To approve the procurement and launch of a new local framework for the arranging and purchase of support and accommodation for care leavers and some looked after children who are 16+ years old.  The services purchased via the framework will support young people to secure accommodation and develop their skills and resilience and provide opportunities for training and employment, engagement with relevant services and participation in their communities, to enable them to move towards independent living.

There are currently limited options for accommodating care leavers and 16 and 17 year old looked after children in Herefordshire.  There is a reliance on “out of county” specialist placements, spot purchased at significant cost, and of varying quality.  There are also gaps in support for young people at risk of homelessness.  Young people require safe and affordable accommodation, aligned to support towards increased independence, underpinned by realistic opportunities for learning and work.

It is proposed this procurement process will commence in January 2021, with procurement evaluation, confirmation of contract, placement arrangements and administrative processes taking place over February and March 2021.  There will be a soft launch of the framework on 1 April 2021.  A review will take place in June with the aim of a fully operational framework by 1 July 2021.

The new framework will complement newly commissioned accommodation and support services for care leavers and vulnerable young people and support the vision and principles of the looked after children and complex needs placement sufficiency strategy 2019-2024.  The placements will be led by the needs of the young people to achieve positive outcomes.  The local framework will support the strategy to address the sufficiency, quality and sustainability of appropriate placement provision as well as value for money in Herefordshire.

That

(a)   a local framework be established for arranging and purchasing support and accommodation for care leavers and 16 plus care experienced children; and

(b)  confirmation of the detailed terms and operating arrangements for the framework to be approved by the director for children and families, in consultation with the cabinet member for children and families.

The council’s previous Equality Policy expired in January 2020, and this new policy is designed to run from 2020-2023.  It is a key decision because it is significant in its impact on the community.

The policy sets out our commitment to equality and details some of the main initiatives that we already undertake, and some actions to which we are committing.  Its audience will be both internal (members of staff) and external (public). It will be published on our website and on our intranet.  An internal communication will promote it to staff.

That:

the Equality Policy and associated appendices are approved for publication.

To authorise acceptance of the offer by the Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) of further European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) capital and revenue funding to the council, in order to administer the Sustainable Energy in Public Buildings project covering the Marches local enterprise partnership (LEP) area on behalf of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin councils.

This funding allows public authority applicants to apply for grant funding in order to enable the installation of energy efficiency measures in public buildings.

That:

(a)  Subject to the bid being successful, the Assistant Director for Regulation, Environment & Waste Services is authorised to accept the ERDF funding and to implement the project in accordance with the original bid and subsequent project change request for a 3 year project extension;

(b)  Herefordshire Council continue to act as accountable body and lead partner for the sustainable energy in public buildings project for the Marches LEP area.

1)     To agree the revised content of the Herefordshire Multi - Agency Protocol for Children and Young People with Disabilities and Complex Needs - Preparing for Adulthood on behalf of Herefordshire Council services

2)    To delegate responsibility for the reviewing and technical updating of the Protocol to the Head of Additional Needs

That:

(a)       Approve the Herefordshire Multi - Agency Protocol for Children and Young People with Disabilities and Complex Needs - Preparing for Adulthood;  

(b)  Delegate the responsibility for reviewing and technical updating of the Protocol to the Head of Additional Needs.

To approve the commencement of an investigation of different models of delivering council housing.

That:

(a)  The Programme Director Housing and Growth is authorised to commence expenditure from the earmarked financial resilience reserve of £150,000, to fund the commissioning of an investigation of different models of delivering council housing.

To approve the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) high needs budget for 2020/21 as recommended by Schools Forum.

