To approve the latest iteration of the Fastershire Broadband Strategy which will direct the approaches available to the Fastershire project to drive the deployment of high-speed broadband infrastructure throughout Herefordshire and Gloucestershire through to 2022.  The Strategy introduces a new Stage (Stage 5) which proposes the establishment of a Grant available to communities that remain outside of any current plan to be upgraded to superfast broadband.  The grant will utilise a Dynamic Purchasing System to identify the best value supplier of services and will be offered on a first come first served basis.

The Fastershire project is a partnership between Herefordshire Council, Gloucestershire County and national government to provide a fibre broadband network where commercial companies would not use their own investment.  For Herefordshire, from a starting point in 2012 of 0.6% premises with access to superfast broadband, coverage now stands at 90%.  The revised strategy aims to continue to increase the coverage through delivery of existing contracts along with a new grant scheme to communities introduced in 2020.  Commercial providers will also be operating their own schemes which will add to the superfast and ultrafast coverage.

That:

(a)       the Fastershire Broadband Strategy 2019-22 at appendix 1, as amended by supplemental paper 1, be agreed;

(b)       the criteria for Fastershire Community Broadband Grant are agreed (paragraphs 21-27); and

(c)       the Assistant Director Corporate Support be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the grants scheme and award grants up to a maximum of £500,000 in accordance with agreed criteria and available funds.

To approve a revised business case and budget for the expansion of Marlbrook Primary School within the approved capital allocation, to accommodate the additional pupils admitted from 2014 in response to rising numbers in South Hereford and to meet parental preference.

The revised business case is attached as Appendix 1.

Provision of £6.141m is included within the approved capital programme to complete the expansion of Marlbrook Primary School from 420 to 630 statutory age pupils, increasing its planned admission number from 60 to 90.  Following authorised expenditure of £446.5k on feasibility and initial costs, on 10 May 2018 Cabinet approved an extension to the school to enable its permanent expansion from two to three forms of entry and provision of additional car parking and associated works to fulfil planning and transport requirements, at a cost of not more than £4,688,500 to be delivered through a design and build contract. Design work has now reached Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage 4 - detailed design - and a detailed cost plan based on sub-contractors' tenders has been produced by the principal contractor confirming that scheme costs exceed the budget approved by Cabinet but remain within the overall capital programme provision for this scheme. This report seeks approval of the revised business case and authority to spend up to the sum of £6.141m in the capital programme - being an additional £1.006m  This revised sum covers the following which was part of the original specification but have now been fully costed:

"           feasibility work undertaken and completed in 2017

"           modification of the Green Croft building to accommodate the school's early years provision which was completed in 2018

"           internal modifications to the main school building to provide a new Reception Year classroom, a new staffroom, additional car parking and new netball courts which were completed in Summer 2019

"           the design work for the main construction project done to date

"           the cost of the main construction contract - for work yet to be done

"           the council's project management costs and professional services

"           the council's contingencies

Marlbrook is a popular and successful school, rated outstanding by Ofsted, located in Redhill ward in Hereford.  There has been growing demand for school places across the south of the city for some years, and without the additional capacity there would be insufficient places to meet this demand. The school was asked to take a larger intake in 2014 - 90 instead of 60 - and has done so every year since.  Until now the larger numbers have been accommodated in temporary accommodation.  The purpose of the current project is to ensure that all children in the school are accommodated in permanent buildings.

Approval of the revised business case and budget will enable the extension works to be delivered to the recommended specification and standard set out in the revised business plan.  This comprises providing six new classrooms, a new hall, and ancillary spaces, including facilities to make the school fully accessible, such as a hygiene and physio room, a larger remodelled kitchen, and required external works to meet planning requirements, including the requirements of Sport England for replacement netball courts.  It also includes provision for furniture, fittings and equipment, and the council's project management costs and contingencies.

That

a)    the revised business case for the expansion of Marlbrook Primary School at Appendix 1 be approved;

b)    a revised scheme cost of up to £6,141m be approved (being an additional £1.006m to the previously approved cost); and

c)    the director for children and families be authorised to take all operational decision necessary to implement the above recommendations within the agreed budget.

