A report to recommend to full Council updates to the Council's Constitution.

To update members on the progress of internal audit work and to bring to their attention any key internal control issues arising from work recently completed.

To assure the committee that action is being taken on risk related issues identified by internal audit. This is monitored through acceptance of agreed management actions and progress updates in implementing the action plans. In addition, occasions where audit actions not accepted by management are documented if it is considered that the course of action proposed by management presents a risk in terms of the effectiveness of or compliance with the council’s control environment.

To review and agree the external auditor’s draft annual plan for 2025/26.

To agree to join the NPP to provide multiple options of cashless parking providers for all council pay and display car parks and on-street.

To seek cabinet member approval to implement a compliant digital financial platform to effectively deliver the Crisis and Resilience Fund, enabling a ‘cash first’ approach to financial support for Herefordshire residents experiencing financial shock, and ensuring compliance with DWP requirements.

Decision to fund up to £106,000.00 of Section 106 monies for “Educational” (Primary) for the provision of a Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) base at Trinity Primary School.

To accept grant funding of up to £130,000.00 from the Department for Education (DfE).

To enter contract with eEnergy Services UK Ltd to deliver the works through the DfE CCS Framework.

To spend up to £130,000.00 of GBESP funding to deliver the Solar PV scheme at Weobley Primary School.

Award a contract to ONE Creative Environments Ltd for consultancy services related to works at Ryefields Centre, 33 Grammar School Close, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7QD following a successful tender on Procure Partnerships framework.

• Approve the expenditure of up to £114,780 to ONE Creative Environments Ltd for their consultancy services
• Approve a contingency allowance of up to £15,000 for any unforeseen costs that may arise.
• Approve the expenditure of up to £5,000 for internal and external professional fees.

Authority is delegated to the Capital Project Manager from the
Corporate Director of Economy and Environment to act as spend manager for the project. Responsibility for monitoring the remaining works to be carried out by the Capital Project Manager within the spend budget

Decision to grant a Tenancy at Will to the tenant at Unit 19 Maylord Orchards Centre, Hereford.

1. The tenant has served their break notice to end their current lease at the property on 03rd March 2026.
2. The property team has encouraged the tenant to remain in occupation on a Tenancy at Will in the interim period which the tenant has agreed to.
3. The Tenancy at Will allows the tenant time to see how their business reacts to a number of new occupiers coming to the centre. If they wish to remain then a new lease will be negotiated with the landlord’s agent.
4. The Terms agreed leave the Tenant responsible for payment of the rent, landlord Service Charge, business rates, insurance and utilities.
5. The Centre comprises multiple retail units, some of which have been vacant for some time and it is important that occupation levels are maximized so that the holding costs incurred by the Council are mitigated.

Decision to accept a Surrender from National Grid of a lease of land (electricity substation) located adjacent to Halo leisure pool and council’s Pay & Display car park at St Martin’s, Hereford
• A new substation is necessary to supply the voltage requirements of new high speed car charging points in the public car park, that are already installed.
• The legal process requires the lease of the old substation site to be surrendered.
• A new transaction will be completed for the new site and will be covered by a separate decision

Decision to sell the Lugg Vale Cottage and paddock via tender submission to best candidate.
• The council went through the correct procedure in order for it to be declared surplus to requirements
• Generate income for the council
• Allow the community to make good use of a building which would otherwise be vacant

THAT:
(a) A public path diversion order, for definitive footpath ZC24 in the parish of Leominster, is made in accordance with section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as shown in the draft order and plan TCPA108 in Appendix 1 attached to this report to enable development granted planning permission P250711/F for the proposed change of use of agricultural land to residential curtilage use, the erection of timber garage and redirection of public footpath ZC24 to be carried out and;
(b) In the event that there are no un-withdrawn objections to the formal advertising of the order, it is then confirmed.
(c) If sustained objections are received, the matter can be passed to the Secretary of State for a decision.

THAT:

(a) A public path diversion order, for definitive footpath ZC116 (part) in the parish of Leominster, is made in accordance with section 119 of the Highways Act 1980, as shown in the draft order and plan D570 in Appendix 1 attached to this report and;
(b) In the event that there are no un-withdrawn objections to the formal advertising of the order, it is then confirmed.
(c) If sustained objections are received, the matter can be passed to the Secretary of State for a decision.

See Appendix 1 below for drawing.