That:  the high needs budget for 2020/21 having regard to the views of the Schools Forum be approved as follows;

(a)       Complex needs funding £2,285,745;

(b)       Independent special schools £1,100,000;

(c)       Special school top-up funding £3,484,650;

(d)       Special school commissioned places £1,593,000;

(e)       High needs contingency £105,963;

(f)        Mainstream school top-up funding £2,087,525;

(g)       Nurture provision, from September 2020  £116,667;

(h)       Pupil Referral Service to retain income from charges £90,000;

(i)        SEN protection scheme for primary and secondary schools £385,000;

(j)        H3 Home, Hospital and Hub £382,500;

(k)       Autism and Language units top-up funding £286,925;

(l)        Pupil Referral Unit support fund £75,000;

(m)     Early years top-up funding £175,000;

(n)       Autism and Language Units commissioned places £282,000;

(o)       Pupil Referral Service top-up funding £376,875

(p)       Pupil Referral Service commissioned places at 65 summer term and 50 autumn and spring £562,000;

(q)       SEN support services

(i)            Additional Needs SEN advisor £203,750;

(ii)          Complex Learning Communications £122,550;

(iii)         Equalities team –inclusion £232,450;

(iv)         Behaviour Outreach – final year £9,000;

(v)          Physical & Sensory team £407,500;

(vi)         Managed moves £5,000;

(vii)        Business support £73,000;

(viii)      DSG Services £125,900;

(r)        Charges and income

(i)            Excluded pupils (AWPU)/ Hospital  -£315,000;

(ii)          Local authority recoupment    -£200,000;

(iii)         Transfer from schools block   -£300,000;

(iv)         Transfer from Central services block  -£60,500.

To agree that Herefordshire Council continue the current delegation by Rutland County Council of their enterprise system support function (an element of ICT support), originally approved 9 March 2016 for a further 10 years.

The enterprise system support function refers to the Business World IT system that records, processes and documents all relevant information in relation to the general ledger, payroll, debtor and creditor records of Rutland County Council.

During the ten year extension period Herefordshire Council will act as the lead commissioning council for the service, supporting the delivery of a range of benefits from the pooling of resources. 

That:

The Cabinet Member accept the delegation by Rutland County Council of their enterprise system support function (an element of ICT support) under section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 to Herefordshire Council, acting as lead commissioning council for the service for a further ten years.

To approve initial investment in a new approach to support children and young people that are on the edge of care (EOC), whether that be at risk of becoming a looked after child, or with the potential to safely cease being looked after and return home with the appropriate support.

Families that might need some help and support will often say that they don't want to be taken into safeguarding or care services. They would rather be able to cope better with the challenges they face with support from their extended family, friends, and community. While improvements have been made to Herefordshire's safeguarding system in recent years, the County's numbers of looked after children (LAC) has continued to be higher than comparator areas, which causes significant financial pressure for the council. Cabinet has recognised that the council can do more to support families to safely take care of their children. This is in conjunction with work that the council has already done to improve social care practice and expand the early help and family support services.

It is therefore intended to make an initial investment of up to £184k in 2019-2020 for the establishment of a new Edge of Care / Home (ECHo) service. Alongside existing approaches, ECHo will be a five to ten-year initiative. Further investment from 2020 onwards to be made through the council's medium-term financial strategy.

That:

(a)       The use of earmarked reserves of up to £184k for the mobilisation of a new ECHo service during be approved for the initial spending plan for 2019-2020 as set out paragraphs 24 and Appendix 1 of this report

(b)       Within the approved funding envelope (above), operational management of the initial spending plan for 2019-2020 is delegated to the Assistant Director for Safeguarding and Family Support.

To seek approval for the launch of hardship schemes to residents and businesses whose homes or business premises have been flooded.

The hardship schemes would consist of a Community Recovery Grant, equivalent to £500 per eligible household, to help families with their immediate recovery and a Business Recovery Grant, which will provide up to £2,500 per eligible small and medium-sized business.

That:

(a)  The council adopts for households and businesses affected by the floods in October and November 2019, the Community Recovery Grant Scheme and the Business Recovery Grant Scheme in appendix one with a budget up to £225,000; and

(b)  the Acting Assistant Director Highways & Transport / Head of Infrastructure Delivery be authorised to determine grants in accordance with the scheme criteria.

To approve an appropriate level of underwriting of NMiTE’s second phase of Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Deal grant funding to enable the development of a Centre for Advanced Timber Technology, Centre for Automated Manufacturing, and a Centre for Future Skills on the Hereford Enterprise Zone.

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.

The 2019-2024 strategy sets out a shared vision for a collaborative approach across both counties It will build upon the successes of our local dementia partnerships delivered by a wide range of local stakeholders who are key to supporting people living with dementia, their family, friends and communities.

