To confirm the Public Realm Services Annual Plan for 2026/27.

Recommendation(s)

(a)   the Public Realm Services Annual Plan is approved as the basis for service delivery to 31 May 2026 by Balfour Beatty Living Places, within the capital and revenue budgets as detailed in Tables 1 and 2 and;

(b)   the fees and charges as set out in Appendix A of this report are approved and effective from 1 April 2026 and;

(c)   the Major Contracts Programme Director is authorised to agree, through the new Public Realm Contract governance arrangements, the Annual Plan as the basis for service delivery from 1 June 2026, within the capital and revenue budgets as detailed in Tables 1 and 2 and;

(d)   the Major Contracts Programme Director is authorised to spend the Department for Transport Highway Maintenance Block (Baseline) and Highway Maintenance Block (Incentive) Local Highways Maintenance Funding Allocations for 2026/27 of £23.697m in accordance with the Highway Asset Management Plan and Highway Maintenance Plan and;

(e)   the Major Contracts Programme Director be authorised to spend the Highways Infrastructure Investment, Resurfacing Herefordshire Highways, Public Rights of Way, Ash Die Back and Play Area Investment Council capital budget of £13.985m as detailed in Table 1 and;

(f)    the Major Contracts Programme Director be authorised to agree, through the Public Realm Contract governance arrangements, final adjustments to the entire 2026/27 programme, as set out in Appendix B, and budget allocation and any in-year adjustments to the plans, within the overall budget; including the Council capital budget and;

(g)   the Major Contracts Programme Director be authorised to spend up to £945,000 from ear marked reserves to support the delivery of the Parish Lengthsman Scheme, Parish Public Rights of Way Scheme and Parish Drainage Scheme as detailed in paragraphs 14 and 15 and;

(h)   the Major Contracts Programme Director be authorised to spend up to £290,678 from the commuted sum reserve to fund the maintenance of public realm assets as detailed in paragraph 17.

1.     Not to approve the programme and delivery arrangements. This is not recommended as operating without approved delivery arrangements may put the management of budgets, performance and contract management arrangements at risk.

2.     If in-year changes to the service as detailed in this annual plan are required, then these can be best managed from the baseline position established in the annual plan, through the change management processes that are in the Public Realm Services contracts and managed through the council’s Highways team.

3.     To approve alternative delivery arrangements for 2026/27; this option is not recommended as the development of the delivery plans have gone through a robust process with Balfour Beatty Living Places and the council’s client team to ensure effective prioritisation and asset management have been applied within the overall budgets available.