To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jim Kenyon and Ben Proctor.

Councillor David Hitchiner declared an interest in agenda item no. 7, capital programme review and update, as a local resident to the proposed Southern Link Road.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2023.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the Chairman and Chief Executive’s announcements.

Council noted the Chairman’s and Chief Executive’s announcements as printed in the agenda papers.

To receive questions from members of the public.

A copy of the public questions and written answers, together with supplementary questions asked at the meeting and their answers, is attached to the Minutes at Appendix 1.

To receive questions from members of the Council.

A copy of the Member questions and written answers, together with supplementary questions asked at the meeting and their answers, is attached to the Minutes at Appendix 2.

To approve the revised capital investment budget for 2023/24 onwards.

Council considered a report by the Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services to approve the revised capital investment budget for 2023/24 onwards.

The Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services proposed the recommendations in the report and introduced the report.

The Leader seconded the recommendations in the report.

Council debated the report. There was division among the membership. It was the contention of some members that the capital funding proposed towards the southern link road was a valuable contribution towards improving infrastructure in the county. The use of capital funding to support the southern link road was opposed by other sections of the membership who queried the viability of the scheme. 

Proposed amendment:

1)            Instead of removing the £2m retrofit hub budget, fund this through capital receipts, and reduce the capital receipt allocation to the SLR by £2m.

2)            Remove the SLR elements for 2024 onwards, reducing the allocation to the £800k identified as required for 2023/24, on the basis that further proposals for SLR funding in future years can and should come to council as part of the normal annual budgeting process.

Councillor Chowns proposed the amendment above to the original motion.

Councillor Heathfield seconded the amendment.

Council debated the proposed amendment. There was division among the membership. It was the contention of some members that the retention of the retrofit hub was essential to meeting climate and cost of living challenges. The removal of proposed capital funding to support the southern link road was opposed by other sections of the membership; the reduction in investment would not allow access to additional sources of funding towards the infrastructure project.

The proposed amendment was put to the vote and was lost by a simple majority.

The original motion was put to the vote and was carried by a simple majority.

RESOLVED – That Council:

a)            Approve the revised capital programme for 2023/24 attached at appendix C;

b)            The chief finance officer be authorised, following consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services to make in year amendments to the final value included for the investment projects for (i) from Wye Valley Trust (WVT) and (ii) . Also the investment project from Herefordshire and Worcestershire Group Training Association (HWGTA), in both instances, based on the final approved business cases;

c)            Approve the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts of up to £1.6m in 2023/24, to support transformation to generate ongoing revenue savings and reduce service delivery costs in future years; and

d)            The chief finance officer be authorised, following consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services to make in year amendments to the final value included for the relocation of the library to the Shirehall based on the final approved business case and utilise the grant award from Stronger Towns Board.

To receive a report from the leader on the activities of the executive (cabinet) since the meeting of Council on 13 October 2023.

Council received and noted the Leader’s Report which provided an update on the activities of Cabinet since the meeting of Council on 13 October 2023.

Council questioned the Leader and the following actions were raised:

·       To provide a written response to a question requesting updates on the phosphate credit scheme, including the number of applications that were still delayed and the amount of housing to be released under new schemes.

·       To provide a written response to a question regarding the continuation of the Market Towns funding programme.

·       In response to a question, to consider the extension of the deadline for the consultation on the new County Plan.

·       In response to a question, to investigate the increase of the council subsidy for the 232 bus services.

To consider Notices of Motion.

Council debated the motion contained in the report by the Director of Law and Governance.

Motion – Affordable Housing

Councillor Owens proposed the motion.

Councillor James seconded the motion.

Council debated the motion. There was consensus among the membership that there was a requirement for more affordable housing to be constructed in the county. Caution was expressed by some members regarding the potential complications to councils involved in the construction and management of social housing stock. There was significant support for the motion.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried by a simple majority.

RESOLVED: Council:

• Request the cabinet develop a programme to deliver an ambitious number of units of social housing, market-rent lifetime tenancies, affordable home ownership and market sale properties, funded through the prudent use of borrowing, capital receipts and the management of council assets in time for this to be agreed by Council as part of next year’s capital programme.

• Request that the Connected Communities Scrutiny Committee undertake a review of good practice in housing delivery provided directly by local authorities and make recommendations to Cabinet by June 2024.

• Request that the Leader of the Council to provide an update on housing delivery at each meeting of the Council.