The Resources and Performance Cabinet Panel met on Tuesday 25 November 2025 to discuss the Quarter 2 Finance Budget Monitor, review the future of residual land at The Valley School, and consider performance reports for the council and its resources directorate. The panel also debated a motion regarding the future of Hertfordshire Libraries.

Quarter 2 Finance Budget Monitor

The panel reviewed the Quarter 2 Finance Budget Monitor, which indicated a forecasted revenue overspend of £6.2 million for the financial year 2025/26. This overspend is attributed to increased demand in social care services, particularly for older people's nursing and residential care, and a rise in the number of looked-after children. The report also highlighted a projected deficit of £88.5 million in the schools' High Needs funding block by the end of the financial year. Despite these pressures, the overall position was deemed manageable and within the council's £10 million contingency. The panel discussed the savings programme, noting a projected shortfall of £1.9 million, with specific risks identified in areas such as family safeguarding and third-party spend. The capital programme reported an underspend of £16 million, with a request to reprogramme £28.4 million into later years due to various project delays. The panel recommended to Cabinet the approval of the proposed capital reprogramming and a virement of £847,000 for the relocation of adult care services' day opportunities.

Future of Residual Land at The Valley School, Stevenage

The panel considered a report recommending that residual land at the former Valley School in Stevenage be declared surplus to requirements and made available for disposal. The site, which previously housed a Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) facility, is now vacant and in poor condition. Officers concluded that there is no foreseeable need for the site to deliver council services and that its disposal would generate revenue savings from holding costs and a capital receipt. The panel recommended to Cabinet that the residual land at The Valley School, Stevenage, be declared surplus to requirements and available for disposal, with disposal terms delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director for Resources, in consultation with the Executive Member for Resources and Performance.

Hertfordshire County Council Performance Monitor – Quarter 1 & 2 2025-26

Paraic McKenna, Head of Corporate Performance and Business Insight, presented the council's performance for the first and second quarters of the financial year 2025-26. The report, aligned with the new Corporate Plan 2025-28, indicated broad progress across all five of the council's priorities, though areas requiring further attention, such as SEND responsibilities, were acknowledged. The report was noted as an initial iteration, with plans to refine future reporting based on member feedback. Discussions highlighted the challenges in presenting detailed operational performance at this strategic level, with a commitment to explore more digestible reporting formats.

Hertfordshire County Council Resources Performance Monitor – Quarter 1 2025-26

This report provided a detailed performance overview of the Resources Directorate for the first quarter of 2025-26. Key indicators were discussed, including HR metrics such as voluntary turnover and sickness absence, which remained stable. Property performance showed progress in capital receipts, with several sales anticipated to complete by year-end. Libraries reported strong engagement figures, despite some operational challenges. Technology and Transformation initiatives were highlighted, including AI pilots and process automation. Legal and Governance reported on complaint volumes and Subject Access Request (SAR) timescales, noting improvements in SAR performance. Employee health and safety incidents were broadly in line with historical averages, with a focus on school-related incidents and a heightened awareness of reporting. The panel engaged in a detailed discussion about the comprehensiveness of the performance indicators, with a commitment from officers to review and potentially adapt them based on member feedback.

Hertfordshire Libraries Motion

The panel considered a motion proposed by Councillor Richard Roberts and seconded by Councillor Alexander Curtis, which reaffirmed the council's commitment to protecting Hertfordshire's libraries from closure and supporting future investment. The motion celebrated the centenary of Hertfordshire Libraries and highlighted their value as community hubs offering a wide range of services beyond books, including digital access, literacy support, and activities for all ages. Danielle Bailey, Director of Corporate Strategy and Engagement, responded positively to the motion, emphasizing the thriving nature of the library service and its accessibility. The panel discussed the importance of libraries as community assets and the potential for a deeper dive into the library service's performance in future meetings. The motion was noted, with no specific recommendations made by the panel in relation to it.

The meeting also included the confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting and noted the absence of public petitions. The panel recommended to Cabinet the approval of the capital reprogramming of £28.4 million and a virement of £847,000 for adult care services. They also recommended to Cabinet that the residual land at The Valley School, Stevenage, be declared surplus to requirements and available for disposal. The panel noted the council's performance reports for Q1 and Q2 2025-26 and the Resources Directorate's Q1 performance. Finally, the panel considered the motion regarding Hertfordshire Libraries, acknowledging its importance and the ongoing commitment to the service.