To approve a programme of measures to tackle serious organised crime through closer working with the police and other partner organisations through multi agency targeted enforcement.

This will entail additional funding and better resource to more effectively regulate the increasing problem of:

"           Illicit tobacco and alcohol,

"           Criminal landlords exploiting the vulnerable.

"           Awareness raising for the disruption of organised crime and meeting the needs of vulnerable people.

The serious organised crime gangs concerned with the above activities are also likely to be involved in the 'County Lines' phenomenon, whereby drugs enter Herefordshire from the urban areas that surround it. This report therefore also seeks to raise awareness with partner agencies and the public to disrupt this organised crime and help the council meet the health & wellbeing needs of its most vulnerable people and keep them safe.   

That:

(a)               £500,000 additional one off investment in measures to tackle anti-social and serious organised crime be approved to be spent across the areas of:

·      Illicit tobacco and alcohol control – circa £240,000

·      Criminal landlord and anti-social activity – circa £240,000

·      Awareness raising for the disruption of organised crime and meeting the needs of vulnerable people – circa £20,000  

To seek approval for the relaunch of the existing Herefordshire Public Green Spaces Community Grant scheme.

The grant supports Herefordshire Council’s aim to dispose of non-strategic assets.  This small and limited fund will support Town and Parish Councils in Herefordshire to have an opportunity to demonstrate that they have the ability to maintain and enhance a green space with the view to a long term asset transfer.  The scheme supports projects that have community involvement and impact.  Where a lengthsman scheme is in place this grant will aim to provide complementary opportunity. 

That:

(a)        the public green spaces community grant scheme as detailed at appendix A be approved with a non-recurring scheme budget of £21k; and

(b)        the Director for environment and place  be authorised to determine grants in accordance with the scheme criteria and having regard to the  recommendations of the established panel

That:

(a)  To procure a replacement print contract for a period of up to five years at a maximum cost of £305,000 per annum, via Crown Commercial Services Framework RM3781; and

(b)  the Assistant Director Communities be authorised to award a contract.

To seek approval to release capital funds set aside in the approved budget for the financial year 2018/19 and undertake replacement of defective roofs over units 1 – 6 Tarsmill Court, Rotherwas via an appropriate contractor procured and appointed through the council’s competitive tendering process.

That:

(a)        replacement of defective roof over units 1 – 6 Tarsmill Court, Rotherwas  be undertaken within a budget of £400k; and

(b)        the works are procured from an appropriate contractor via open tender to ensure that best value is obtained.

To decide upon objections and consider other responses to the consultation on Council proposals to remove the goods vehicle stipulation from the loading bay on the north-west side of St Peter’s Square near the junction with Offa’s Street. Also to extend the taxi rank and loading bay facilities outside St Peter’s Church, with changes to the hours of operation.

To authorise the making and implementation of the Hereford City Centre (St Peter’s Square U80010) Order Amdt 1 2018, as per the below recommendations.

To authorise the acceptance of a successful funding application to Highways England for the installation of three rapid electric vehicle charge points at three different locations along the A49 corridor.

This funding offer comprises two parts:

1.     Up to £22,000 of revenue funding to support the feasibility, site assessment and procurement costs

2.     Followed by 100% capital funding towards the installation of three rapid electric vehicle charge points. The indicative costs of installing three rapid charge points is estimated to be in the region of £150k, but will be confirmed through the feasibility, site assessment and procurement

That:

(a)       Highways England’s grant offer of £22,000 of revenue grant for the feasibility, site assessment and procurement of three rapid electric vehicle charge points be accepted; and

(b)       the Energy & Active Travel Manager be authorise to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the project in accordance with the grant conditions.

To seek in principle approval for the following:

That the council act as the lead organisation for the improvement programme including bids for external funding.

The allocation of capital expenditure funded by prudential borrowing for a capital investment and improvement programme at the Courtyard Centre for the Arts.

.

