Recommendation(s)

(a)   the Public Realm Services Annual Plan is approved as the basis for service delivery to 31 May 2026 by Balfour Beatty Living Places, within the capital and revenue budgets as detailed in Tables 1 and 2 and;

(b)   the fees and charges as set out in Appendix A of this report are approved and effective from 1 April 2026 and;

(c)   the Major Contracts Programme Director is authorised to agree, through the new Public Realm Contract governance arrangements, the Annual Plan as the basis for service delivery from 1 June 2026, within the capital and revenue budgets as detailed in Tables 1 and 2 and;

(d)   the Major Contracts Programme Director is authorised to spend the Department for Transport Highway Maintenance Block (Baseline) and Highway Maintenance Block (Incentive) Local Highways Maintenance Funding Allocations for 2026/27 of £23.697m in accordance with the Highway Asset Management Plan and Highway Maintenance Plan and;

(e)   the Major Contracts Programme Director be authorised to spend the Highways Infrastructure Investment, Resurfacing Herefordshire Highways, Public Rights of Way, Ash Die Back and Play Area Investment Council capital budget of £13.985m as detailed in Table 1 and;

(f)    the Major Contracts Programme Director be authorised to agree, through the Public Realm Contract governance arrangements, final adjustments to the entire 2026/27 programme, as set out in Appendix B, and budget allocation and any in-year adjustments to the plans, within the overall budget; including the Council capital budget and;

(g)   the Major Contracts Programme Director be authorised to spend up to £945,000 from ear marked reserves to support the delivery of the Parish Lengthsman Scheme, Parish Public Rights of Way Scheme and Parish Drainage Scheme as detailed in paragraphs 14 and 15 and;

(h)   the Major Contracts Programme Director be authorised to spend up to £290,678 from the commuted sum reserve to fund the maintenance of public realm assets as detailed in paragraph 17.