Open Council Network

New Chief Executive Appointed, £5.6m for Highways Improvements

This week, the Hertsmere Council held several meetings, each addressing significant issues within the community. Here’s a summary of the key discussions and decisions made:

Public Health & Community Safety Cabinet Panel - Wednesday 26 June 2024

The Public Health & Community Safety Cabinet Panel met to discuss matters related to policing, crime, and public health in Hertfordshire.

Policing and Crime in Hertfordshire

The panel received a report from the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), David Lloyd. He noted that while overall crime remained below pre-pandemic levels, there had been a recent increase in vehicle crime and domestic burglary, attributing this to factors like the cost of living crisis. Mr Lloyd reassured the panel that efforts to tackle these issues were ongoing, highlighting recent successes in combating drug dealing and antisocial behaviour.

I have been clear that I want to see more police officers on the streets and that is what is happening.

Hertfordshire County Council's Use of Investigatory Powers

The panel reviewed the council’s use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 in 2023/24. The council had used these powers on 12 occasions, primarily for directed surveillance to prevent or detect crime, and once for using covert human intelligence sources (CHIS). These powers are controversial due to privacy concerns.

Public Health in Hertfordshire

A presentation on public health highlighted increasing life expectancy but significant health inequalities. For example, people in deprived areas have a lower life expectancy. The council’s public health priorities for the coming year include reducing health inequalities, promoting healthy lifestyles, and protecting the public from health hazards.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 27 June 2024

The Overview & Scrutiny Committee agreed on their work programme for the year ahead and received a presentation about Healthwatch Hertfordshire.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2024-25

The committee debated whether to focus on six key themes or specific topics. Ultimately, they approved the six themes—The Economy, The Environment, Health & Wellbeing, Children & Young People, Highways & Transport, and Value For Money—while agreeing to draw up specific topics under each theme.

Healthwatch Hertfordshire

The committee heard from Healthwatch Hertfordshire, a statutory body gathering public views on health and social care. The presentation covered projects like the Here to Listen project for mental health, Enter & View Visits to health and social care settings, and signposting services.

Healthwatch is about improving health and social care services through experience.

County Council - Tuesday 25 June 2024

At an Extraordinary Meeting, Angie Ridgwell was appointed as the new Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service for Hertfordshire County Council. She will take up the role in September 2024.

Chairman's Announcements

Councillor T L F Douris announced the death of former County Councillor and Leader of the Council, David Beatty, at the age of 91. Full tributes will be paid at the next meeting in July 2024.

The Environment Cabinet Panel - Friday 28 June 2024

The Environment Cabinet Panel discussed Hertfordshire County Council’s environmental impact and agreed to replace the Sustainable Hertfordshire Impact Assessment (SHIA) with a new Decision Making Support Programme (DMSP).

Sustainable Hertfordshire Programme Plan

The panel received an update on the council’s progress towards becoming a Net Zero county by 2030. Notable achievements include 95% of corporate electricity coming from renewable sources and a 69% reduction in energy use from streetlights.

Waste Management

The panel noted a report showing the council's strong performance in waste management compared to other councils in the region.

Biodiversity Duty

A report detailed how the council will meet the requirements of the Environment Act 2021, including annual biodiversity performance reporting.

Tree and Woodland Strategy

The panel received an update on the council’s Tree and Woodland Strategy, which aims to plant 1.5 million trees over ten years.

Replacement of the Sustainable Hertfordshire Impact Assessment (SHIA)

The new DMSP will replace the SHIA to help the council make more sustainable decisions, manage environmental risks, and save resources.

Highways and Transport Cabinet Panel - Tuesday 25 June 2024

The Highways and Transport Cabinet Panel agreed to allocate £5.6m to fund various highways improvement schemes and discussed the results of 20mph speed limit trials.

