To receive a report from the Leader on the activities of the executive (cabinet) since the meeting of Council on 13 October.

Councillor AW Johnson as the outgoing Leader presented his report on the activities of the cabinet since the meeting of full council on 13 October 2017. Councillor Johnson explained to members that this was the last report he would present and that the Council was in a strong position and all members had accomplished remarkable success.

Questions were invited to the Leader which included those issues raised below:

·         The call-in of the charity shop waste decision was a good example of work with the voluntary sector. It was a good example of assisting charities to receive more donations and reduce the amount of waste the county was required to handle. Councillor Johnson acknowledged that the report should have included mention of the third sector.

·         It was requested that in future the Leader’s report more clearly identify those decisions which were taken under the general exception procedure. The Leader confirmed that this would occur.

·         The timing of the conclusion of the fairing funding consultation and the limited time that group leaders had available to comment was raised. It was felt that this was distinct from the LGA consultation and that detail had been shared with group leaders too late to provide a meaningful all-member representation. Councillor Johnson explained there were two requests; the fairer funding consultation had been received in December 2017 but the LGA request had only been received at the end of February which had necessitated its late circulation to group leaders very close to the deadline for responses.

·         It was queried when data would be available for an assessment of the effectiveness of the city link road in reducing congestion in Hereford. The use of traffic lights along the road was questioned and it was requested that roundabouts should be considered before any more traffic lights were introduced. It was contended that data did exist which the council could consider. Councillor Johnson explained that the city link road was part of a package of measures. Once complete the benefit of the city link road would be clearly seen. The cabinet member for infrastructure explained that data from the city link road could not be assessed until data modelling from the Hereford Transport package and the bypass had been completed. 

·         The potential loss of restaurants from the Old Market development was raised and whether there was a waiting list of restaurants waiting for space. The cabinet member economy and communications confirmed that there was a waiting list with restaurants waiting for space in the site.

·         The energy from waste plant was raised and it was queried how much plastic recyclate was currently being sent to the incinerator. It was confirmed that currently no sorted plastics were being incinerated as there was a good market for the product. The cabinet member contracts and assets confirmed that a written response would be provided.

·         The proposed changes from central government to the national planning policy framework were raised and the impact on neighbourhood plans. The cabinet member infrastructure explained that the council, which had adopted its core strategy, and local parish councils who had produced a neighbourhood plan were in a good position.

·         It was acknowledged that good work had been completed with Worcester County Council to achieve savings but concern was expressed that the council had taken on significant levels of debt and sold a lot of assets which would result in high interest rates on loans in the future.

RESOLVED: That the report is noted.