The Cabinet of Hertfordshire County Council met on Wednesday 14 October 2026, agreeing to commit the council to joining the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network and working towards recognition as a Council of Sanctuary. The meeting also approved updated guides for the town planning process and endorsed changes to the street lighting policy.

Council of Sanctuary Status

Hertfordshire County Council has officially committed to joining the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network and will work towards achieving recognition as a Council of Sanctuary. This decision was made following a motion supported by the Public Health & Community Safety Cabinet Panel. Councillor Ajanta Hilton, Executive Member for Public Health and Community Safety, emphasised that this status does not alter national immigration policy or create new legal obligations for the council, but rather signifies a commitment to treating people seeking sanctuary with dignity and compassion. The accreditation fee is £2,700, and existing council work, funded by the Home Office, already supports asylum seekers and refugees. Councillor Paul Zukowskyj, Executive Member for Environment, Transport and Growth, spoke movingly about his personal experience as the son of a refugee, highlighting the positive contributions refugees make to society. Councillor Hillary Skoczylas, Executive Member for Children & Families, also shared her family's history of fleeing persecution, underscoring the importance of compassion and the impact of words used when discussing these issues. The Cabinet unanimously agreed to the proposal, with Leader of the Council, Councillor Steve Jarvis, commending the powerful speeches made during the debate.

Adoption of Updated HCC Guides for Town Planning

The Cabinet endorsed revised guides that will inform Hertfordshire County Council's engagement in the town planning process. These include the Local Plans Engagement Document, the Service Provision and Place-making Guide, and the Guide to Developer Infrastructure Contributions. Councillor Paul Zukowskyj, Executive Member for Environment, Transport and Growth, explained that these updated guides outline how the County Council will manage planning aspects, including engagement with local planning authorities, developer expectations for new developments, and the process for securing Section 106 and Section 278 agreements. Minor updates to these guides will be made under delegated authority.

Street Lighting Policy Review

A review of Hertfordshire County Council's street lighting policy concluded that the current arrangements are effective in meeting safety, accessibility, environmental, and affordability goals. The Cabinet agreed to a minor change in the policy, allowing Members to use their Highway Locality Budget (HLB) to fund additional lighting. This is subject to a cap on the overall growth of street lighting stock. Additionally, Members will be able to request the removal of specific lighting columns, subject to technical assessment and ensuring that lux levels are not compromised in terms of pedestrian or road safety. Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst OBE, Executive Member for Highways, highlighted that the policy has successfully reduced carbon emissions and costs while maintaining safety standards. Councillor Sally Symington welcomed the flexibility, noting its potential to address lighting needs in areas like Tring Division.

Quarter 1 Finance Budget Monitor 2026/27

Hertfordshire County Council is forecasting a revenue overspend of £23.4 million at Quarter 1, primarily driven by increased demand and complexity in Children's Services and Adult Care Services. Councillor Chris Lucas, Executive Member for Resources and Performance, stated that this overspend represents 1.5% of the total budget and is within tolerable levels. Recovery measures are being implemented to restore financial sustainability. Councillor Hillary Skoczylas, Executive Member for Children & Families, provided context on the pressures within children's services, particularly concerning looked-after children, attributing the increase to factors like domestic abuse, parental ill-health, and neglect. Councillor Sally Symington, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Adult Care Services, highlighted similar demand pressures in adult care, compounded by a reduction in full-cost payers. The Cabinet approved the capital reprogramming of £13.8 million and endorsed the allocation of cross-cutting workforce and third-party expenditure savings to departments, to be managed through departmental recovery plans.

Quarter 1 Performance Monitor

Corporate performance across Hertfordshire County Council remained strong in Quarter 1, with most key performance indicators meeting targets. Councillor Chris Lucas, Executive Member for Resources and Performance, reported notable improvements in customer satisfaction and service responsiveness, as well as progress on key transformation projects. Highlights include the successful implementation of family hubs in Stevenage and Watford, the mobilisation of a new health visiting and school nursing service, strong pothole and road remediation rates at 98%, and an improved Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) completion rate of 97% within the 20-week timescale. The Cabinet approved the metrics and approach outlined in the report and noted that detailed performance discussions occur at individual service Cabinet Panels.