Miriam Swainston

Health Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 1 July 2025 10.00 am

The Hertfordshire Health Scrutiny Committee convened to discuss patient experiences across Hertfordshire, with a focus on GP practices. The committee heard evidence from the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (HWE ICB) and agreed to a series of recommendations including improvements to digital inclusion, clarification of structural changes to the ICB, improvements to patient record interoperability, and improvements to the complaints process. The committee also requested an overview of NHS services in Hertfordshire and sought clarification on the role of carer champions.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 25 June 2025 10.00 am

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Hertfordshire Council met on Wednesday 25 June 2025 to discuss permanent exclusions in Hertfordshire schools, workforce recruitment and retention, and the scrutiny work programme for 2025-26. The committee noted the report on permanent exclusions and requested additional data. They also endorsed the workforce recruitment and retention overview, and approved the scrutiny work programme for the upcoming year with agreed amendments.

Children's Social Care Cabinet Panel - Tuesday, 17 June 2025 2.00 pm

The Children's Social Care Cabinet Panel met to discuss education, employment and training outcomes for care leavers, and to endorse the Hertfordshire Youth Justice Plan 2025-26 for recommendation to the cabinet and full council. The panel noted a report on improving education, training and employment outcomes for care leavers, and endorsed the Hertfordshire Youth Justice Plan 2025-26 for recommendation to the cabinet and full council.

Health Scrutiny Committee - Friday, 13 June 2025 10.00 am

The Hertfordshire Health Scrutiny Committee met on Friday 13 June 2025, and agreed that Councillor Dee Hart would continue as chair of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC). The committee also discussed a Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) update, and agreed the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2025-26.

Education, SEND & Inclusion Cabinet Panel - Friday, 6 June 2025 2.00 pm

The Education, SEND & Inclusion Cabinet Panel met to discuss SEND and inclusion performance for the fourth quarter of 2024/25. Councillor Mark Watkin, Executive member for Education, SEND and Inclusion, welcomed new panel members and Dame Christine Lenahan, Independent Chair of the SEND Executive. The panel reviewed key performance indicators and discussed strategies for improvement, particularly around timeliness of assessments, quality of education, health and care plans (EHCPs), and support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).