To provide an overview of the Executive’s activity in the last 12 months and priorities for the future.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor RJ Phillips presented his annual report and made the following points:

• He would work with Herefordshire’s Members of Parliament to the benefit of the public e.g to seek improvement to Herefordshire settlement grant which was currently badly funded.
• All were aware of the national financial position which would have an impact on both in-year and future revenue budgets. 
• As the outcome of the Census in April 2011 would be used by the government to fund public expenditure, it was vital that Herefordshire’s population be properly reflected.
• The potential swine flu pandemic demanded much time, resources and energy of senior officers, and whilst the pandemic did not occur it was recognised that the work undertaken was essential and that lessons had been learnt.  However it was also acknowledged that a focus on the pandemic prevented the time and resources being spent on other matters.
• The 2010/11 budget for road expenditure had been increased by 10% to £18million.  The infrastructure of Herefordshire’s roads was very important and main roads needed to be maintained to a high standard, however it was acknowledged that the challenge would be in relation to minor roads.
• Clear documentary evidence of service improvements across many areas had been collated during the year which included improvements in the quality of services delivered with health partners and the number of recipients of those services.
• Herefordshire Partnership remained important as it was vital to pool resources and collaborate appropriately to ensure best use of public monies.  Whilst formula funding was in place, any moves to decrease the Area Based Grant would be challenged.
• A further challenge included the growing maturing population.
• Continued cross sector working would be vital to delivering services and spend in the county; the work to date with the PCT has been innovative and surprise was expressed that the civil service had not been more interested in the outcomes of this partnership.
• Concern was expressed regarding the statistics for earnings, the challenge being how communities could be supported to improve future opportunities and to stabilise and improve upon current earnings.  Other contributing factors would include the need for the private sector to be encouraged to deliver both more and higher paid jobs, improved infrastructure (including broadband), greater number of affordable housing, as well as specific issues regarding the infrastructure around Herefordshire City and Leominster.  It was stated robustly that the Council could not oversee a further drop in earnings.
• The West Midlands Leaders’ Board had published a statement of intent which outlined areas of priority and joint working.  As 32 of the 33 local authority leaders were from either the Conservative or Liberal Democrat group it was essential that such relationships were used to support the West Midlands objectives.
• Sub regional partnerships had also been formed; Herefordshire Council would have no issues in forming partnerships and alliances which would benefit the county.  The importance of a strong relationship with Wales was also acknowledged and the need to protect the viability of services by ensuring their availability to cross border communities.
• Supporting Herefordshire’s vulnerable citizens of all ages was of key importance.  Child Protection Plans had risen by 149% in the two years to November 2009.
• The F40 group of local authorities would continue to lobby for more money to support education and to secure fairer funding from government.
• The Hearts of Herefordshire pilot initiative had been held in four areas and had facilitated positive changes in communities.  The initiative sought to build on the strength of local communities and included a cross sector of partners including town and parish councils.
• The wheelie bin collection had led to a dramatic increase in the amount of recycled goods.  It was confirmed that the weekly black bag collection would continue.
• The Shaping Our Place and Local Development Framework consultation had been successful.  The housing growth target of delivering 18,000 properties over 15 years would equate to a smaller rate of growth than had been delivered over the previous 15 years.  It was acknowledged that the debate regarding where the growth would take place needed to be held.  It was however stated that there was a need to recognise that there was a growing demand for; affordable housing, appropriate business developments, robust infrastructure etc.  An additional bridge crossing and better road infrastructure would be required for the city, as otherwise the current restrictions would freeze levels of growth and housing; the consequences of these not being built would need to be fully understood and acknowledged.
• The Ross flood alleviation scheme was supported and delivered in time.
• Herefordshire became the first in the UK to provide IT systems and support across the Council, PCT, hospital trust and other bodies and organisations.
• The challenge in the year ahead would be to achieve more, for more people with fewer resources.  The cross sector working achieved to date had been advantageous and would need to continue to deliver positive outcomes together with other activities.
• Thanks were expressed to all Members, including Overview and Scrutiny Members for their contributions to help inform policy development, and specifically to the Cabinet and wider group for their dedicated work.

