The Public Health and Community Safety Cabinet Panel met on Thursday, 4 June 2026, to discuss a range of critical issues including policing updates, fire service operational cover, trading standards planning, and resilience efforts. Key decisions included the adoption of new national standards for measuring fire service response times and the approval of the Trading Standards Service Plan for 2026-2028, which prioritises areas such as doorstep crime, scams, food safety, and illicit tobacco.

Policing and Community Safety Updates

Chief Constable Andy Prophet provided an update on policing in Hertfordshire, highlighting national discussions around police force structures and the upcoming report from Lord Hogan Howe. He addressed recent hate crimes and increased patrols around places of worship, emphasizing a commitment to policing without fear or favour. Concerns were raised by Councillor Ben Crystal about residents' awareness of local police teams and the challenges posed by e-bikes, with the Chief Constable noting a national working group is addressing this issue. Councillor John Hale inquired about road traffic policing, and the Chief Constable acknowledged an increase in road casualties, attributing it to factors including issues with the speed camera network and challenges in road policing coverage. Councillor Phoebe expressed concerns about neighbourhood policing and a perceived lack of police presence in her area, while Councillor Morris Bright raised questions about the morale of the force following recent events and the potential for officers to leave. The Chief Constable assured the panel that morale was pretty solid but acknowledged pockets of concern and the importance of leadership in reminding officers of their valuable work.

Fire and Rescue Service Operational Cover Review

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mark Barber and Head of Service Improvements David Doar presented an update on the operational cover review for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS). The review concluded that current fire station locations provide strong coverage across the county. A key decision was made to align HFRS's performance framework with national standards by measuring response times from the moment a 999 call is received, rather than from dispatch, and reporting these times as an average. This change aims to improve consistency, transparency, and comparability with other fire and rescue services. Councillor Sean Prendergast sought reassurance that these changes would not impact response standards, and was assured that the service remained confident in meeting its existing attendance time targets. Councillor Ben Crystal inquired about interactions with neighbouring forces, and it was confirmed that while mutual aid agreements exist, HFRS aims to maintain its own resource levels. Councillor Fiona Thomson raised questions about oversight of response times and the transparency of data during the transition to the new reporting system, with assurances given that members would receive more detailed information on response time fails.

Trading Standards Service Planning

Richard Lewis, Trading Standards Manager, presented the Trading Standards Service Plan for 2026-2028. The plan outlines the service's priorities, which include doorstep crime and rogue trading, scams and scam prevention, food allergens and food fraud, product safety, illicit tobacco, underage sales, and animal health and disease prevention. The report highlighted the growing complexity of these issues and the challenges of a national shortage of qualified Trading Standards professionals. The service is investing in apprenticeships to address this, with seven apprentices currently undertaking a Level 6 qualification. New legislation, including the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 and the Renters Rights Act 2026, will introduce significant new responsibilities. Councillor Hale praised the support provided to residents and the apprenticeship scheme, while also raising concerns about vape shops and potential illegal trade. Mr. Lewis explained that the service works on intelligence and collaborates with police and HMRC, noting a decrease in illegal vapes being found. Councillor Beth Kelly inquired about the scope of scam prevention, and it was clarified that it covers all types of scams, with a focus on transactional issues. Councillor Paul Seeby asked about specific trends in criminality and community support, and Mr. Lewis emphasised the vital role of community intelligence. Councillor Morris Bright and Councillor Fiona Thomson both raised questions about the omission of vapes as a specific priority, despite public interest and recent successes in closing illegal shops. Mr. Lewis explained that while vapes are addressed under underage sales and illicit tobacco, proactive efforts are focused on areas with higher identified risks, but the service remains agile to pivot if necessary. The panel also discussed the potential impact of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) on the sustainability of apprenticeship programmes and the Trading Standards Service as a whole.

Resilience Update

Owen Tomlinson, Resilience Manager, provided an update on the county council's resilience and emergency preparedness arrangements. As a Category 1 Responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, the council works with the Hertfordshire Local Resilience Forum (LRF) to assess risks and maintain emergency plans. The resilience team supports a 24/7 emergency response and has recently updated the county council's incident response plan. The report detailed the continuous resilience cycle, including risk assessment, planning, training, exercising, and learning from incidents. Key risks identified include flooding, extreme temperatures, pandemics, utility failures, terrorism, and cyber attacks. Horizon scanning also considers emerging threats such as the impacts of global conflicts and industrial action. The panel discussed the role of councillors in resilience efforts, including providing scrutiny, sharing trusted messages, and participating in upcoming webinars. Councillor Fiona Thomson inquired about the National Risk Register, and it was explained that while the document is updated annually, continuous risk assessment and operational responses occur at various government levels. Councillor John Hale asked for clarification on logist training, which was explained as a new initiative to train staff in meticulously logging decisions during incidents for evidential and learning purposes. Councillor Ben Crystal raised questions about the mass fatalities framework, the resilience messaging system, and engagement with central government on exercises, receiving detailed explanations on each. Councillor Dr. Beth Kelly welcomed the report and inquired about the incident response plan coming to the panel and contingency plans for internet outages, with assurances that layered security measures and analogue plans are in place.

The next meeting of the Public Health & Community Safety Cabinet Panel was scheduled for 3 July 2026 at 10 a.m.