Hertfordshire County Council

Hertfordshire County Council, the county's local authority

Hertfordshire County Council is the local government body for the county of Hertfordshire. Its own presentation states that it delivers hundreds of services to roughly 1.2 million residents, covering education, social care, transport infrastructure, waste management, libraries and public health, among other areas.

The council frames its role around the trust residents place in it to make Hertfordshire "a great place to live and work". Its current corporate plan, titled On Your Side, sets out what the council describes as a vision for a sustainable, inclusive and thriving county, with the stated aim that every resident can feel supported and pursue their aspirations.

Schools, families and young people

Education is one of the largest areas of activity listed. The council handles school admissions, publishes a school directory and term dates, and provides information on free school meals and travel to school, including the SaverCard scheme. It also offers childcare advice for parents and a Local Offer covering special educational needs.

Services for young people include employment support and Step2Skills, described as adult and family learning. Children's social care covers fostering, child protection, adoption, care leavers and children in care, alongside the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board and family services.

Adult social care and health

Adult social services include transport for older people and disabled people, the Blue Badge scheme, arranging and paying for care, and a route to report a concern about an adult. The council also publishes leaflets and factsheets, money advice and support to get a job, and disability day services and activities.

Specific provision is listed for dementia, autism, mental health and acquired brain injury, with HertsHelp as a named point of access. Under Health in Herts, the council addresses stop smoking support, wellbeing and mental health, gambling support, healthy weight, physical activity, drugs and alcohol support and healthy places.

Highways, waste and the environment

The highways remit covers roadworks and closures, reporting faults such as street lights, potholes or other defects, dropped kerbs, speed awareness and driver training, public transport, and transport and accident data. Business and developer information, including licences, sits in the same area.

On the environmental side, the council lists recycling and waste, planning, a countryside management service, and work on sustainability and climate change. Featured news at the time of writing included a £1m road repair programme intended to prevent winter potholes and a case in which a rogue trader was ordered to repay a victim after unsafe work left a roof at risk of collapse.

Libraries, archives and cultural services

Library jobs and volunteering are advertised within the same section.

Births, deaths, marriages and citizenship

Registration services include how to register a birth, civil partnerships, register offices, births, deaths, copy certificates, citizenship and change of name deed. Fire and rescue is a separate service area, with information on jobs in fire and rescue, a home fire safety self-check and visits, fire station locations, and strategies, plans and reports.

Business, governance and public information

For organisations, the council covers the Shared Anti-Fraud Service, doing business with the council, services for businesses, charities and other public bodies, licences, consumer advice, business advice and the Hertfordshire Directory. Governance information includes how the council works, councillors and council meetings, webcasts of meetings, elections, Council Tax, news, freedom of information and council data, consultations and volunteering.

The site also provides tools for locating a county councillor, the nearest library or nearby roadworks by postcode, and channels to complain, compliment or comment about services. The council states that it operates with care and compassion in delivering its services.