The Cabinet of Hertfordshire Council met on Tuesday 16 September 2025, approving a refreshed Sensory Strategy and awarding a contract for public health nursing services. The meeting also included discussions on the importance of early intervention for children with sensory impairments and the ongoing provision of services for looked-after children.

Refresh of the Sensory Strategy

The Cabinet approved the refreshed Sensory Strategy, a plan designed to support individuals with sight and hearing loss across Hertfordshire. The strategy aims to align with corporate objectives of supporting those most in need and fostering inclusive communities. It was noted that Hertfordshire currently has close to 40,000 people living with sight loss, a figure predicted to rise significantly for hearing loss by 2030.

Councillor Sally Symington, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive member for Adult Care Services, highlighted the strategy's importance, stating, This is a service that's delivered by Hearts County Council to the highest standard. It's very well regarded nationally. She also acknowledged the challenges of delivering such services at scale, particularly in light of local government reorganisation.

Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, supported the strategy, emphasising the value of early intervention for children with sensory challenges. The earlier they take place, the more valuable they will be as those children go through their, particularly through their schooling, he commented.

Adrian England, Executive member for Sustainability, added his support, stressing the importance of utilising all available resources within Hertfordshire to ensure everyone can contribute to the county.

The approved strategy includes an action plan to address five key priorities and was commended for its vital role in ensuring individuals with sensory impairments remain connected to their communities.

Award of Contract for Public Health Nursing Services

The Cabinet also approved the award of a contract for the provision of public health nursing services. This complex service covers children from birth up to 19 years old, and up to 25 for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The current contract with Hearts Community Trust was nearing the end of its extension period.

A transformation programme was undertaken to modernise the service, ensuring it is affordable and meets the evolving needs of the local population, as well as aligning with national policy. Key changes include an additional school readiness check in health visiting, a redefined role for public health nursing in safeguarding, and a more robust offer for children who are missing from education or home-educated.

A competitive open tender process was conducted to identify a preferred provider. The evaluation panel included representatives from the University of Hertfordshire, the integrated care board, children's services, public health, and SEND and inclusion.

Councillor Ajanta Hilton, Executive member for Public Health and Community Safety, introduced the report, noting that a Part Two report would follow due to the sensitive nature of the information.

Councillor Anthony Rowlands raised a concern regarding the service for looked-after children, noting that while the report referenced changes to health assessments for these children, which would now be the responsibility of the Integrated Care Board (ICB), this remained a significant concern for the council as corporate parents. He stressed the importance of ensuring these young people, who often have existing health challenges, do not fall through any gaps in provision during the ICB's ongoing changes. The Cabinet acknowledged this concern, with Councillor Hilton confirming that ensuring the ICB fulfils its responsibilities would be an ongoing priority.

The meeting moved into a Part Two session to discuss the financial and business aspects of the contract award before returning to public business to formally approve the contract.