To approve the council’s Delivery Plan 2025-26.

ChildrenCHTHE MEMBER the The member for finance and corporate services introduced the report.  It was highlighted that the Delivery Plan was directly linked to the Council Plan 2024-2028 which was approved at full council on the 24th of May 2024.

The Council Plan together with the Medium Term Financial Forecast (MTFS) were the overarching policy framework documents, where decisions will be taken and resource is allocated over the next three years.

It was highlighted that the administration had set themselves an ambitious target of 113 deliverables and 259 milestones.  

Under ‘People’ it was noted that the council will enable residents to realise their potential to be healthy, to be part of great communities supporting each other and for all children to have the best start in life.  There were 6 objectives with 32 two key deliverables and 88 key milestones.

Under ‘Place’ it was noted that the council will protect and enhance its environment and ensure that Herefordshire was a great place to live. The council will support the right housing in the right place and will do everything it can to improve the health of its rivers.  There were 9 objectives, 44 listed deliverables supported by 94 key milestones.

Under ‘Growth’ it was noted that the council will create the conditions to deliver sustainable growth across the county, attracting inward investment, building business confidence, creating jobs, enabling housing development along with providing the right infrastructure.  There were 6 objectives, 19 listed deliverables and 38 key milestones.

Under ‘Transformation’ it was noted that the council will be efficient, embrace best practise, deliver innovation through technology and demonstrate value for money.  There were 6 objectives, 18 deliverables and 39 key milestones. 

It was confirmed that the monitoring of the Delivery Plan would be completed quarterly at Cabinet and would also include an addendum to cover the Transformation Strategy milestones.  It was confirmed that routine financial monitoring against the approved revenue and capital programme would be included in the quarterly budget reporting to Cabinet.  It was further noted that monthly progress reports would be provided to the Corporate Leadership Team, annual service plans (outlining service area priorities and key areas of focus) would also be included.  Finally, annual individual performance and development plans would be written.

It was confirmed that development of any projects within the Delivery Plan for 25/26 would seek to minimise any adverse environmental impact and would identify opportunities to improve and enhance environmental performance.   

Comments from cabinet members.  The Delivery Plan was noted to be a positive and ambitious Plan.  The format of the Plan meant it was clear to see if items would be delivered or not, increasing transparency and openness. Within the Environment directorate the cabinet member was looking forward to the regenerative farm mentoring program, the Wye catchment, the nutrient management plan and the solar car port items being progressed.  It was highlighted that the Council Plan was the ‘golden thread’ that leads through all the plans, and it was positive to see the areas of People, Place, Growth and Transformation progressing.  It was noted that regarding the ‘community open spaces grant’ 70 expressions of interests were received, and business cases from the shortlisted applicants were awaited.  It was positive to see the number of voluntary sector organisations (large and small) who were working hard with local residents, and the cabinet member was looking forward to seeing the applicants’ business cases.  It was noted that infrastructure will be busy in the next year with the delivery of the Transport Hub, alongside active travel measures.  It was also noted that it was an exciting year for roads and regulatory services with the new contractor and all the highway resurfacing schemes. 

Group leaders gave the views of their groups. It was raised that comments from the scrutiny working group on the Delivery Plan were not seen within the Delivery Plan. 

It was queried what the impact of the tasks would be and how will members and the public know if a task had been delivered well and effectively. Similarly, it was unclear how the first year of the Delivery Plan joined up with the second year in the Plan. A closure report was suggested to report on what had been delivered, what hadn’t and how that fed into the new Delivery Plan for 2025-26.  It was also raised that without impact measures in the Delivery Plan members could not see what the ambition for residents was and whether it was being achieved or not. 

Regarding the housing crisis it was raised if the acquisition fund for housing provision would be spent (as agreed by council in July).  Disappointment was expressed that by March 2026 only the long-term strategic model for the delivery of housing across the county would be finalised.  It was queried whether homelessness would have gone up, down or stabilised. 

Comments from the scrutiny working group were highlighted. Reassurance was sought regarding the alternative curriculum provision and the framework of providers.  It was raised that the framework should allow for smaller groups, who were already engaged in the community, to be included to ensure more choice. 

Regarding the active travel programmes, it was raised that more needs to be done and 20mph zones were asked to be considered to support climate change, health and reduce obesity levels in the population.  It was commented that to achieve active travel, and enable residents to walk and cycle, 20 mph zones should be introduced as evidenced within DfT guidance and seen in Cornwall.   

More information was requested to be included regarding safer schools and streets project, what were the actual deliverables and what would the change be. 

Regarding section 106 it was queried what the risks were in achieving the milestones and the deliverability of the project. 

It was queried what the date was for the bus summit.

It was raised that the local nature recovery strategy was not referenced in the milestones and deliverables in the Delivery Plan. 

In response to queries, it was confirmed that the outcomes, impacts of the deliverables and further detail requested were included in the existing service plans. These would also be reported on in the quarterly performance reports to cabinet.  These reports were detailed yet concise, to ensure individuals read them without being overloaded. 

It was also noted that cabinet had not formally received the recommendations of the scrutiny working group.   

It was confirmed that the closeout report will be completed in late May 2025 when the quarter 4 performance report was delivered.  This could include elements of the Delivery Plan from this year which were not completed, and it was understood a small number would be carried forward to next year. 

Regarding successful or unsuccessful deliverability of the holiday activity food programme and household support fund, it was also highlighted that the report included issues around tooth brushing and issues within Public Health. It was confirmed that the Health and Wellbeing board received regular updates on the numbers involved in these activities and figures for 2024/25 could be provided to members. 

It was noted that the recommendations allowed for minor amendments.  Therefore, the comments from group leaders and the recommendations from the scrutiny working group (once received), could be reflected on and amendments could be made to finalise the Delivery Plan where considered appropriate. 

Councillor Stoddart proposed the recommendations, and it was unanimously resolved that:

That:

a) Cabinet approves the Delivery Plan 2025-26 as set out in appendix A;

b) Authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make minor amendments to the approved Delivery Plan 2025-26.