Corporate Plan

On your side

Hertfordshire County Council 2025–28

We want to create a county where every resident thrives and achieves their aspirations.

Where economic growth, innovation and industry are supported, and our environment is protected for future generations.

We want to be a council that Hertfordshire’s people recognise as being on their side.

I am very proud to introduce our new Corporate Plan, which sets out a bold and ambitious vision for Hertfordshire:

Building a sustainable, inclusive and thriving Hertfordshire.

This plan is more than a statement of intent – it is a reflection of our commitment to the people of Hertfordshire. We want every resident to thrive, to feel supported, and to have the opportunity to achieve their aspirations.

Read on...

Whether it’s through driving economic growth and innovation, protecting our natural environment, or ensuring that every child grows up in a safe and nurturing community, we are focused on delivering a real and lasting positive impact.

We are determined to be a council that Hertfordshire’s people recognise as being on their side – responsive, compassionate, and forward thinking. Our work will be guided by the values of inclusion, sustainability, and collaboration. We will continue to listen to and work with our communities to shape a county that works for everyone.

At the heart of this plan is our commitment to children and young people. We believe that every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential. We will do everything we can to ensure they grow up in environments that are safe, supportive, and rich with opportunity.

Together with our partners and residents, we will build a future that is fairer, greener, and more prosperous. I look forward to working with you all as we bring this vision to life.

Steve Jarvis
Leader of Hertfordshire County Council

We are committed to:

Hertfordshire County Council strives to do a good job – delivering hundreds of services that benefit our residents, businesses and local communities. This plan doesn't seek to cover everything we do but highlights areas we'll be prioritising over the next few years.

Helping all children and young people to thrive and achieve their potential

We want to support our children and young people to feel happy, healthy and safe at home, in school and their communities. We want them to feel they belong, whoever they may be, ensuring every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential and grow up in a safe, supportive, nurturing environment.

Our objectives

Help children get the best start in life and achieve their potential.

Improve early health, family support and early education so that all children thrive and are ready to learn.
Support inclusive learning and high aspirations for all children and address barriers to attendance or progress, particularly for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Engage with children, young people, families and educators so that we understand their needs, whilst keeping young people at the heart of our decision making.

Keep children safe and help families to stay together.

Deliver early family help so that children are safe at home and in their neighbourhoods.
Support families through adversity and help them address mental health concerns and family conflict, including domestic abuse.

Make sure children in care and care leavers have stable homes and feel supported by family networks.

Support children in care to live in safe, caring homes close to people they know.
Support children looked after and care leavers to flourish into adulthood and achieve their aspirations.

Fixing Hertfordshire’s roads and buses

We want to create a safe, efficient and sustainable transport network that meets the needs of all Hertfordshire residents. We'll address congestion, improve road safety and enhance sustainable transport options.

Our objectives

Enhance transport services.

Promote the use of public transport through awareness campaigns and incentives.
Expand our on-demand transport offer and explore opportunities for a franchised bus system to deliver a more reliable and integrated network across Hertfordshire.
Invest in active travel, supporting cycling and walking networks to provide safe and convenient transport options that enhance health and wellbeing.
Invest in highway safety measures, such as the rollout of 20mph schemes and school safety zones.

Improve road infrastructure.

Conduct comprehensive assessments of road conditions to prioritise improvements, maximising the use of technology and exploring innovative ways to complete repairs and upgrades as widely and as quickly as possible.
Deliver resurfacing and maintenance projects to keep Hertfordshire moving.

Engage with our communities.

Provide transparent and timely updates on highway works, public transport changes and infrastructure projects.
Encourage feedback and suggestions from the community to ensure that transport solutions meet local needs.

Growing a more sustainable Hertfordshire

We want to be a leader in sustainability – a county where natural resources are spared, renewed and reused. Where innovation and energy is recirculated. Where economic growth is targeted at improving local people’s lives. This will go hand in hand with environmental stewardship to create a prospering, resilient and green community for future generations.

