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, 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 approve a new scheme of polling districts, polling places and polling stations.

The council has a duty to divide its area into Polling Districts and to designate Polling Places for each district and review these every 5 years.

The review is designed to see if the polling districts and polling places in Herefordshire are arranged to suit the needs of voters and covers the following:

·         the polling district boundaries within each ward in the borough

·         the location of the polling places and stations in each polling district

·         the access to each polling station

The council cannot review the ward boundaries or the constituency boundaries.

As a result of the review we are not proposing changes to polling districts or places but there are some changes to polling stations proposed.

That:

1)    no changes be made to the existing Polling Districts as set out in appendix A;

2)    each entire Polling District continues to be designated as the Polling Place for that Polling District; and

3)    Changes to the following polling stations (as detailed at appendix A) be approved:

The Whitehouse Community Hub

Garway Community Centre

Westfields Hall

The Kinnersley Arms

Winforton Community Hall

The Forge

The Gateway Centre

Riverside Primary School

Kington Town Football Club

Ledbury Community Hall

Christ Church

Holy Trinity Church

Eastnor Cricket Club

Ledbury Swimming Pool

The Garron Centre

The Belmont Community Centre

The Three Counties Hotel

Weston-under-Penyard Village Hall

Larruperz Community Centre

Ross Swimming Pool

Ross-on-Wye Rugby Club

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

This application was withdrawn from the agenda.

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

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation, with an amended condition as reflected in the schedule of updates.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation, with an additional provision relating to the access.

To approve the introduction of an optional scheme of charges for additional street naming and numbering services.

To make the Withington 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 Withington 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 plans adoptions, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map.

That:

(a)        The Withington 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 Weobley 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 Weobley 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 Weobley 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 and adopt the revised Hereford (Rotherwas) Enterprise Zone Local Development Order 2019 (Appendix 2), to include additional areas of land to the south and east of the Enterprise Zone and roll forward its operation for a further period. The LDO process has been fundamental to the success of the Hereford Enterprise Zone by providing certainty for investors and is the only incentive now available to investors. Bringing forward a revised LDO indicates the Council’s continuing support for providing employment land within Enterprise Zone.  The process has also enabled the Rotherwas Drainage and Flood Management Strategy to be revisited in the light of Environment Agency advice regarding updated climate change guidance for flood risk reduction.  The benefits of the LDO will outweigh the loss of any fee income and the process has helped to enable an increased rate of industrial development at the enterprise zone. Since it has been in operation over £48m has been invested in those projects with Council receipts from sales totalling almost £3m and developments built or underway generating £21 m of business rates.

That:

(a)       Hereford (Rotherwas) Enterprise Zone Local Development Order 2019 be approved and adopted.

That:

(a)   A capital Short Breaks Grant Scheme with a non-recurring budget of £118,000 is made available for projects that will increase access to regular, inclusive universal and targeted activities to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Herefordshire;

(b)  the Director for Children and Families be authorised to determine grant awards inaccordance with the scheme criteria and having regard to the recommendations of the appraisal panel established as set out in appendix 1.

The cabinet member environment, economy and skills introduced the report and highlighted three minor corrections as follows:

·         Both resolutions were passed unanimously by Council;

·         The y (upwards) axis of the graph at paragraph 13 of the report was incorrectly labelled and should read carbon dioxide in thousand tonnes;

·         The date of the climate emergency resolution in appendix 1 should read 8 March 2018.

In introducing the report, the cabinet member made the following key points:

·         the council recognised the active lobbying by many members of the public, in particular young people, and the strong emotions raised by this subject;

·         the council was prepared to adopt challenging new targets;

·         carbon emissions had already been reduced by over 40% against the 2008/9 baseline;

·         significant reductions in budgets over this period had been challenging but drives for efficiencies and changes in ways of working to reduce costs had also delivered environmental benefits;

·         the council had met its carbon target two years early but this did not mean that work would stop, initiatives both within and outside the council had been continuing since the climate emergency motion was passed in March 2019;

·         it had to be recognised that many homes and businesses in Herefordshire were not cash rich, programmes such as the warm homes programme had enabled investments;

·         every tonne of carbon saved would make a difference, even apparently small actions could have a ripple effect and become a large change;

·         the level of public support had been noted, working together would magnify the impact of council actions;

·         climate change appeared in many sections of the new corporate plan which was currently under consultation;

·         it was recognised that most changes would be neither quick or straightforward, some changes would only be possible as contracts came due for renewal;

·         Herefordshire would work with other councils to lobby for changes to the national framework that prevented the council from doing certain things.

In discussion of the item cabinet members noted that:

·         additional detail on planned actions would be provided as soon as possible;

·         the new policy would set out actions for the council and also seek to influence partners;

·         every aspect of the council’s operations would be considered through the lens of the climate emergency;

·         the council would also seek to learn from good practices elsewhere in the country and overseas;

·         this was an issue that cut across cabinet portfolios;

·         the voices of young people and their support for action on climate change had been heard.

Group leaders were invited to give the views of their political groups. It was noted that:

·         all groups were supportive of action to tackle climate change;

·         the cost of initiatives would have to be looked at carefully;

·         the commitment of young people was welcomed;

·         working with partners such as parish councils was very important;

·         the use of supplementary planning documents should be explored to work towards targets, the review of the core strategy would need to take account of the agreed response to the climate emergency motion;

·         the Energy from Waste plant was making a transformational contribution;

·         different ways of working would be fundamental, increasing flexible and home working would have an impact on the trips generated by coming and going of staff.

It was agreed that:

The executive’s response to the resolutions relating to the climate emergency passed by Council in March and July 2019 be agreed as detailed in Appendix 1.

The meeting adjourned between 2:58 and 3:09. Councillor Matthews left the meeting at this time.