To seek approval of the final draft local housing strategy 2021-2026 so that it can be published as a public document.

To seek approval of the public consultation response so that it can be published alongside the local housing strategy 2021-2026.

That:

That the final draft local housing strategy 2021-2026 and the associated public consultation response are approved.

To note and approve the annual earmarked reserves review.

Earmarked reserves are established to hold revenue balances to fund future year commitments over and above the annual budget requirement. They generally arise where funding exceeds expenditure, usually due to the timing of receipts being ahead of incurring expenditure. As a matter of good practice a review is undertaken each year to establish the continued need for reserves held for earmarked purposes to ensure resources can be used to best effect whilst maintaining a prudent level of reserves to meet future anticipated commitments.

That

The following changes be made to the reserve balances held, as shown in appendix 1:

i.              Establish a new earmarked reserve of £150k, utilising funds held in the financial resilience reserve, to fund the investigation of different models of delivering council housing; and

ii.            Establish a new ear marked reserve of £550k, utilising funds held in the financial resilience reserve, to fund the initial implementation in 2019/20 of an enhanced edge of care service for young people and support a high quality children’s social care service.

To determine future actions regarding the Hereford Transport Package (HTP), which includes the Hereford bypass and associated active travel measures and South Wye Transport Package (SWTP), which includes the southern link road and local active travel measures comprising walking, cycling, bus and public realm improvements.

The original decision to pause and review the bypass and southern link road taken by the cabinet member for infrastructure and transport was taken on 9 August 2019. The decision was called in by General Scrutiny Committee. The decision was discussed at a meeting of the committee on 9 September 2019 and the committee came to the view that the decision should be referred back to the cabinet member to reconsider, giving regard to the matters set out in paragraph 34 below.

This report confirms the final decision having regard to the recommendations made by General Scrutiny Committee.

THAT:

a)    all work on the Southern Link Road be paused, a review of the project to determine next steps be undertaken, and work on the South Wye Transport Package active travel measures be continued;

b)    all work on the Hereford by-pass be paused, a review of the project to determine next steps be undertaken, and work on the Hereford Transport Package active travel measures be continued; and

c)    the acting director for economy and place be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to scope the review work for both road schemes within a budget of £50k (Southern Link Road) and £70k (Hereford By-pass) to inform a further decision in this calendar year.

THAT, having regard to the recommendations made by General Scrutiny Committee on 9 September 2019:

(a)  a review of the South Wye Transport Package be undertaken to determine next steps,  and work on the Southern Link Road and active travel measures (the scope of which will be determined in a further report and be subject to the agreement of funders to draw down funding or provision being made within the capital programme) is continued whilst the review is undertaken;

(b)  a review of the bypass project to determine next steps be undertaken, and work on the Hereford Transport package active travel measures and the other bypass work as listed below is continued whilst the review is undertaken;

(c)  discussions continue with funding organisations to clarify the funding implications of a review and to seek to minimise the risk of loss of any secured funding;

(d)  consultation with parish councils, businesses and members of the public be included within the scope of the review;

(e)  the acting director for economy and place be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to scope the review work for both road schemes within a budget of £50k (Southern Link Road) and £70k (Hereford By-pass) to inform a further decision in this calendar year on the scope of the review to be undertaken; and

(f)   the acting director for economy and place be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to undertake the bypass work listed in recommendation (b) above within a budget envelope of £66,000 and to approve variance between the activities within a tolerance of £5,000.

To recommend to council that the Herefordshire travellers’ sites development plan document (DPD) 2018 -2031 is adopted. 

The Government’s guidance Planning policy for Traveller Sites requires local planning authorities to make provision for traveller sites within their local plans. The adopted core strategy includes a commitment for the council to do so through a travellers sites DPD.  This DPD has been prepared in accordance with the core strategy and government guidance.  It has been subject to independent examination by a government appointed inspector.  The inspector has concluded that it can provide an acceptable supply of pitches over the next five years and with the main modifications meets the government’s test of soundness. 

The adoption of the DPD supports the objectives of the Council’s Equality Policy adopted in 2017 as outlined in paragraph 15 below. 

Authority for making any further additional modifications could be delegated to the relevant cabinet member; as the modifications covered by this delegation would not affect the basis of the DPD.  In exercising such delegated authority the officer is required to consult with the cabinet member for infrastructure and transport.  Therefore the proposed delegation provides the most efficient way of maintaining a clear and consistent set of development plan documentation.

That:

(a)        the Herefordshire Travellers sites Development Plan Document  (DPD) 2018-2031 (appendix 4 and at https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200185/local_plan/796/travellers_sites_document_examination/7), incorporating the Planning Inspector’s recommended main modifications (appendix 2) and the schedules of additional modifications (appendix 3) be recommended to Council for adoption; and

(b)       it be recommended to Council that delegated authority be given to the programme director growth to make any further minor modifications, (e.g. typographical) to ensure consistency with other development plan documentation.

To make the Welsh Newton and Llanrothal 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 Welsh Newton and Llanrothal neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire.

On 20 May 2016, the Council delegated authority to the cabinet member infrastructure for decisions on all further neighbourhood development plans adoptions, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map.

That:

(a)        The Welsh Newton and Llanrothal 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 Wigmore 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 Wigmore Group neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire.

On 20 May 2016, the Council delegated authority to the cabinet member infrastructure for decisions on all further neighbourhood development plan adoptions, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map.

That:

(a)       The Wigmore 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 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.

To approve the outcome of the review into the current level of funding for the remaining Dual Use Leisure Facilities in Herefordshire managed by Halo and options going forward

To award contract to Servelec for renewal of the support and annual maintenance of the Educational Management and Adults and Children’s Social Care case management IT solution, along with associated additional modules for a period of up to seven years at a maximum cost of £2.348m.

The contract will be through “Direct Award” via the Crown Commercial Services Data & Applications Solutions Framework (RM3821) due to Servelec having a proven track record over a number of years in the delivery of educational management and social care case management IT solutions and are one of the market leaders.

That:

(a)       a contract be awarded to Servelec for up to seven years at a maximum value of £2.348m to provide IT services for the Social Care (Mosaic & Abacus) and Education (Synergy) systems with additional modules covering Sign’s of Safety; Corius (Mosaic BI); Provider portal; Early years funding including the IT health check on the social care solutions; and

(b)       the existing Early Years Funding system (Sentinel) contract is extended until 31^st May 2020 to a value of up to £12k to ensure this provision can be moved into the core education management system (Synergy) in a timely manner.