THAT:

Cabinet reviewed and approved the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Living Well with Dementia Strategy 2019-2024 (at appendix 1) the content and recommendations of which were supported by the Health and Wellbeing Board on 14 October 2019.

To approve the council’s contribution to the Herefordshire better care fund (BCF) and Integration plan 2019-20 and the section 75 agreement from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2025. In summary, the report identifies the following key points:

·         The better care fund (BCF) provides a mechanism for joint health, housing and social care planning and commissioning. It brings together ring-fenced budgets from Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) allocations, and funding paid directly to local government, including the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), the improved Better Care Fund (iBCF) and the Winter Pressures grant;

·         The council’s contribution to the better care fund is £31.5m revenue and £2m capital for 2019/20;

·         It is a national requirement, set by NHS England, that the better care fund is transferred into one or more pooled funds established under section 75 of the NHS Act 2006; the four key national conditions and national metrics for the BCF remain consistent from 2018-19;

·         Herefordshire partners remain committed to working together to deliver a local system ‘where strong communities encourage individual citizens to live healthy lives and offer support when this is required for them to maintain their independence, with sustainable, aligned health and care services for local people’;

·         The council and CCG continue to work together to deliver on the key priorities within the plan to achieve service redesign and improve the delivery of service in order to achieve the priorities of the health and wellbeing strategy in the most cost effective way;

·         Herefordshire’s BCF and Integration plan 2019-20 details the local approach to integration, plans to achieve metrics and plans for ongoing implementation of the HICM for managing transfers of care. The plan maintains the key schemes identified in the 2017-18 submission; and

·         the plans are intended to move our health and social care system to a new service model in which patients get more options, better support and properly joined up care at the right time in the optimal care setting will support communities to remain within their own homes and reduce the need for hospitalisation and long-term care.

That:

(a)       the council’s contribution to the better care fund of £31.5m revenue and £2m capital for 2019/20 be approved;

(b)       approval be given for the council to enter into a section 75 agreement with Herefordshire clinical commissioning group (CCG) for up to 5 years, (1 April 2020 to 31 March 2025); and

(c)       the director for adults and communities and the director for childrens and families  be authorised, following consultation with the solicitor to the council and s151 officer, to take all operational decisions necessary to approve the scheme level detail within the budget approved by Cabinet in the s75 agreement on an annual basis to 31 March 2025.

To review performance for quarter 2 2019/20 and the budget outturn.

To provide assurance that progress is being made towards achievement of the agreed revenue budget and service delivery targets, and that the reasons for major variances or potential under-performance are understood and are being addressed to the cabinet's satisfaction. 

The 2019/20 outturn is £146k overspend as at the end of September 2019.It is anticipated that this will be addressed within the directorates.

The proportion of performance measures showing an improvement, or remaining the same compared to the same period last year is 63%.  This is an improvement on the same period last year

That:

Cabinet reviewed performance and financial outturn for quarter 2 2019/20, as set out in appendices A - H,  and did not identify any additional actions to be considered to achieve future improvement.

To review the external auditors progress report and sector update. External audit have issued an unqualified certificate on the council’s annual housing benefit subsidy claim of £41m. External audit have also certified the council’s annual teachers’ pensions return in accordance with procedures agreed with teachers’ pensions.

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.

To approve the use of earmarked reserves to provide the opportunity to recruit to improve the quality of children's social work.

Cabinet has recognised that the council can support children's social care work further by enabling more staff to be recruited within this financial year. This is in conjunction with work that the council has already done to increase the number of social work posts, expand the early help service and family support service to work with families and business support to take some tasks off social workers.

The proposals in this report will enable the service to potentially recruit five social work posts (including a senior practitioner post) and a manager to provide further capacity that would be located in the assessment service and carry out assessment team work. This would enable some cases to be held in the assessment teams rather than in the child protection court teams and therefore lessen the pressure on social workers, particularly in the child protection court teams where we are finding it particularly difficult to recruit agency and permanent staff, despite all the work the council has done to improve the retention and recruitment offer.

That:

the use of earmarked reserves of up to £150k to recruit 6 children’s social work posts before the end of the financial year be approved.