To approve the annual  childcare sufficiency report for 2019-2020.  This report sets out key data about childcare provision in Herefordshire and areas for future development in the context of changing national policy and requirements, and local demography.  It provides a strategic overview within which the council, schools, and private and voluntary providers can develop services for the benefit of children and their parents.

That

the childcare sufficiency report and actions for 2019-2020 be approved.

To approve proposals for the delivery of children’s centre services for the Bromyard area from October 2018.

Services are currently provided by an external provider under contract, which is due to end on 30 September 2018.

There are differences in the way that resources are allocated across the county. There is also some variation in performance against key children centre service objectives.  It is intended to procure a new service on a tapered funding basis that will align the resources allocated for the Bromyard area to those elsewhere by March 2021, which will be linked to improving performance within a strategic management approach involving all children’s centre services across Herefordshire.

That:

(a)        resources for the provision of children’s centre services in the Bromyard area be tapered to align with other parts of Herefordshire, based upon the population of 0-5 year olds, reducing from £65k in 2018/19 to £25k per year by March 2021

(b)        a procurement exercise be  undertaken to secure a provider for the service with effect from 1 October 2018 (or a soon as possible thereafter) to 31 March 2021;

(c)        the Director for Children’s Wellbeing be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendations; and

(d)      Contingency is made of £20,000 to support potential costs of service redesign during the contract period.

To approve works to enable the establishment of parking charges on a pay and display basis to make the management of Kerne Bridge car park and picnic site sustainable in the longer term as part of the freehold community asset transfer of this site to Walford Parish Council.

That:

a)     a car park ticket machine and associated signage be installed by the Council at the Kerne Bridge car park and canoe launch site at a cost of £3k.

To approve a four month trial of smart phone technology for use by up to ten local members to allow the council to assess the effectiveness of this technology in terms of risk to information security, support costs and potential for wider roll out.  The trial would be supported by Hoople and the democratic services team who will gather evidence and compile a report on the viability/affordability of a possible wider roll out of this technology by the council for use by local members.

That:

(a)         A four month time limited trial of up to ten smart phones is undertaken with up to ten local members to assess the value of smart phone technology to inform the council’s future Information Communication Technology (ICT) provision; and  

(b)        Up to ten smart phones are purchased with Hoople supported mobile device management systems as part of the trial at an expected cost of no more than £7.2k.

To approve the care provider fee increase for 2018/19 for contracted services delivered for care at home, day activity provision and supported living in line with the councils contractual duty.

The purpose of this report is to seek approval to terminate the current contract with HIBOS as the provider of pupil referral services (includes Herefordshire’s pupil referral function, behaviour outreach function and home and hospital education function) and to bring these services back under the direct management of the Council.

This will enable the council to deliver PRU provision which is compatible with relevant legislation.

To consider objections put forward during a consultation on the proposed extension of a 30mph speed restriction on the A480 at Credenhill.

There are road safety concerns from a planned new access from the Taste for Adventure site onto this section of the A480, with its existing 40mph limit. This proposal is included in the Credenhill Pedestrian Safety Improvements programme supported by the Parish Council and local residents. The proposal was discussed and agreed with West Mercia Police and the Ward Member Councillor Matthews on 8 August 2017. This section of the A480 is of strategic importance and lower speeds would reduce the risk of serious or fatal accidents that could involve road closures.

There are concerns over whether the signing and lining measures will be effective. Post implementation speed surveys will assist in assessing the reduction in vehicle speeds and whether additional speed reduction measures should be considered.

THAT

To consider introducing an experimental cycle contraflow scheme on the eastern section of Prior Street from its junction with Millbrook Street eastwards to 8m west of its junction with Edgar Street (A49), to promote cycle safety and sustainable travel. The scheme would also include a No Entry to all vehicles (on the carriageway) at the junction with Edgar Street, with cyclists exiting eastbound via a shared use footway. There would also be extended no waiting at any time restrictions from the junction with Edgar Street to facilitate this arrangement.

This report seeks authority to introduce the public spaces protection order (PSPO) for alcohol consumption under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 to replace the previous Alcohol Consumption in Designated Public Places orders made under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, which has now been repealed.

The public protection order will apply, in the designated areas within Bromyard, Hereford, Ledbury, Leominster and Ross on Wye, to a person consuming or intending to consume alcohol in a designated public place and when a person is likely to cause or has caused disorder. In such cases this person can be required to stop and have the alcohol confiscated whether the drinking vessel is opened or not. 

That:

(a)   the public spaces protection order for alcohol consumption (at appendix 2) for application in the areas designated in appendices 3 to 7 be adopted and approved.

To approve a loan from school balances of £78,037.40 to Whitchurch CE Primary School for a new classroom and meeting room in accordance with the council’s scheme for financing schools. The school loan scheme provides a valuable way of enhancing school buildings without using the council’s limited capital budgets.

That:

a capital loan of £78,037.40 to Whitchurch CE Primary School be approved at 0% interest, repayable at £796.30 per month from September 2018 for 98 instalments for a new classroom and meeting room.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

To make the Bishops Frome 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 Bishops Frome 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 Bishops Frome 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 Middleton on the Hill and Leyster 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 Middleton on the Hill and Leysters 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 Middleton on the Hill and Leysters 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 make the Abbeydore, Bacton, Ewyas Harold, Dulas, Llancillo, Rowlestone and Kentchurch parishes 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 Abbeydore, Bacton, Ewyas Harold, Dulas, Llancillo, Rowlestone and Kentchurch parishes 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 Abbeydore, Bacton, Ewyas Harold, Dulas, Llancillo, Rowlestone and Kentchurch parishes 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.

That:

a) the draft corporate delivery plan 2018/19 at Appendix 1 be approved; and

b) the assistant director environment and place be authorised to make presentational changes to the approved corporate delivery plan 2018/19 prior to publication, following consultation with the cabinet member finance and corporate services.

To approve the revised Allocations Policy for Herefordshire.

The allocations policy for Herefordshire has been revised, in the light of the redesign of

arrangements for allocation of social housing and the implementation of the Homelessness

Reduction Act 2017 (HRA). The allocations process which appears elsewhere on the cabinet

agenda today, determines which people in housing need should receive the social housing

available locally. It is a key function within the council’s role as strategic housing authority,

bringing with it various statutory duties.

Under part 6 of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) the council is obliged to operate an

allocations policy, although it does not hold any stock, and to revise it from time to time. The

policy has two main functions; to indicate how national and local policy priorities will be met and to describe the practicalities of how housing allocations are organised locally.

The impact of the policy adopted in 2014 on housing register numbers and housing providers’ ability to let their properties, led to a revised policy in 2016. This was intended to re-balance numbers and needs and ensure full statutory compliance. The 2016 policy has not been implemented because providers announced their intention to change the housing allocations arrangements. Those new arrangements have now been negotiated and agreed between the council and providers, for implementation by October 2018.

The allocations policy has been revised accordingly with a focus on the practical process,

although some policy positions are also refined from 2016, along with requirements under the HRA. The new policy will be integral to implementing redesigned arrangements, along with new nominations agreements with providers and a recommissioned IT system, which are the subject of separate governance decisions.

That:

(a) the Allocations Policy for Herefordshire at appendix 1 be approved for implementation at the earliest opportunity.

To approve the proposed redesign of the allocations arrangements for Herefordshire.

The council has a range of statutory obligations in relation to allocations, although as it holds no

housing stock, the direct control of lettings to tenants rests with social housing landlords.

Current arrangements for allocations are managed through Home Point, which is a single

integrated form of choice based lettings system (CBL) where applicants on the housing register

bid for social housing. Providers have indicated their wish to move away from an integrated

system and to manage more of the process themselves.

Following discussions with providers, an agreed approach has been identified for the redesign of

allocations. It involves each provider making their own arrangements for advertising properties

and managing lettings. The council will operate the register, monitor how housing need is met by

lettings and transfer data to providers so that customers can either be nominated directly for

properties or bid for them on provider websites.

The anticipated benefits include:

 choice for customers who will be able to apply both to the council and directly to the

providers;

 more information about the different tenures available within the housing stock of

providers including private market rental and low cost home ownership;

 better access to information through more modern and interactive technology;

 more effective monitoring of the nomination arrangements and the council’s statutory

duties;

 flexibility for providers to try to ensure that all their housing stock is fully let.

The council’s role will be focused more specifically on fulfilling its statutory duties around

allocations. The separation of component parts of the process requires new and more complex solutions for data transfer and the council is commissioning a new IT system to support this which has been the subject of a separate decision. The council will also have to operate two different nomination/transfer arrangements to reflect the different approaches of two groups of providers. There will be nomination agreements between the council and each provider to help regulate arrangements,following dissolution of the Home Point partnership

There is a detailed project plan and process to support the changes and it is intended that they will be implemented between October and December 2018. The allocations redesign, if

approved, would also require the further revision of the allocations policy adopted in March 2016 and an item on this issue appears elsewhere on the cabinet agenda today.

That:

(a) the following new arrangements for allocating social housing be approved for implementation at the earliest opportunity within the existing budget:

·         the closure of the Home Point system and brand

·         the separation of the housing register from the advertising of properties and the management of bidding and the discharge of the council’s duty to nominate people and monitor allocations through multiple arrangements, including automatic data transfer.

The amalgamation of the council building maintenance and cleansing services contract, to be procured through an open market tender exercise. The contract period is for one year from 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2019.

The short term contract will provide a timeline for a strategic service redesign of these services to align with the council’s needs and corporate objectives. This project will be undertaken in conjunction with the short term contract.

That:

(a) an amalgamated property maintenance and cleansing service be procured for a one year period from 1 September 2018 – 31 August 2019; and

(b) the chief finance officer be authorised, following consultation with the cabinet member contracts and assets, to award a contract to the successful provider following tender evaluation, with a contract value of up to £12m.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation

To consider the findings of the recent Local Government Association (LGA) corporate peer challenge and agree how those findings will be used to inform improvement plans.

Herefordshire Council recently took up the offer of an LGA corporate peer challenge, recognising the opportunity this provided to have an independent and objective assessment of the council’s achievements and plans to continue the journey of improvement.

The report of the peer team’s findings identifies areas of success and good practice, and suggests actions that could be taken to enable us to achieve more. The recommendations propose ways in which those suggestions can be taken forward.

The report sets out the expected financial position for Herefordshire’s high needs budgets for three years from 2018/19. If current trends were to continue high needs expenditure, particularly high needs top-ups paid to schools, is forecast to overspend by £1m in 2018/19, £1.5m in 2019/20 and £2m in 2020/21. This report recommends  actions for 2018/19 and 2019/20 to ensure expenditure remains within budget for the next two financial years whilst a fundamental review of high needs services and costs is undertaken. During this period the high needs expenditure will be reviewed regularly to ensure the savings are delivered and further action will be taken if necessary