The Public Health and Community Safety Cabinet Panel met to discuss updates on policing, sexual health, public health investments, and fire and rescue services in Hertfordshire. The panel noted reports on improvements in crime recording and solving, and heard about initiatives to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour in town centres. Members also discussed sexual and reproductive health services, a new public health prevention investment programme, and progress in the fire and rescue service.

Police and Crime Panel Update

Councillor Matt Fisher, the Council's representative on the Police and Crime Panel (PCP), presented an update on the panel's work, highlighting improvements in crime recording accuracy, call handling times, and solving more crimes. Hertfordshire Constabulary has seen crime recording accuracy rise from 82.6% to 92.6%. Call handling has also improved, with the national target of 90% answered within 10 seconds achieved for the first time in Hertfordshire.

Operation Hotspot, which aims to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour in town centres, has resulted in 16,000 hours of additional foot patrols, 225 arrests, and a reduction in personal robbery by about 50%. The panel also discussed the Safer Towns initiative, which aims to make town centres safer and more attractive. The initiative has three core aims: tackle crime and antisocial behaviour, restore community confidence by improving visibility of enforcement and problem solving activity, and strengthen partnership working across police, councils, businesses and community organisations to prevent the crime and promote safer public spaces.

Concerns were raised about firearms licensing, which is currently underperforming, and waste crime enforcement, particularly fly-tipping on private land. Councillor Fisher noted that two Hertfordshire local authorities no longer investigate fly tipping on private land, leaving a significant gap in enforcement.

The panel also discussed the impact of the Criminal Justice and Sentencing Bill, which is expected to increase crime by 6%. Councillor Fisher said that Jonathan expressed significant concern over the bill.

Councillor Fisher agreed to take back a question about when rural areas of Hertfordshire would get their fair share of extra Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

Sexual and Reproductive Health Update

The panel received an update on sexual and reproductive health services in Hertfordshire, with Rob Bacon, Strategic Lead: Sexual Health, highlighting the importance of these services in protecting public health and reducing health inequalities. The council commissions Central London Community Health Care Trust (CLCH) to provide specialist integrated sexual health services, including free testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and free access to contraception. The council also funds general practices to provide Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) to women.

Mr Bacon noted that numbers of people diagnosed with HIV are low in Hertfordshire compared to the England average, but there are concerns around late diagnosis. From January 2026, NHS England will implement the third wave of HIV testing in emergency departments, offering opt-out testing to all patients.

The panel discussed the Hertfordshire Teenage Pregnancy Strategy 2022 2025, which is being updated. Councillor Dr Ben Crystall asked what was causing the slight increase in pregnancies. Mr Bacon said that one of the key causes that they think is a particular concern is misinformation around contraception, especially hormonal contraception, on social media.

Councillor Dr Allison Wren asked about community pharmacy and gaps in service. Mr Bacon said that in relation to contraception, this is a new service that's just transferred over on the 29th of October from the local authority to NHS England to now fund and a majority of pharmacists are signed up to provide contraception and emergency contraception services.

Public Health Prevention Investment Programme

The panel received an overview of the Public Health Prevention Investment Programme (PHIP) from David Conrad, Deputy Director of Public Health and Director of Evidence & Intelligence, which allocates money from the Public Health Grant to local initiatives that improve health and wellbeing. The PHIP was launched in March 2025 and focuses on three themes: ageing well, healthy weight, and supporting people with ill-health back to work.

Four projects were approved for funding:

• Live Longer Better in an Age Friendly Hertfordshire, led by Age UK Hertfordshire, aims to create more age-friendly environments and stronger social connections.
• A Musculoskeletal (MSK) Rehabilitation Pathway, led by the University of Hertfordshire, will support adults with MSK-related pain to improve their health and regain employment.
• Work Well 4 Health, led by Herts Urgent Care, provides residents facing health-related employment barriers with a flexible, personalised support programme.
• Nourish Hertfordshire, led by School Food Matters, is a programme of school food transformation in 40 of Hertfordshire's most deprived schools.

Councillor Dr Beth Kelly asked if the £900,000 for Nourish Hertfordshire was going to an external caterer. Dr Sarah Perman said that the funding isn't going to any catering organisation as such, but the intention is to work very closely with HCL, who are the main contractor for food in schools in Hertfordshire.

Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service CRMP Delivery Plan Progress Report 2024-25

The panel received a report on the performance of Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service (HFRS) against the 2025/26 Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) delivery plan. Mark Barber, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, reported that 44% of the projects started had been completed, and that work had already started on the 26/27 CRMP Delivery Plan with some projects expected to be carried over.

Councillor Morris Bright MBE noted that the project on station refurbishments is showing red, and said that the commitments made to improving the stations needs to continue because it's for the staff. Mr Barber said that they are trying to make it as much of a priority as they can with the help of the team.

Mr Barber also highlighted the introduction of the HFRS Staff Shadow Board, made up of 15 members of staff from across the service, which provides a different perspective on service decisions.

HMICFRS Inspection Report and Action Plan

The panel received an update on HFRS's progress in addressing the recommendations from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service's (HMICFRS) inspection report. Mr Barber reported that 12 of the 19 areas for improvement are either complete or on track to be completed by the time of the next inspection. One area, linked to the work on the estates programme, is indicated as at risk.

Mr Barber noted that the next inspection is expected in autumn 2026, giving the service 18 months to deliver improvements and embed cultural change. He also drew attention to the financial implications in the report, noting that the recommendation concerning the condition of fire stations is dependent on maintaining the station refurbishment programme.

Fire Protection Update

The panel received a fire protection update from Kevin Gutherson, and Andy Butler, with a report on the work of the Business Fire Safety Team. The team regulates the built environment to protect life, property, and the environment from fire. They deliver a risk-based inspection and enforcement regime for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings to ensure compliance with statutory requirements.

Following the tragedy that occurred at Grenfell Tower, there have been significant changes to the way the Business Fire Safety Team enforce legislation in relation to High-Rise Residential Buildings (HRRB). There are currently 100 buildings within Hertfordshire designated as HRRB.

In 2024, the team reached out to local smaller and harder to reach businesses to better understand awareness of the services offered and preferred methods of obtaining fire safety information, and decided to externally rebrand the work of the team to better reflect its activity and services, from the recognised business area 'Fire Protection' to 'Business Fire Safety'.

Councillor John Hale asked how many of the 100 high-rise buildings have combustion materials on the outside. Mr Gutherson said that he couldn't tell him the exact number, but that he can email it to him.

Councillor Peter Colley asked about homes in multiple occupation (HMOs). Mr Gutherson said that they have a service level agreement with the other local authorities across the county working together with their housing teams to manage fire safety in homes in multiple occupation.