The council is looking to support the Courtyard in seeking external funding to develop the site.  This will enable the Courtyard to be more economically stable in the long term and support the economic development of the county through tourism and culture along with contributing to the social value of the county in attracting people to work and live in Herefordshire.

The council is being asked to underwrite this support in the context of a bid being made by the Courtyard for funding to the Arts Council of England.  The recommendations will show the commitment the council has to the development scheme with a further decision on the council’s financial support to be taken in the event that Arts Council funding is approved.

That:

(a)   approval in principle be given to The Courtyard Centre for the Arts plans to expand the Courtyard building subject to the preparation of a satisfactory full business case and planning permission being secured;

(b)   the application to be made by The Courtyard Centre for the Arts to the Arts Council of England for financial support for the capital expansion project be supported and in principle agreement be given to Herefordshire Council underwriting the match funding required for the expansion project up to a maximum sum of £800,000);

(c)   it be recommended to Council that suitable provision be made within the council’s capital programme to support implementation of the above recommendation; and

(d)    the council acts as lead body on the planning application, and, subject to satisfactory business case, grant approval and planning consent as lead body for  commissioning and project management of the works.

To approve the Transport Policy for Adults and Wellbeing.

The policy is compliant with the Care Act 2014 and its associated regulations and statutory guidance. The policy is for staff and for those individuals eligible and in receipt of social care support and provides clear guidance on how the council will assess and if required provide transport support to meet the individual’s needs, taking into account a strength based approach which focusses on what they can do for themselves.

To consider and decide upon objections to Council proposals to amend the operation of On-Street Parking (OSP) in Hereford City Centre to allow a maximum stay period of 2 hours (with a £3.00 tariff), together with an extension of the scheme to include St Ethelbert Street and a number of parking places in Castle Street, with a standardised operating period. Also to consider and decide upon objections to a new Zone 2 identifier for the Castle Street, St Ethelbert Street and Cantilupe Street permit parking scheme.

To authorise the making and implementation of the On Street Parking – Hereford City Centre Order 2018, as decided upon.

That:

(a)        the making and implementation of The County of Herefordshire District Council (Hereford City Centre) (Amendment 2) Order 2018, as advertised be authorised introducing the following changes to the operation of on-street parking in Hereford City Centre:

·     to extend the maximum stay period for the pay and display parking bays to 2 hours, with an extended tariff structure (up to 30 mins - 50p, up to 1 hour - £1 and up to 2 hours - £3)

·     to extend Pay & Display parking to include St Ethelbert Street and selected parking places in Castle Street, with a standardised operating period of 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, with a continued exemption for permit holders (see plan at Appendix 2)

·     to introduce a Zone 2 identifier for the Castle Street, Cantilupe Street, St Ethelbert

·     to include a provision for the council at its discretion to suspend on-street charging for special events

(b)        A variation of the current contract with Metric Group Ltd in respect of providing an additional 4 pay and display machines for Castle Street and St Ethelbert Street be approved at a cost of no more than £14.1k.

To consider charges relating to burial and cremation for children, not exceeding eighteen years of age, in Herefordshire Council cemeteries and crematorium.

That:

(a)        All charges relating to burial and cremation for children, not exceeding eighteen years of age, are removed in Herefordshire Council cemeteries and crematorium.

To approve funding to Herefordshire Sustainable Food and Tourism Partnership (HSFTP) to undertake feasibility study on the possibility of creating a Herefordshire Destination Business Improvement District (BID).

The reasons for the recommendation are that the Herefordshire Sustainable Destination Management Plan (DMP) 2018-2022 identified developing a Destination BID for Herefordshire as a key priority. 

The Herefordshire Destination BID proposal has been identified in the DMP as a route to establish strategic governance and management and achieve financial independence for the sector and support the delivery of the DMP priorities for the county.

That:

(a)        Grant funding of up to £20k is awarded to The Brightspace Foundation on behalf of the Herefordshire Sustainable Food and Tourism Partnership to undertake a feasibility study on the possibility of creating a Herefordshire Destination Business Improvement District.