Responding to questions from Members in attendance the Leader stated that:

• Maintaining the road infrastructure in the county was key to ensuring the important tourism economy, however whilst motorists contributed significantly to taxes there was no correlation with the subsequent reallocation of public finance from HM Treasury.  There would be little to gain by lobbying the Department of Transport for additional finance due to the prominence of HM Treasury.
• Businesses, at times, regarded local government in a negative light due to issues of bureaucracy and regulatory matters.  There was a need to demonstrate that the Council was also an enabler; the LDF was clear about the need to support and strengthen businesses, both new and established.
• He acknowledged the supportive comments which commended the work of dedicated school staff despite the low funding; the work of the F40 was also commended  Following the change of government further details were awaited on issues relating to standards in education and delivery of funding.  Such issues would continue to be a challenge in the immediate period and it was important to keep a watching brief on standards in schools.
• An invitation had been sent to the Leader of the Welsh Assembly for a meeting with both Leaders of Herefordshire Council and Shropshire Council.  A key message to be emphasised to the Welsh government was that both Herefordshire and Shropshire could help in satisfying needs of welsh communities and should be considered when developing policies for the welsh assembly in relation to health, transport links, retail, education and other matters.  It was a regret that congestion on the A49 had detrimentally affected the transport links encouraged by the Welsh Assembly.

The Cabinet Member Corporate and Customer Services and Human Resources, in responding to a question relating to smallholdings stated that Council had agreed to invest £1.5million in the smallholdings portfolio over a three year period.  Whilst there had been some disposal of assets, this had been as outlined in the smallholdings review.  A progress report on the smallholdings review would be considered by Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny Committee in September 2010.  It was important to ensure that the smallholding properties complied with the decent homes standards.  The only land which would be disposed of would be by the provision of a garden for any property sold, as stated in the review.  The Cabinet Member was pleased to inform Council of the buoyant tenants’ forum.

The Cabinet Member Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing stated that whilst the issues around the national debt needed to be resolved, the most vulnerable in society must be protected.  In responding to questions the Cabinet Member;

·         Requested that any concerns about service inefficiencies be directed to the Chief Executive for action, though the Cabinet Member took exception to a comment which stated that the service provided was not adequate and commended the hard work of front line workers.  Any faults with the service which could be demonstrated would be dealt with.

·         Requested Members who had concerns about individual cases (examples provided at the meeting included mental health provision and the lack of a seamless provision between Children’s Services and Adult Social Care, and costs of respite care) to approach the Cabinet Member to provide details on these cases to ensure that the matters were investigated. 

·         Together with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services shared concerns regarding the mental health issues of young people and across all communities.  The provision of mental health services in rural areas was by definition more resource intensive than those managed in urban areas, however it was recognised that this issue was of great importance both now and in the future.

The Cabinet Member Children’s Services advised Council that drugs, alcohol and mental health had a high level of correlation.  The Children’s Trust Shadow Board in considering its priority areas would initially be focussing on issues around alcohol.

The Leader additionally stated that:

• As the provision of services would be rolled out via locality teams, this approach should support closer working between service teams.  Members were advised that funding of social care was a national problem and that a big debate needed to be held around the approach to its funding.
• A public health seminar for Members will be held in June to which all Members were encouraged to attend
• The building of the Rotherwas Road had protected local jobs.  The business park development had maintained jobs, whilst some firms had increased the number of employees.  Businesses which exported goods appreciated the infrastructure provided by the road and commended its potential.  The Rotherwas Road was important for the local economy and assisted the manufacturing industry, which should be ignored at our peril.

RESOLVED:  That the Leader’s annual report be received.