To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Carwardine, Clare Davies, Dykes, Engel, Kenyon, Oliver, Taylor and Allan Williams.

Councillor David Hitchiner declared an interest as a local resident to the proposed bypass. Councillor Hitchiner outlined the dispensation he had been granted to speak and take part in all meetings that discuss the matter.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 July 2026.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 July be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the Chairman and Chief Executive’s announcements.

Council noted the Chairman’s and Chief Executive’s announcements as printed in the agenda papers.

To receive questions from members of the public.

A copy of the public questions and written answers, together with supplementary questions asked at the meeting and their answers, is attached to the Minutes at Appendix 1.

To receive any written questions from members of the Council.

A copy of the Member questions and written answers, together with supplementary questions asked at the meeting and their answers, is attached to the Minutes at Appendix 2.

To propose amendments to the constitution. 

Council considered a report which proposed amendments to the Council’s constitution.

The Chairman of the Council introduced the item and moved the recommendations in the report.

The Chairperson of the Audit and Governance committee seconded the recommendations in the report.

Council debated the report and significant concern was raised regarding the loss of decision making power at the local level resulting from recent Government reforms to the planning system.

The recommendations in the report were put to the vote and were carried by a simple majority.

RESOLVED –

a. That Council notes the requirements to change the terms of the Planning and Regulatory Committee in response to regulations implementing a National Scheme of Delegation of Planning Functions (‘National Scheme of Delegation’)

b. That Council approves changes in the Constitution effective on 31 October 2026:

i.               in Appendix 1 to reduce the number of councillors on the Planning and Regulatory Committee from 15 to 13; and

ii.              in Appendix 2, 3 and 4 to make amendments to comply with the National Scheme of Delegation and Statutory Guidance and to permit pre-committee technical briefings.

To receive a report from the leader on the activities of the executive (cabinet) since the meeting of Council on 24 July 2026.

The Leader presented his report on the activities of Cabinet since the meeting of Council in July 2026. Council questioned the Leader and the following actions were raised:

• In response to a question concerning the delivery of social rented housing, there was a commitment to provide the specific figures for the number of social rent dwellings delivered and the current level of need for social rented properties in the county.
• In response to a question concerning the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, there was a commitment for group leaders to write jointly to express concerns about the way the scheme had been handled and the impact on the farming sector.
• In response to a question concerning the new adult social care framework, there was a commitment to provide a response regarding how the framework will collect qualitative and quantitative data to predict future demand.
• In response to a question concerning the Independent Advocacy Service procurement, there was a commitment to obtain assurance that strengthened monitoring arrangements would be included and how the commissioning process would include young people and the wider community.
• In response to a question concerning traffic management arrangements at the Burcott Road railway bridge, there was a commitment to discuss the highway safety concerns raised following the meeting.
• In response to a question concerning the Ledbury Safer Routes to School scheme, there was a commitment to ensure ward members and Ledbury Town Council are updated on the scheme and its timescales as soon as possible.
• In response to a question concerning safety improvements at the Salway Arms junction, there was a commitment to ask the relevant Cabinet Member to press National Highways for a meeting regarding safety measures at the junction.
• In response to a question, a written response would be provided regarding the impacts of the construction of Phase 1 of the bypass on the Bridge Sollars road.

·       In response to a question regarding projects in Hereford to address congestion an update would be provided to all members with details of those initiatives contained in the Local Trasport Plan.

• In response to a question concerning the Western Bypass Phase 1 project, there was a commitment to circulate to all councillors a link to the Cabinet report and recommendations approved on 24 September.
• In response to a question concerning environmental priorities, there was a commitment to consider the development of a plan (similar to the Big Economic Plan) addressing environmental challenges alongside existing strategic plans.
• In response to a question from concerning the Big Economic Plan, there was a commitment to explore how members could receive updates on progress against the plan’s objectives.
• In response to a question concerning the council’s asset review, there was a commitment to provide members with an update once the review of assets has been completed.
• In response to a question concerning the cross-party housing working group, there was a commitment to convene a meeting as soon as practicable and provide an update on partnership opportunities to deliver social and affordable housing.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

To consider Notices of Motion.

Motion – Evening Meetings

Councillor Hitchiner proposed and introduced the motion.

Councillor Crockett seconded the motion.

Councillor Hurcomb proposed an amendment to the motion as below:

Statutory Council meetings to which the public have access are held during the normal working day. This limits the ability of members of the public who are in full time employment to attend in person. It is also a discouragement for members of the public who may consider standing for election as they must take time off from their work to attend these meetings.

During the previous administration some Cabinet meetings were held outside Hereford (in Leominster and Ewyas Harold) and on one occasion in the evening. This was discontinued because Covid made it so difficult and it does indicate that making such arrangements is practical.

This motion is intended to be one small step towards opening up meetings to more members of the public and enable younger councillors to come forward for election. This notice of motion proposes that:

The Executive be asked to consider how practical, and review the cost implications, of holding statutory Council meetings (including Full Council, Cabinet and Scrutiny* meetings) in the evenings and also in Market Towns and report back to Full Council.

In broad terms the request is that one or two Full Council meetings each year should be held in the evenings and the times and locations of Cabinet meetings shall ensure that at least one third are held at locations other than Hereford (but in Herefordshire) and at least one third are held in the evening.

The times and locations of all meetings of the Planning and Regulatory Committee, Scrutiny Committees and the Audit and Governance Committee be considered by each Committee.

* text in bold – additional text in the amendment to the original motion

Councillor Rob Williams seconded the amendment.

Council debated the amendment for which there was wide support. The proposer and seconder of the original motion provided consent for its alteration in line with the amendment proposed above. Council signified its consent for the alteration.

The motion, as altered above, was put to the vote and was carried by a simple majority.

RESOLVED – that:

Statutory Council meetings to which the public have access are held during the normal working day. This limits the ability of members of the public who are in full time employment to attend in person. It is also a discouragement for members of the public who may consider standing for election as they must take time off from their work to attend these meetings.

During the previous administration some Cabinet meetings were held outside Hereford (in Leominster and Ewyas Harold) and on one occasion in the evening. This was discontinued because Covid made it so difficult and it does indicate that making such arrangements is practical.

This motion is intended to be one small step towards opening up meetings to more members of the public and enable younger councillors to come forward for election. This notice  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.