The purpose of this report is to approve the expenditure of the planned, reactive and capital maintenance budgets for 2018/19 to spend on the council’s property assets to maintain them so they are fit for purpose, compliant and their value is protected

That:

(a)        the 2018/19 planned maintenance and reactive budgets of  £2.538m respectively split as shown on appendix B,  and is spent to allow for the continuing upkeep and maintenance of the council’s 175 key property assets and also to allow the council to fulfil its obligations to carry out statutory compliance inspections as noted in appendix A and related remedial works

(b)        the 2018/19 capital maintenance budget of £1.765m is spent on a programme of prioritised projects necessary for the upkeep and continued use of council’s property assets

To agree the next phase of capital interventions to make council owned land at the Hereford Enterprise Zone (Hez) ready for investment from either private sector developers or businesses, or from direct development undertaken by the council.

The capital interventions within this phase broadly relate to the provision of new road and utility infrastructure to service plots, site ground raising to comply with flooding mitigation measures, more specific plot works when end user requirements are understood, and site wide signage and landscape works.

That:

(a)       £2.55m from the enterprise zone capital programme provision be allocated to the following infrastructure interventions at the Hereford enterprise zone:

(b)  the Economic Development Manager be authorised to take all necessary operational decisions to implement the above interventions, including the appointment of contractors following an appropriate procurement process.

To adopt and endorse the revised statutory Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWP) for 2018-2028.

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act), section 60 requires councils to prepare and publish an improvement plan for their public rights of way (ROWIP). This plan should be reassessed and reviewed not more than ten years after publication and at intervals of not less than ten years thereafter.

That:

(a)        the Rights of Way Improvement Plan for Herefordshire 2018-2028 at appendix 1 be approved.

To approve the procurement of a consultant to prepare the development of a Hereford city centre design guide supplementary planning document (“SPD”) in partnership with the NMiTE University

The production of a Hereford city centre design guide SPD (“design SPD”) will provide the basis for a comprehensive and effective approach to achieving good quality design.  The guidance, will help provide a consistent approach across the city centre and ensure the guidance is sensitive to local distinctiveness.

That:

(a)         a consultant be procured to prepare a Hereford city centre design guide supplementary planning guidance document in accordance with an agreed timetable within a total budget of £80k; and

(b)   The programme director housing and growth be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to appoint a consultant.

To approve the first quarter payments in relation to back office services provided by Hoople, pending the finalisation of the Service Level Agreement for 2018/19.

That:

(a)        Payments to Hoople for back office service provision for the period April to end of June 2018 are made in line with the terms agreed in the SLA for 2017/18 until the revised SLA for 2018/19 is approved.

To make the Kimbolton neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Kimbolton neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure.

That:

(a)        The Kimbolton neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)        The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map

To make the Yarpole Group neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Yarpole Group neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure.

That:

(a)        The Yarpole Group neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)        The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map

To undertake a preliminary business case assessment of two potential direct council commercial development projects at Hereford enterprise zone (Hez).

In this instance the direct development undertaken by the council will create new employment space for rent by businesses, this will serve to meet unmet demand for business space at Hez.  This will help to accelerate the achievement of business occupancy targets, and meet the objective of creating more and better quality jobs at Hez, thereby helping to implement an important priority project of the Herefordshire Economic Vision.

That:

(a)         a business case be developed regarding investment opportunities for the council to develop medium scale office and industrial space for rental at the Hereford Enterprise Zone; and

(b)        £35,000 be allocated from the Development and Regeneration Partnership budget to undertake the detailed work required to inform the business case preparation and for this detailed work to be undertaken by the council’s development partner.

To approve the Learning Disability Strategy 2018-2028.

That:

(a)  the executive’s response to the recommendations of the children and young peoples’ scrutiny committee at paragraph 40 be approved; and

(b)  the Learning Disability Strategy 2018-2028 (Appendix 1) be approved.