The Hertfordshire County Council Cabinet met on 23 June 2025 and agreed to market County Hall for alternative uses and endorsed the Hertfordshire Youth Justice Plan 2025-26, recommending its approval to the County Council. A decision regarding the strategic direction of Herts Living Limited was also made, but was discussed in a closed session.

Marketing of County Hall

The Cabinet agreed to market the County Hall site for alternative uses. This decision follows a previous agreement in July 2023 to relocate most County Council services to the Stevenage Campus, while retaining a democratic and civic presence at County Hall.

According to the Cabinet, there has been limited market interest in using the site for employment activities. Councillor Steve Jarvis, Leader of the Council, noted that the relocation of additional member spaces, including the council chamber, reduced the need for the County Council to retain space at County Hall. The marketing will therefore cover the entire site, including spaces currently used for member meetings.

The council estimates that running costs for County Hall are in excess of £1.0 million per year, covering security, utilities, compliance checks and insurance. While renting the building to the film and TV sector has been popular, the revenue generated does not cover the costs of maintaining the building.

The budget for marketing the site will be funded by borrowing in advance of the capital receipt from the disposal of County Hall. The council anticipates that the eventual disposal will generate a substantial capital receipt and lead to revenue savings from no longer holding the property.

Hertfordshire Youth Justice Plan 2025-26

The Cabinet endorsed the content of the Hertfordshire Youth Justice Plan 2025-26 and recommended that the County Council approve it. The County Council is expected to make a decision on the plan at its meeting on 22 July 2025.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to submit an annual youth justice plan under Section 40 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998¹. The Act also established youth offending teams (YOTs)² as multi-agency partnerships hosted by local authorities.

Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Hertfordshire County Council Executive member for Children's Social Care, noted that the Hertfordshire Youth Justice Service included two golden threads this year:

• Voice of Children, Families and Victims: This incorporates a 'child first' approach across the youth justice system and increases participation from those who receive services.
• Disproportionality and Anti-Racist Practice: This involves working in partnership to reduce disproportionality within the youth justice system, particularly for global majority groups.

Hertfordshire's Youth Justice Service is governed by the Hertfordshire Youth Justice Management Board, which provides strategic and system leadership for local youth justice services. The board includes representatives from Children's Social Care, Education, Police, Probation, Public Health, elected councillors, lay members, community partners and staff representatives.