government Pension Scheme Local Pension Board on Friday 07 November 2025. Link to agenda
• Education, SEND & Inclusion Cabinet Panel on Thursday 06 November 2025. Link to agenda
• Health Scrutiny Committee on Monday 10 November 2025. Link to agenda
• Highways Cabinet Panel (comm 2025) on Friday 14 November 2025. Link to agenda