Hertfordshire County Council publishes latest Annual Report

Published: 08 Nov 2024

Hertfordshire County Council has today published the latest Annual Report, providing an insight for residents and businesses into the range of services that the county council delivers.

The report provides an overview of some of the key services and projects over the 2023/24 financial year from social care and schools to highways, fire and rescue, libraries to environmental management.

Highlights from the report include:

• An estimated 1.6 million visitors to Hertfordshire's recycling centres
• A new recycling centre was opened in Welwyn Garden City in May 2023
• Over 115,000 trees and 4.25 kilometres of hedgerows were planted
• Nearly 16,000 residents accessed Health Hubs
• Hertfordshire Fire Service carried out nearly 10,000 safe and well visits
• 38,700 children with special educational needs and disabilities were supported
• £91m was spent on new school buildings and modifications
• The council's carbon footprint continues to reduce and it is estimated to have fallen 27 per cent since 2019
• 80,501 households were supported via the Household Support Fund
• 2.7 million people visited Hertfordshire libraries
• 47,000 adults were supported via adult social care services

Like every other council across the country, the council faced many challenges over the period and financial pressures continue to dominate thinking as the council started an organisational transformation programme to make itself as efficient as possible for the future.

Councillor Bob Deering, Cabinet Member for Resources & Performance, said:

"Despite the backdrop of substantial financial pressure on local government financing, I am very pleased to say that because of our prudent planning we have been able to deliver a balanced budget in 2023/24 while maintaining the excellent services we deliver to the people and businesses of Hertfordshire.

"By working with partners where we can, driving innovation in thinking to tackle emerging issues and the careful allocation of resources we continue to offer opportunities for all residents of our great county to thrive and prosper."

To read the full annual report, please visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/annualreport