The Highways Cabinet Panel of Hertfordshire Council met on Thursday, 8 October 2026, to discuss the review of the street lighting policy, an update on corporate and operational performance, and the ongoing issue of utility works on the highway. Key discussions included recommendations for the street lighting policy, an update on corporate and operational performance, an executive member verbal update on highway budget expenditure, a motion regarding utility works on the highway, and the Cabinet Panel work programme for 2026/27.

Street Lighting Policy Review

The panel reviewed the findings of a desktop assessment of Hertfordshire County Council's street lighting policy, which concluded that the current policy remains fit for purpose. Officers presented recommendations to Cabinet to note these findings and to allow members to fund additional street lighting through their Highway Locality Budget (HLB). This would extend the existing flexibility, which currently only permits HLB funding for lighting on remote footpaths, to cover broader needs such as supporting unlit active travel routes or upgrading existing lighting. A cap of a 1% increase in street lighting stock was proposed to manage overall growth.

During the discussion, concerns were raised about the potential impact of Part Night Lighting (PNL) on perceived safety, particularly for vulnerable groups during the hours when lights are switched off between 1 am and 5 am. Officers clarified that PNL could be converted to Full Night Lighting (FNL) if supported by written evidence from the local Chief Inspector regarding nighttime crime or disorder. The financial implications of any increase in street lighting stock were noted, with any associated costs needing to be considered within the Council's annual medium-term financial planning. The panel noted the recommendations for Cabinet.

Update on Corporate and Operational Performance

Patrick McKenna, Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Resources, presented the Quarter 1 performance report for 2026/27, highlighting a new interactive Power BI dashboard format. The report focused on highways areas, including the number of reported potholes attended to and category one reports responded to within service level agreements. For the Fixing Hertfordshire's Roads and Buses priority, five out of seven deliverables were rated as green, with two amber, relating to the expansion of the HertsLynx bus service and the 20mph zone rollout.

Members discussed the performance targets for the Integrated Works Programme (IWP), with questions raised about whether the 85% target was too cautious given previous achievements of over 90%. Officers explained that targets were set to manage operational risks, acknowledging that some schemes might not be delivered due to unforeseen circumstances, but that the overall budget would still be spent. The potential for using AI to predict pothole occurrences was also discussed, with officers stating that while the technology is being explored, predictive capabilities are not yet fully realised. The panel noted the report and officers were asked to reflect on how to better report on delivered work versus original targets.

Executive Member Verbal Update on Highway Budget Expenditure

Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Executive Member for Highways, provided a verbal update on highway budget expenditure. He highlighted winter service preparations, including the winter self-help scheme offering free salt to councils and associations, and a £1 million investment in winter preparation works to address minor road defects. Additional investments of £520,000 for walking and cycling routes and £600,000 for priority maintenance activities, including vegetation management and drainage improvements, were also mentioned. The Concrete Road Programme had commenced in September, and progress on 20mph zone consultations was reported. Year-to-date pothole repairs showed an 18% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Motion Report: Utility Works on the Highway

A motion proposed by Councillor Matt Cowley and seconded by Councillor Vishal Patel expressed frustration with ongoing disruption from utility company works on the highway. The motion highlighted concerns about the sufficiency of national rules and suggested improvements to local processes. While the panel agreed with the principle of the motion, concerns were raised about the logistics of a large-scale Keeping Hertfordshire Moving Summit as proposed. Instead, a commitment was made to arrange a mini-summit involving MPs, key utility companies, and council representatives to discuss the issues. The motion was not put to a vote, with the agreement to proceed with the alternative approach.

Cabinet Panel Work Programme 2026/27

The panel reviewed the proposed work programme for 2026/27, noting that it was a first draft and the 2027 section was largely empty. Members requested that indicative topics be included for future meetings to provide a clearer picture of planned discussions. It was agreed that standing items, such as quarterly performance reports, would be included, and officers would populate the programme with further details and to be confirmed items. The panel noted the proposed work programme and the comments made.