To seek agreement to the workforce and organisation development strategy covering the period 2021-2024.

The strategy being presented is designed to capture at a high level the context and priorities for developing our workforce so that is it is engaged, agile and resilient in pursuit of the organisation's agenda

That:

The workforce and organisation strategy is approved as presented.

That:

(a)        The Bodenham 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 Hope under Dinmore 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

That:

(a)        The Much Marcle 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 consider and approve the council's Procurement and Commissioning Strategy which focuses on meeting local needs and delivering value for money. It sets out how the council will provide and arrange innovative and flexible, quality goods and services that are responsive to the needs of our community and deliver optimum value for money.  This updated strategy: places a greater focus on what we will do, with defined objectives that reflect the requirements of the council's corporate plan; incorporates the requirements of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012; and, puts emphasis on compliance with the Equality Act.

That:

the Procurement and Commissioning Strategy 2018 at appendix 1 is approved.

To provide a summary report for the third year of activity of the Marches Enterprise Joint Committee for consideration of Committee members.

(a)          agree the content of the report which can be used in updating their respective Council’s on the work of the committee.

Resolved that:

(a)          the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership Energy Strategy at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

The report makes recommendations regarding the award of contracts in relation to the funding award from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for the Marches and Gloucestershire Viable Clusters Broadband Project.  This project is part of the delivery of the Fastershire Broadband Strategy to provide superfast broadband in Herefordshire (and for this project working with neighbouring counties).  The proposals also relate to adaptations to the procurement process to ensure that as much of the European funding as possible is invested in expanding broadband coverage.

The recommendations would allow for:

·         Additional coverage in areas not covered in previous broadband deployments;

·         Increase the percentage of coverage of superfast broadband in the county to become one of the most fibre connected counties in the country;

·         An innovative solution to deploy broadband to hard-to-reach areas;

·         Works with new suppliers for deployment of fibre broadband;

·         Uses external funding to support the financial investment already made by Herefordshire Council and national government in broadband deployment.

That:

(a)       In consultation with Gloucestershire County Council, Shropshire Council and Telford and Wrekin Council and as the accountable body for the Marches and Gloucestershire Viable Clusters Broadband Project, contracts for Lots S15, S16, T1, H12, H8, H9, H1, H22, and H2 be awarded to Airband and Lots G10, C1 and C5 be awarded to Voneus for the values of £5,027,000 and £460,000 respectively;

(b)       The Assistant director communities has delegated authority to award contracts to Airband and Voneus for additional lots within the remaining clusters of up to £5m residual funding from the EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development);

(c)       Funding of up to £1.5m from Herefordshire’s broadband programme is allocated to lots H21 and H18 and awarded to Airband under the contract awarded in recommendation (a).

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 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 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.

1. The Council to retain certain of the LGPS risks and liabilities relating to this re-procured contract, in accordance with the following apportionment of risk as between authority and contractor, namely:

(a)   Contractor enters the Fund on the basis of a fully funded scheme;

(b)   Contractor is responsible for paying the Employer’s Contribution Rate at 21.2% during the term of the contract;

(c)   Contractor is responsible for paying any actuarial strains within their control and directly arising from the workforce for example, ill health and redundancy costs, pay increases;

(d)   Council is responsible for paying any increase to the Employer’s Contribution rate required by the Fund during the term of this contract;

(e)   Council is responsible for meeting any deficit arising at the end of the contract which is caused by market related conditions or otherwise is not caused by the Contractor’s failure to meet its obligations to the Fund;

(f)    Council provides the Fund with any underwriting required to protect against the contractor’s insolvency risk and consequently the contractor does not have to provide a bond or other third party guarantee.

In the event that there are any costs arising from the decision (1) above, due to a direct demand from the Fund for payment by the Council, the service budget for this contract shall be required to fund those costs.

To recommend to Council proposed in year adjustments to the capital programme including proposed investment additions for 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21. These items are in addition to the £92.418m for 2018/19, £48.078m 2019/20 and £8,484m 2020/21 capital funding approved by Council in January 2018

The report proposes some adjustments to reflect increased or unanticipated grant allocations and s106 funding secured and proposes some changes to reflect the way in which some individual projects are now anticipated to be funded. Additional provision is sought to enable development of the Shell Store; the additional provision arises as a result of construction costs inflation and an error in the programme approved by Council. In addition, two new schemes are proposed to be added:

·        the Cyber Security Centre to support the development of  specialist facilities including business space for small and medium enterprises (SME’s), research and product testing lab space, and educational and training space at Rotherwas; and

·       the redevelopment of the Hillside Rehabilitation Centre to provide additional residential nursing care provision in the county.

If approved the proposals will have an increase in the capital programme of £3.5m and £1.5m respectively and funded by £1.5m use of capital receipts, £2m borrowing for Cyber Security Centre and £1.5m borrowing for Hillside.

A delegation is sought to enable the Chief Finance Officer (as s151 officer) to approve in year amendments to the capital budget where the amendment arises as a result of securing external funding.

To approve the spend of section 106 monies received in respect of planning application DCC061134/F - Development At Pomona Place Hereford HR4 0LW for the purposes set out in this report, together with an explanation of the considerations that have been taken into account in reaching this recommendation.  

That: Approval be given for the spend of section 106 monies at Pomona Place, Hereford, HR2 0LW for the provision of public art (£30,450) and physical improvements to the pathway (£55,415) between Ryelands Street and Pomona Place which will be delivered through Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP).

To approve the final contractual arrangements for implementing the development and regeneration programme (DRP). While the finally agreed arrangements have been tailored to reflect organisational changes made by the preferred bidder, they are not materially different from those discussed during the procurement.

That:

(a)            the council enters into overarching agreements (2) with Keepmoat Homes Ltd and Engie Regeneration Ltd as part of the council’s development and regeneration programme.

(b)            that the council enters into parent company guarantees with Keepmoat Ltd and Engie Services Holding UK Ltd are in place to underpin these overarching agreements.

To approve the spend of section 106 public realm monies received in respect of planning application P160606/F - Land at Galebreaker House, Leadon Way, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 2SS for the purposes set out in this report, together with an explanation of the considerations that have been taken into account in reaching this recommendation.

That:

(a)        subject to securing planning consent, approval is given to undertake landscaping works in accordance with the landscape master plan at appendix 2, at a cost of not more than £120,000 including fees; and

(b)        the Chief Finance Officer be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendation.