To approve the development and procurement of a concession contract to secure a delivery partner to operate and expand the countywide electric vehicle charging network in order to support the anticipated increase in electric vehicle ownership and subsequent demand.

That:

(a)   The Council undertake an open procurement process seeking a delivery partner for the operation and expansion of Herefordshire’s electric vehicle (EV) charging point network. The final procured arrangement will be operated as a Concession Contract, whereby a single supplier will be appointed to operate the EV charging scheme at no cost to the Council for a duration of a 3+1+1 year contract;

(b)  The Assistant Director for Regulatory Environment and Waste be authorised to award the contract; and

(c)   The Sustainability & Climate Change Manager be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above.

The current Healthwatch contract will expire on the 30 September 2020, therefore approval is required to go out to tender to procure a Healthwatch service for Herefordshire.

This is a statutory service and a requirement under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the council must ensure an independent Healthwatch service is available. The service can only be provided by the voluntary sector, independent of the council and partner organisation.

That:

(a)       the current healthwatch contract is re-procured through an open competitive tender and awarded to commence from 1 October 2020 for up to seven years with an approx. value of £980k subject to annual inflation.

(b)       delegated authority is given to the Director to take all operational decision necessary to implement the reprocurement and award of contract.

To approve a direct award of contract for up to 2 years to the current provider to deliver the management of a telecare monitoring service (Careline). There are no further options for extension within the current contract and therefore a direct award is the most effective and appropriate way to ensure continuation of this service.

That:

A contract be awarded to Connexus to deliver the management of a telecare monitoring service on a spot purchase basis, from 1 April 2020 for up to two years, with a maximum cost of £110,000

The application was refused contrary to the Case Officer’s recommendation

The application was approved contrary to the Case Officer’s recommendation

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

The application was refused contrary to the Case Officer’s recommendation.

The application was withdrawn from the agenda.

To approve free parking for up to 30 minutes for electric vehicles when parked in an electric vehicle parking space and connected to a charge point in all council car parks in order to underpin the councils commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

That:

The new schedule of charges, as outlined in appendix 1, to include free 30 minute parking for electric vehicles when parked in electric vehicle parking spaces in all council off street car parks, is approved to take effect from 16^th March 2020.

To approve revised customer service standards which outline the methods of contact and expected response time.  This update is based on increased use of digital contact and introduces new standards including notice period on temporarily closing offices, standard consultation periods and dealing with unreasonable behaviour.  The standards are published on the council website to outline what residents should expect when contacting Herefordshire Council.  Whilst these standards cover general contact with the council there will also be different requirements which will be in legal frameworks (e.g. freedom of information requests) which will be outlined separately.  The standards have been set to realistically balance the council's resources with reasonable response time.

That:

(a)       The objectives of engagement standards in paragraph 11 are accepted; and

(b)  The updated standards outlined in paragraph 16 are agreed.

Herefordshire Council, together with Worcestershire County Council, Telford & Wrekin Council and Shropshire Council, is one of the member authorities (the ‘Owning Authorities’) of West Mercia Energy (WME) Joint Committee, formerly known as West Mercia Supplies. At the point of sale of the West Mercia Supplies stationery division (WMS) in 2012, the existing pension deficit relating to the former WMS staff was retained within the continuing WME business and is overseen by the WME Joint Committee.

The West Mercia Energy Joint Committee formally approved a request to the Owning

Authorities to take direct responsibility for this pension deficit liability on the 24 September

2019. Having undertaken discussions via their respective senior Finance Officers, the

Owning Authorities are each seeking approval to take on this liability, which is proposed to

be achieved by the transfer of this pension deficit to a newly created ‘employer body’ within

the Shropshire County Pension Fund (‘WMS Pension’) managed and overseen by a new

‘WMS Pension Joint Committee’ comprising the same Owning Authorities

To agree the draft 2020/21 budget and associated medium term financial strategy and treasury management strategy for recommendation to Council on 14 February.

The proposed budget reflects current and expected service delivery requirements and the provisional local government settlement announced on 20 December. Overall the base budget for 2020/21 is proposed to increase to fund budget pressures and new initiatives. Savings of £2.4m in 2020/21 remain and an increase in council tax of 3.9% (inclusive of 2% adult social care precept) is proposed to deliver a balanced budget.

The draft medium term financial strategy (MTFS), attached at appendix 1, has been extended to 2023/24 based on current assumptions on future funding and service requirements.

The treasury management strategy, attached at appendix 4, includes the proposed borrowing and investment strategy, the council’s expected minimum revenue provision and the associated prudential indicators which demonstrate that the council’s proposed capital investment budget is affordable, prudent and sustainable.

That:

(a)  the following be recommended to Council;

a.    the council tax base of 69,756.19 Band D equivalents;

b.    an increase in core council tax in 2020/21 of 1.9%;

c.    an additional precept in respect of adult social care costs of 2% applied to council tax in 2020/21 resulting in a total council tax increase of 3.9%, increasing the band D charge from £1,514.70 to £1,573.77 for Herefordshire Council in 2020/21;

d.    the balanced 2020/21 revenue budget proposal totalling £157.1m, subject to any amendments approved at the meeting, specifically the net spending limits for each directorate as at appendix 3;

e.    delegation to the section 151 officer of the power to make necessary changes to the budget arising from any variations in central government funding allocations via general reserves;

f.     the medium term financial strategy (MTFS) 2020-24 at appendix 1 be approved; and

g.    the treasury management strategy at appendix 4 be approved.

(b)  the responses to scrutiny committee’s recommendations as provided in paragraph 63 be approved;

(c)  up to £200k of the public health grant be ring fenced as the council contribution toward the provision of the Hereford City Cycle Track; and

(d)  a new earmarked reserve be created to support activities related to climate change.

To agree proposals for the Council's Corporate Plan 2020-24 for recommendation to Council.  The council's constitution requires cabinet to make recommendations to council in respect of budget and policy framework; the Corporate Plan forms part of this framework.

The Corporate Plan has been developed to set the ambition for the council following public consultation and engagement with key stakeholders.  Over 2000 people have been engaged through a range of pop-up events, targeted workshops throughout the county and an online survey. 

The Corporate Plan shapes the future of Herefordshire with the overall aim to improve the sustainability, connectivity and wellbeing of the county by strengthening communities, creating a thriving local economy and protecting and enhancing our environment. 

Through the development of the Corporate Plan, three corporate priorities and objectives have been identified. These are:

"           Environment - protect and enhance our environment and keep Herefordshire a great place to live

"           Community - strengthen communities to ensure everyone lives well and safely together

"           Economy - support an economy which builds on the county's strengths and resources

Recognising that these priorities do not exist in isolation, three cross-cutting themes of sustainability, connectivity and wellbeing have emerged. These themes will underpin the priorities and ambition set out in the Corporate Plan and guide future service design, planning and policy making.

The Corporate Plan is a strategic plan that sets out the overarching ambition, the annual delivery plan provides more detail of the projects and initiatives that will be undertaken in 2020/21 to meet the commitments made in the Corporate Plan 2020-24.

That:

(a)  The draft corporate plan 2020-24, as set out at appendix A, be recommended to Council;

(b)  Authority be delegated to the Assistant Director People and Performance, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any amendments necessary arising from the discussions at Cabinet, prior to consideration by council specifically:

                              i.        An additional sentence to be inserted committing the council to working with the farming community to promote sustainable stewardship of the County’s farmland, soils and woods;

                            ii.        Reference to maintenance of public rights of way, bridges and street lighting to be inserted alongside maintenance of roads;

                           iii.        Additional photographs to be inserted to break up the large blocks of text in the introduction from the leader of the council and the background information on the county;

                           iv.        Typographical corrections to ensure consistency through the document.

To recommend to Council for approval the capital investment budget and capital strategy for 2020/21 onwards.

Appendix 1 provides details of the proposed additions to the existing capital programme that have been identified and the impact of approving these additions. Eighteen capital investment budget proposals totaling £88.3m have been identified, to be funded by capital grants (£39.1m), redirected existing funding (£1.5m), capital receipt funding (£21.2m), returns on capital investment (£18.6m) and prudential borrowing of (£7.9m).

In line with CIPFA requirements a capital strategy has been written to reflect future direction for capital investment, the strategy is included at appendix 4 and in line with the guidelines requires Council approval.

That: the following be recommended to Council

(a)  the proposed capital programme from 2020/21 attached at appendix 3; and

(b)  the capital strategy document at appendix 4.

To agree the property services 2020/21 estates capital works programme

The proposed programme of works as set out in appendix A, incorporates a series of planned project works that enables the council to deliver on its obligations to maintain buildings fit for purpose utilising the agreed £2.095m capital budget which was approved at council budget meeting of 15 February 2019.

That:

(a)       the 2020/21 estate capital programme as set out in appendix A be approved at a total cost of not more than £2.095m;

(b)       the assistant director for technical services be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendation and spend within the approved budget including final allocation of budget to the projects as listed in appendix A provided that individual project costs do not vary from the estimate included by more than 25%; and

(c)       the assistant director for technical services be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendation and award of contracts  up to a maximum individual value of £500k.

To recommend to Council the continuation of the 2019/20 local council tax reduction scheme (CTR) for 2020/21.

Council tax charges can be reduced where the bill payer meets certain set criteria contained in the council tax reduction scheme (CTR). CTR is available to working age and pensioner claimants. The pensioner CTR scheme is set nationally. The working age CTR scheme is set locally by this council. Approximately 11,000 bill payers in Herefordshire are in receipt of CTR, with over 50% of claims from pensioners.

The current scheme was initially approved by Council on 18 December 2015.

It is a legal requirement to annually review the council’s council tax reduction scheme and the decision is reserved to full Council. The current scheme has been reviewed and there is no evidence to support a change at this time.

That:

The council tax reduction scheme for 2020/21, with the same parameters as the existing scheme, be recommended to Council for approval.

For Cabinet to approve the amendment of £360k from the financial resilience earmarked reserve to fund costs associated with the review of the Hereford Transport and South Wye Transport Package to be completed by 31 July 2020.

That:

(a)  Cabinet approves the amendment of the financial resilience reserve reducing by £360k to fund the costs to complete the review work associated with the Hereford Transport and South Wye Transport Package.

The council building maintenance and cleansing services were amalgamated under a single contract, which was procured through an open market tender exercise and this contract is due to terminate on the 31 August 2020. This contract now needs to be procured for a period from 1 September 2020 to 30 June 2023.

That:

(a)  a propertymaintenanceandcleaningservice contractbe procuredfortwo years and nine months from1 September2020– 30 June2023 with provision for a one year extension;and

(b)  the director of economy and placebe  authorised, following consultation with the  cabinet member  for assets, contracts and procurement, toawarda contract tothe successfulprovider for each or both services followingtenderevaluation,with acontractvalueof upto £12m per annum.

To approve school forum’s recommended budget proposals for school budgets, central school services and early years within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2020/21.

Dedicated Schools Grant funding for the schools block in 2020/21 is £104.7m, which is an increase of £1.9m for primary pupils, £1.9m for secondary pupils and £0.2m in the growth fund. The funding for high needs and early years block are provisional and are both subject to final adjustments for pupil numbers and commissioned places. The school funding values and formula calculations are in accordance with the national school funding formula as set by government. The funding above that required to implement the national funding formula is proposed to be distributed to schools at £20 per pupil and £300,000 transferred to the high needs block for 2020/21.