To approve Herefordshire Council's participation in the second phase of the European Regional Development Funded Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP) led by Worcestershire County Council.

This three year project will offer 50% capital grants of up to £20,000 to small and medium sized business in Herefordshire to support investment in energy efficiency, waste and water reduction projects.

Led by Worcestershire County Council this project will support businesses across Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin. 

The total grant allocation for businesses in Herefordshire is £244,800

The required match funding contribution from Herefordshire Council is £16,176 in addition to a maximum liability of £37,476 for a potential gap of private sector leverage towards the administration costs of the project

That:

(a)       Herefordshire Council participates in the second phase of the Business Energy Efficiency Programme; and

(b)       match funding of £16,174 be approved; and

(c)       the council underwrites a maximum sum of £37,476 should private sector leverage towards the administration costs of the project not be realised.

That:

(a) the council object to the removal of 36 public call boxes in the county due to relevant factors e.g. need for emergency calls, poor mobile phone coverage as detailed in appendix 2; and

(b) the council agrees to the removal of 21 public call boxes in the county due to the low usage levels, availability of acceptable/good mobile coverage as well as lack of objections from local communities, as detailed in appendix 2; and

(c) the council supports the adoption of 12 public call boxes in the county by parish councils (or community groups) in order for those kiosks, once decommissioned, to be used for community benefit as detailed in appendix 2.

To approve and adopt the revised Hereford (Rotherwas) Enterprise Zone Local Development Order 2019 (Appendix 2), to include additional areas of land to the south and east of the Enterprise Zone and roll forward its operation for a further period. The LDO process has been fundamental to the success of the Hereford Enterprise Zone by providing certainty for investors and is the only incentive now available to investors. Bringing forward a revised LDO indicates the Council’s continuing support for providing employment land within Enterprise Zone.  The process has also enabled the Rotherwas Drainage and Flood Management Strategy to be revisited in the light of Environment Agency advice regarding updated climate change guidance for flood risk reduction.  The benefits of the LDO will outweigh the loss of any fee income and the process has helped to enable an increased rate of industrial development at the enterprise zone. Since it has been in operation over £48m has been invested in those projects with Council receipts from sales totalling almost £3m and developments built or underway generating £21 m of business rates.

That:

(a)       Hereford (Rotherwas) Enterprise Zone Local Development Order 2019 be approved and adopted.

This report seeks approval for Herefordshire Council to accept a grant offer of £490,631 from the Warm Homes Fund to install gas central heating systems at the park homes at Fayre Oaks Home Park.

This Warm Homes (Park Homes) funding will enable Herefordshire to support approximately 140 park homes on the Fayre Oaks Home Park.

That:

(a)  Herefordshire Council accepts the grant offer of £490,631 and acts as accountable body for the delivery of the Warm Homes (Park Homes) Fund Project specifically relating to Fayre Oaks Home Park site in Herefordshire.

(b)  the Acting Assistant Director for Regulatory, Environment and Waste Services be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the scheme and to prepare all necessary grant documentation (acting in consultation with Legal Services);

(c)  authority be given for the affixing of the Common Seal of the Council to the relevant grant documentation (i) to secure the offer of funding from the Warm Homes Fund and (ii) to pass the funding to ultimate recipients

To re-allocate £275k budget previously identified for community transport vehicle grant to help manage the forecast SEN school transport budget pressure for 2019/20 and identify a preferred approach for the longer term.

To make the Bosbury and Catley 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 Bosbury and Catley Group neighbourhood development plan and update countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire.

Full Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure at its meeting on the 20 May 2016.

That:

(a)       The Bosbury and Catley 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 Hampton Bishop neighbourhood development plan 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 Hampton Bishop neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Full Council delegated authority for the making of all neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure at its meeting on 20 May 2016.

That:

(a)       The Hampton Bishop 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 approve the extension of the existing council building maintenance and cleansing services contract, which has been procured through an open market tender exercise, to the 31August 2020.

The extension of the contract will enable time for the strategic service review of the Property Services function to complete, which is being undertaken to ensure a future sustainable service can be delivered.

That:

(a)       The contract with Balfour Beatty Living Places to deliver an amalgamated property maintenance and cleansing service be extended for one year from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020 at a total contract value of £12 million.