To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies from members of the cabinet.

To receive declarations of interests in respect of Table A, Table B or Other Interests from members of the committee in respect of items on the agenda.

Councillor Hitchiner declared an interest regarding item 9 on the basis he lived in the vicinity of the proposed route.  It was noted that it was not a registerable interest and Councillor Hitchiner had a dispensation to take part in the meeting. 

Councillor Powell declared an interest regarding item 9 in his capacity as chairman of Hereford Rugby Club

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2025.

Minutes are to follow.

Resolved:       That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2025 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairperson.

To receive questions from members of the public.

Questions received and responses given are attached as appendix 1 to the minutes.

To receive questions from councillors.

Questions received and responses given are attached as appendix 2 to the minutes.

To receive reports from the Council’s scrutiny committees on any recommendations to the Cabinet arising from recent scrutiny committee meetings.

There are no scrutiny reports.

There were no reports from scrutiny committees for consideration at this meeting.

The purpose of this report is to present cabinet with the Phase 3 Children’s Services Improvement Plan for endorsement. 

It was confirmed that Tina Russell was appointed as the permanent corporate director for children’s services this week and congratulations were extended.  It was also confirmed that this appointment updates the position in paragraphs 7 and 8.

 ChildrenCHTHE MEMBER the The member for children and young people introduced the report.  Thanks were extended to the corporate director for their development of this approach regarding the children’s improvement plan and for their leadership in delivering the improvements required.  The leadership team, managers and staff were also thanked for continuing to deliver improvement in the council’s practice and approach to support and working with families. 

It was confirmed in producing the report, the council was conscious of key legislation, statutory guidance, the independent review of children’s social care and the published government’s response called ‘keeping children safe, helping families thrive’. As a result, the council are in a good position to develop and implement the government’s families first programme. 

The plan reinforces the council’s restoratives strength-based approach and it sets out the council’s tripartite approach in monitoring progress through key performance indicators, case auditing and gathering views and experiences of children and families. 

Thanks were extended to those who had shared their experiences with the council and by the end of March 2025 over 100 families had done so. The views reported were consistently positive. 

It was highlighted that Ofsted’s 7^th monitoring visit report was published on 17^th July.  Ofsted had noted that the quality of practice for children in care had improved at pace since the last monitoring visit, the director of children’s services and managers had worked with conviction to allow social work to flourish and consistently stronger practice was improving the experience and outcomes for children in care. 

It was noted that the approach taken during Phase 2 of the plan was making a clear tangible difference both in terms of quality of social work and the pace of improvements. 

Comments from cabinet members.  Thanks were extended to the director of children’s services and the cabinet member for their level of service, hard work and efficiency in turning around children’s and young people.  It was noted that the directorate was not only operating within budget but under budget as per the Quarter 4 report and were delivering an exceptional service. 

It was noted that whilst Ofsted acted as the independent arbiter, the Government appointed children’s commissioner also provided scrutiny on children’s services.  It was highlighted that previous concerns by Ofsted regarding the pace of improvement acknowledged that the pace had progressed to create an environment for social work to flourish. 

It was confirmed that the service was in a good place to deliver against the family first programme.  The four outcomes are for children and young people to stay together to get the help they need, that children and young people are supported by their family network, children and young people are safe both in and outside the home and that children and care leavers have stable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

To approve the  Domestic Abuse Strategy for Herefordshire 2025 to 2028, in accordance with the requirements of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

ChildrenCHTHE MEMBER the The member for adults, health and wellbeing introduced the report.  It was highlighted that the strategy had been developed through consultation and engagement with the community, local providers, services and people who had lived experience of domestic abuse.

It was noted that engagement with people with lived experience of domestic abuse and victims continues through the year by LEAN (Lived Experience Advisory Network).

The strategy sets out a vision for Herefordshire which is to be a county where domestic abuse is not tolerated and where everyone can live free from abuse and harm.

It was noted that the strategy has four overarching priorities (1) improving the awareness and prevention (2) improving and understanding of domestic abuse and support services (3) improve joint working and coordination across services and (4) to hold perpetrators to account for their behaviour.  An action plan had been developed incorporating a number of outcomes below each priority area and the Local Partnership Board will be responsible for monitoring and measuring progress against these outcomes.