Capital Programme 2024/25

The panel discussed proposed highways improvement schemes worth £6.8m but had only £5.6m allocated. The decision on funding all schemes was delegated to the Executive Director of Growth, Environment, Place and Planning.

A1000 Corridor Improvements

The panel received an update on the A1000 Corridor Improvements scheme, which aims to reduce congestion and improve air quality. Local campaign group Better Streets for Barnet has criticised the scheme, but council officers defended it.

20mph Programme Update

The panel discussed the council’s 20mph speed limit trials in Watford and Borehamwood. Initial results showed a reduction in collisions and average traffic speed, but public opinion was mixed. The panel deferred a decision on a wider rollout, requesting a more detailed analysis in a future report.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the public minutes and the decisions document from each meeting.

Key Decisions on Youth Employment, Women's Safety, and Healthcare at Hertsmere Council This Week

This week, the Hertsmere Council held several meetings, each addressing significant issues within the community. Here’s a summary of the key discussions and decisions made:

Cabinet Meeting - Monday 10 June 2024

Unfortunately, we have not been able to find a video broadcast of this meeting.

Employment Committee - Thursday 13 June 2024

Similarly, no video broadcast was available for this meeting.

Impact of Scrutiny Advisory Committee - Friday 14 June 2024

The Impact of Scrutiny Advisory Committee convened to discuss several important topics, including barriers to employment for young people, women's safety, and the annual patient experience scrutiny. Here are the key decisions:

Young People with Barriers to Employment

The committee reviewed the response to recommendations from the Young People with Barriers to Employment Scrutiny Review held on 23 June 2023. The focus was on the work of Services for Young People (SfYP) and the development of an Employment Hub. Three key recommendations were signed off as complete:

Securing funding for SfYP to maintain its positive impact.
Developing a recruitment hub linking schools, colleges, employers, and young people to prevent them from becoming Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)¹.
Adopting a holistic approach to corporate parenting involving other Hertfordshire councils to support vulnerable young people.

Women's Safety

The committee considered the response to recommendations from the Women’s Safety Scrutiny Review held on 27 September 2023. Four key recommendations were signed off as complete:

Raising awareness about violence against women and girls (VAWG) within the community.
Creating a ‘one stop shop’ for support services to simplify pathways for victims and professionals.
Improving data collection to better understand the prevalence of VAWG.
Extending and improving access to advocacy and counselling services for survivors.

Annual Patient Experience Scrutiny

The committee reviewed the response to recommendations from the Annual Patient Experience Scrutiny held on 19 June 2023. Discussions focused on:

West Herts Teaching Hospital (WHTH): Concerns about efficiency savings of £16m and their impact on patient experience.
East & North Herts NHS Trust: Satisfaction with the transition between different acute teams and other health providers.
Integrated Care Board (ICB): Potential of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) to improve patient care and concerns about community paediatric waiting lists.

The committee agreed to sign off the recommendations, with further monitoring by the Health Scrutiny Committee.

Hertfordshire & West Essex Integrated Care Partnership - Wednesday 12 June 2024

The Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) meeting focused on several key issues, including the future direction of the ICP, housing needs for older people and children, and updates on the Integrated Care Strategy. Key decisions included:

Exploring a new partnership model and developing a housing strategy for older people.
Addressing damp and mould issues in housing.
Annual updates on selected indicators for the Integrated Care Strategy.

Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Joint Committee - Tuesday 11 June 2024

The inaugural meeting of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Joint Committee focused on establishing the committee's leadership and outlining its processes, procedures, and budget for the upcoming year. Key points included:

Election of Councillor Dan Swords as Chairman and Councillor Lee Scott as Deputy Chairman for the 2024/25 municipal year.
Approval of the 2024/25 budget and programme of work for the Garden Town.
Review of the processes, procedures, and functions of the Joint Committee.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the public minutes and the decisions document from the meeting.

NEET stands for Not in Education, Employment, or Training, referring to young people who are not engaged in any of these activities. ↩

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