Our objectives

Promote green infrastructure and protect the environment.

Invest in renewable energy projects to reduce carbon emissions, supporting our clean air ambitions and promote energy independence.
Enhance green spaces and biodiversity, working with partners to develop community spaces and nature reserves.
Encourage developers and local businesses to adopt sustainable practices through incentives and support programmes.
Enable and support reductions in household waste and an increase in reuse and recycling.
Support the transition to electric and low-emission vehicles.

Shape growth that supports our economy, residents and communities.

Nurture and develop new opportunities to drive economic growth across the county by supporting innovation, business development and employment.
Work to include the necessary infrastructure where new housing developments are being proposed.

Encourage sustainable transport.

Expand and improve public transport options to provide reliable and affordable alternatives to the car, reducing reliance on private vehicles.
Invest in infrastructure to enable people to walk, wheel and cycle for more journeys. Encourage them to do so by promoting active and sustainable travel.

Engage and inspire our communities.

Raise awareness about the importance of sustainability through community outreach and involvement in sustainability initiatives.
Involve residents in sustainability decision-making processes.
Celebrate and recognise the contributions of individuals and organisations to environmental sustainability.

Supporting those most in need

We aim to create a compassionate and inclusive Hertfordshire where every resident has access to the support and services they need to lead a safe, fulfilling, healthy and dignified life.

Our objectives

Enhance social care and support services.

Facilitate joined-up preventative and personalised services that support residents at the earliest point reducing future need.
Develop additional social care accommodation to meet future need.
Improve access to, and quality of, information and advice so that people can communicate with us in a way that works for them.
Maximise the use of technological solutions to assist people to live independently for as long as possible.

Ensure the right support at the right time is provided to all residents.

Improve access to mental health services and support for those experiencing emotional and psychological challenges.
Improve support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls.
Help carers to sustain their caring roles, listening to them so they feel respected, supported and heard.
Support people to eat healthily, be physically active and to live a safe, healthy and fulfilling life into older age.
Reduce health inequalities.

Improve access to education and employment.

Provide educational support and resources for adults facing barriers to learning.
Develop practical training and employment programmes to help residents gain skills and secure stable employment.
Partner with local businesses to create job opportunities and support workforce development.

Enable community support networks.

Promote volunteering and community engagement to build a strong network of support for those in need.
Facilitate collaboration between public, private and voluntary sectors to enhance service delivery.

Delivering more

We will strive to be a responsive, transparent and efficient council that delivers high-quality services, fosters community trust and continuously improves to meet the evolving needs of our residents.

Our objectives

Enhance operational efficiency.

Implement digital solutions to enhance efficiency and accessibility of council services.
Optimise how our property assets and resources are used to ensure the best use of public funds.
Maximise relationships and contracts with partners and suppliers to encourage opportunities for innovation and sharing good practice.
Foster a culture of openness by providing clear and accessible information about council decisions and operations.

Invest in workforce development.

Provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities for council staff.
Create a supportive and inclusive work environment that supports health and wellbeing and encourages innovation and excellence.

Improve customer service.

Enhance the responsiveness and quality of customer service across all departments, fostering a “can-do” culture.
Implement user-friendly systems for residents to access services and provide feedback.
Regularly review and improve customer service standards based on resident feedback.

How we'll measure our progress

We are committed to transparently monitoring and sharing our progress against the priorities outlined in this plan with our residents, businesses, and communities.

Updates will be published quarterly on www.hertfordshire.gov.uk, ensuring everyone stays informed and engaged.

If you have any feedback or would like to get in touch, please do contact us.

On Your Side: Hertfordshire County Council 2025–28 (PDF, 9MB)

What is the Corporate Plan? – Easy Read (PDF, 391KB)

Corporate Plan

On your side

Hertfordshire County Council 2025–28

We are committed to:

Fixing Hertfordshire’s roads and buses

Our objectives

Supporting those most in need

Our objectives

How we'll measure our progress

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