To receive apologies for absence.

The Committee received apologies for absence from Cllr Diana Toynbee, Cllr Roger Phillips and Cllr Helen Heathfield.

To receive details of any councillor nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the committee.

Cllr David Hitchiner was present as the named substitute for Cllr Diana Toynbee. Cllr Robert Highfield was present as the named substitute for Cllr Roger Phillips. Cllr Stef Simmons was present as the named substitute for Cllr Helen Heathfield.

To receive declarations of interest in respect of items on the agenda.

A declaration of interest was made by Cllr David Hitchiner in relation to property matters in connection with item 7 on the agenda. A dispensation has been granted by the Monitoring Officer.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 7 July 2026.

The minutes of the previous meeting were received.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2026 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive any written questions from members of the public.

Documents containing questions received from members of the public and the responses given, plus supplementary questions and their respective responses were published as an appendix to the minutes.

To receive any written questions from members of the council.

No questions had been received from councillors.

To provide committee members with the full business case for Hereford Western Bypass Phase One, along with the assessment criteria that will be used alongside the full business case by Cabinet to determine whether to proceed with the project.

The Service Director introduced the Full Business Case (FBC) for the Hereford Bypass Phase One and advised that it was the culmination of approximately two years of technical development, analysis and evidence gathering. It explained that significant work had been required to review policy alignment, planning matters, funding arrangements, traffic modelling and technical assessments before the scheme could be fully evaluated. The purpose of the FBC was to determine whether the scheme represented value for money and to provide Cabinet with sufficient evidence to support decision-making.

Members were informed that the FBC built upon earlier work completed in 2018 and included updates to the Hereford traffic model, a full design review, engagement with Network Rail and National Highways, ecological surveys, planning reviews and procurement planning. Extensive ecological work had also been undertaken over the previous eighteen months to support environmental licensing requirements.

The Service Director also explained that the FBC had been prepared in accordance with HM Treasury Green Book methodology and structured around the Five Case Model: Strategic, Economic, Financial, Commercial and Management Cases. Members heard that the scheme achieved a Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of 1.6, representing medium value for money under government guidance. The assessment identified benefits of more than £58 million, increasing to approximately £64 million when wider economic impacts were included, compared with discounted costs of approximately £39.6 million. Officers advised that Phase One demonstrated value for money in its own right and would deliver measurable benefits independently of any future phases.

The Committee was informed that the scheme remained forecast to be delivered within the approved £45.3 million budget. Value engineering exercises had identified potential savings of between £4 and £8 million, while a quantified risk assessment had established a contingency requirement of just over £3 million.

In concluding the presentation, the Service Director outlined the governance arrangements supporting delivery of the scheme, including oversight by a Member Steering Group, Project Board and external stakeholder forums. Members were advised that a joint risk management process was in place between the council, consultants and the contractor, and that a detailed evidence framework would accompany the report to Cabinet.

The Chair thanked officers for the short presentation and summary.

The Committee were invited to examine each section of the Full Business Case (set out in the accompanying papers for this item) using the previously circulated Lines of Enquiry document to guide discussions.

The principal points of the subsequent discussion are summarised below:

1. Strategic Case and Need for Intervention

A.1 The Committee considered the Strategic Case and discussed whether the FBC clearly demonstrated the need for intervention, its alignment with wider strategic objectives, and the consequences of maintaining the status quo. Members highlighted the importance of ensuring that Cabinet received a clear description of the "business as usual" scenario, including the likely impact of future growth on the existing road network should the scheme not proceed.

A.2 Officers advised that traffic modelling indicated worsening congestion and network performance over time without intervention and agreed to set out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

To receive a verbal update from the Chairperson of the Public participation in planning task and finish group.

The Committee received an update on the Public Participation in Planning Task and Finish Group.

Members were advised that a draft report had been completed but further officer engagement had identified opportunities to strengthen both the report and future working practices.

The final report would therefore be presented to the Committee in September 2026. The Committee recorded its appreciation to the lead officer for the significant work undertaken on the review.

To consider the draft work programme for Herefordshire Council’s scrutiny committees.

The Statutory Scrutiny Officer presented the draft work programme for the Connected Communities Scrutiny Committee.

Items scheduled for future meetings included:

·       Broadband provision and infrastructure updates.

·       UK Shared Prosperity Fund impacts.

·       Year of Delivery performance review, including an update on progress relating to the John Haider temporary accommodation project.

The date of the next meeting is Tuesday 22 September 2026, 10:00 am.

The date of the next meeting is Tuesday 22 September 2026, 10:00 am.