It was confirmed that data referenced on page 8 referred to local statistics. On page 13 data regarding intimate partner violence, suicidal, and self-harm research were National Statistics. Within the needs assessments the data sources listed all related to Herefordshire unless otherwise stated. 

Comments from cabinet members.  It was positively noted for the lived experience to have been captured within this strategy.  The sanctuary scheme was a good scheme to give options for victims to remain in the home.  It was important to raise the understanding of what is domestic abuse including coercive control.  The ‘cut it out’ scheme was positively highlighted and queried if it would be taken forward and grown to increase awareness of it. 

It was confirmed that the council would like to roll out the ‘cut it out’ scheme to wider businesses.  Whilst increasing awareness may see an increase in numbers that would be positive, as it would mean more awareness was being raised. 

It was confirmed that children’s services have conducted two workshops to complete a specific children’s plan that would report into the Domestic Abuse Partnership Board. 

Group leaders gave the views of their groups. The strategy was welcomed; it was noted to be a good and solid strategy. It was positively acknowledged that important schemes such as ‘ask Angela’ and ‘cut it out’ were highlighted.  It was raised that abuse takes place in more than the domestic environment, including towards council staff and queried if staff were receiving the right amount of training

Several queries were raised; whether the council’s health partners could be encouraged to establish a sexual assault referral center in Herefordshire, if the council has enough housing for those in domestic abuse situations and if there were any face-to-face training available in Herefordshire for members to participate in.  Clarification was sought regarding the membership of the Local Partnership Board. 

A request was made to ensure that schools were providing information regarding domestic abuse and positive relationships as this would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Seeking approval of the procurement strategy and authority to procure and award a contract, to a contractor through a two-stage procurement process.  The report also seeks to inform members of the land acquisition strategy for the land required to construct Hereford Western Bypass Phase 1.

ChildrenCHTHE MEMBER the The member for transport and infrastructure introduced the report.  It was highlighted that the decision was regarding approval of the procurement strategy and to inform members of the land acquisition strategy. 

It was confirmed that a design review had been completed for Phase 1 of the bypass which revealed that the original design of the Southern Link Road was still good for the most part.  Therefore, it was now the right time to bring on a construction partner to help finalise the designs and to assist with working with National Highways and Network Rail in completing the approvals for the design.  It was confirmed that early contractor engagement would assist in finalising the construction cost estimates. 

It was confirmed that current financing will use the £10.3m agreed by cabinet and council.  The report in March 2024 authorised the spending of £10.3m and the report was comprehensive, open, transparent and clearly set out the rationale for the decision to progress to the development of Phase 1.

It was highlighted that a full business case will be considered by cabinet before the funding for the construction of Phase 1 was drawn down and there was no requirement for a further business case regarding this current decision to procure a contractor.

It was noted a useful PGC was also held on 7 July.

It was raised that the appendices to the report were exempt and if discussion by cabinet members or group leaders referred to them, the meeting would need to move into closed session.

Comments from cabinet members.  There was support for the project moving forward. 

Group leaders gave the views of their groups. No concerns regarding the approach to procurement were raised. There was support from some group leaders for the bypass proceeding.  Concerns were raised as well regarding whether the scheme would deliver an improvement to traffic and would represent value for money. It was raised that evidence to justify the decision and spend had not been delivered.  It was queried whether the money could be phased so the procurement approach was brought forward alongside a business case with the funding being released when the business case and value for money analysis evidence supported it. 

It was queried if all decisions taken by the Economy and Environment Director would be taken in full consultation with the cabinet and the section 151 officer, would be fully documented and accessible to members.

It was queried would the procurement and construction consider the council’s commitment to net zero, would there be active travel infrastructure and consideration made for children and young people.

It was raised if lessons learnt from previous projects were being applied to Phase 1.  Whether there was confidence in the pricing to provide a reliable indicative pricing for Phase 2 and what the margin of error was.

It was queried what the likelihood of central government funding would be required to deliver the full Western Bypass and what safeguards were in place to avoid further cost burdens  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.