To approve and sign off, ready for implementation, the new Council Workforce Strategy for 2024-2028.

a) The Cabinet accepts the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities capital grant of £910,000 for the purpose of purchasing a minimum of ten properties and a revenue grant of £478,615 for dedicated support workers and associated services;
b) Authority for acquisition of the properties and all associated operational decisions including authority to award contracts for improvement works and the negotiation of the lease to a housing provider be delegated to the Corporate Director Community Wellbeing.

To agree the terms for a new lease to Hereford Football Club in respect of the Edgar Street Football Ground.

To approve the proposed expenditure of capital grants for schools building, maintenance and
accessibility improvement works

To award a contract to DarntonB3 Limited to deliver the Hampton Dene Primary School extension to expand the Language and Communication Centre (LCC) and the appointment of a Multi-Disciplinary Design Team.

The contract value is £246,520 to start in April 2024 for an anticipated period of 32 months (including Defects Liability Period).

Construction of a new road in accordance with the agreed annual plan.
Purchase, compensation and fees agreed on market terms to a total of £15,832.40

• Herefordshire Council leased the premises under a full repairing and insuring lease that is now terminated.

• Hoople price-tested the larger heads of claim and carried out some works directly where it was economic to do so.

• Negotiation with the Landlord’s surveyor over detail reduced the initial claim by 50%.

• Financial details in Appendix 1 as commercially sensitive

• The area is needed for the storage of material, plant and machinery to allow the development to go ahead.
• The land is public open space and the council has undertaken its statutory advertisement requirements.
• License to run for the duration of the works, estimated 52 weeks.
• Contractor to be responsible for the whole area, its contents and carry appropriate public liability insurance.
• Contractor to reinstate area fully upon vacation.

• To spend the offered grants totalling £134,080.00 from Active Travel England (£33,562.00 accepted in October 2023 and £100,518.00 accepted in March 2024) as follows:

1. To spend £81,000.00 (which includes a contingency of £11,000.00) to commission Phil Jones Associates (PJA) via the EPSO framework agreement to undertake the following additional work in order to complete the Countywide Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP):
• Engagement and consultation
• Network planning and prioritising future projects
• Integration with the draft LCWIP for Hereford City

2. To spend the remaining £53,000 of grant funding to conduct scheme feasibility and outline design on priority measures identified within the LCWIP and to cover any internal costs incurred within the Council.

The land formed part of the smallholdings disposal in 2017, in accordance with the cabinet decision dated 13th October 2016, a blanket overage provision was imposed on farm buildings and other land in regards to any future change of use.

The owner has obtained planning permission for change of use on areas under the overage provision. The councils appointed agents Atcham’s have negotiated and agreed, based on the terms of the overage deed, a value of £75,000 plus the council’s agents and legal fees to lift the agreement.

1. The tenant’s previous lease has expired and they are currently holding over as their lease is contracted inside the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. The tenant has subsequently served a section 26 notice requesting a new tenancy.
2. The centre comprises multiple retail units, some of which have been vacant for some time and it is important that occupation levels are maximized so that the holding costs incurred by the Council are mitigated.
3. The Council’s external agent for the centre Wright Silverwood has recommended the action.
4. The Terms agreed leave the Tenant responsible for payment of the rent, landlord Service Charge, business rates, insurance, utilities and internal repairs.
5. The lease renewal proposed will not prohibit the council from undertaking development at a future date if planned.

The timeframe of the contract is being extended to make best use of the initial funding allocated which has not been fully utilised.
The provision of a waste management and cleaning function will ensure the pods are appropriately cleaned and all and waste is managed correctly as defined by the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011.

To provide scrutiny committee with an introduction to Fostering

A competitive call off exercise was carried out for providers on the NEPO505 Framework (Payment Card Service). A selection was made from the bids submitted and after evaluation & moderation allpay Ltd achieved the highest score and have been awarded the Payment Card Service contract for delivery of an electronic payment and payment card service across both adult and children’s social care and for Court of Protection.

To award a contract utilising the NEPO505 Framework for the payment card service to allpay Ltd after a competitive process in line with the terms and conditions of that framework. The Contract will be for a 3 year initial period with an option to extend for a further 2 years from 1st April 2024 up to maximum value of £140,458.61.

To enable the delivery of the Leominster public realm works.

Value for money has been assured through a detailed Procurement Exercise.

The public realm project has the goal of making the high street a more attractive, engaging and vibrant place for people to live, work and spend time through the improvement of shared spaces.

The improvements to the public realm will include some road resurfacing, improvements to pedestrian areas and works to Corn Square which will take into account accessibility of the conservation area for all users.

When combined with the broader Leominster Heritage Action Zone works already completed, the enhanced visual landscape and historic character of Leominster is expected to attract more visitors to enjoy the town’s historic character and retail offer.

To award a contract to MF Freeman following a successful tendering exercise to deliver the Leominster public realm works.

MF Freeman have submitted a quote of £1,618,502.63 to deliver the full scope of works including the priority work options as detailed in the tender package.

The total budget for the construction works is £1,625,000.00

To provide the board with the findings of its working group review of the draft Herefordshire Plan