To award a contract directly to MG Motors UK Ltd for the purchase of 18 cars under the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) framework RM6244 Lot 1 Purchase of Passenger Cars in the sum of £334,744.38
To award a contract directly to Citroen UK Ltd for the purchase of 7 vans under the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) framework RM6244 Lot 2 Purchase of Light and Medium Commercial Vehicles up to 7.5 Tonnes in the sum of £180,428.78.
To award a contract directly to Co Wheels for the purchase of vehicle telematics for fleet management and compliance under the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) framework RM6265 Lot 5 Car Share Solutions in the sum of £12,375.00

To authorise the making of a Temporary Footpath Closure Order served under section 16A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to require a temporary closure of WBK4, Welsh Bicknor planned to be effective for a period of 8 hours commencing 0600 14 March 2026.

To award a contract (Works Order 40) to Tarmac Trading Ltd using the Council’s NEC 4 Framework Agreement, up to the value of £180,000.00 with an approved contingency of 10% to the value of £18,000.

The works identified as shown within Appendix 1.

To authorise the making of a Temporary Footpath Closure Order served under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to require a temporary closure of GR42, Goodrich planned to be effective for a period of 6 months commencing 10 March 2026.

To authorise the making of a Temporary Footpath Closure Order served under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to require a temporary closure of AM2, Almeley planned to be effective for a period of 6 months commencing 9 March 2026.

A report providing a recommendation to the Shareholder Committee to agree to the sale of property

A report providing an update to the Shareholder Committee on the performance of Cyber Quarter Ltd

A report providing an update to the Shareholder Committee on the performance of Hoople Ltd

To initiate the recruitment process for the post of Director of Finance.

To seek approval for the allocation of Basic Need Capital Grant funding to support the expansion of John Masefield High School and Weobley High School in order to meet future demand for additional secondary school places.

To provide an update on progress made against the 2025/26 statutory accounts workplan and present the accounting policies and estimates which inform the financial statements.

To provide an update on the status of corporate risks at the end of Quarter 3 2025/26 (December
2025) and provide assurance that risks are being managed effectively across the council.

Approve the executive’s response to the ‘Charter for the River Wye’ motion approved at the Meeting of Council held on Friday 5 December 2025

To approve expenditure within the capital building improvement programme 2026-2029

Decision to grant a tenancy at will and a new lease to Landau in respect of Unit 26 -27, 1-3 Brewers Passage, Maylord Orchards Centre, Hereford.

1. The tenant has negotiated a deal renew their lease and remain in occupation of Unit 26-27 Maylord Orchards.
2. The tenant’s lease has expired and a tenancy at will is required to regularise their continued occupation.
3. The tenant provides learning for adults across the city and benefits the wider authority.
4. The Terms agreed leave the Tenant responsible for payment of the rent, landlord Service Charge, business rates, insurance and utilities.
5. The Shopping centre comprises multiple retail units, some of which have been vacant for some time and it is important that occupation levels are maximized so that the holding costs incurred by the Council are mitigated.

To grant a Licence for Alterations to permit the installation of PV panels at council owned property by the tenant
The lease permits the tenant to make such alterations with the landlord’s consent which is not to be unreasonably withheld. The tenant has provided the required information and there are no reasonable grounds for the council to withhold consent

Award a contract to SC Joseph Ltd for internal refurbishment works at Gardner Hall, Venns Lane, Hereford. HR1 1DT following a successful tender exercise.

Approve the expenditure of up to £74,678 for the works.

Approve the expenditure of up to £1,322 for internal and external professional fees.

The Corporate Director, Economy and Environment approve the delegated authority to the Service Director to take all operational decisions relating to the award of contracts for the 2025-2028 and 2024-2027 Estates Capital Programme.

Authority is delegated to the Capital Project Manager from the
Corporate Director of Economy and Environment to act as spend manager for the project. Responsibility for monitoring the remaining works to be carried out by the Capital Project Manager within the spend budget.

This report seeks approval from the Cabinet Member for Roads and Regulatory Services to adopt a revised private rented sector enforcement framework in preparation for the commencement of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
The report proposes the adoption of a Justice for Tenants (JFT) Housing Enforcement Policy, a standalone JFT Civil Penalty Policy and matrix, and updated standard HMO licence conditions, together with approval to enter into a JFT support contract (subject to legal review and agreement) to support implementation.
The purpose of the report is to ensure the Council is legally compliant, operationally ready and able to deliver consistent, transparent and defensible enforcement of housing standards and landlord legislation from 1 May 2026.

To approve going out to tender to procure an external specialist partner to work with the Community Wellbeing directorate to identify, design and implement transformation activity that delivers sustainable, recurrent savings over the Medium Term Financial Strategy period.

To propose the High Needs Budget for 2026/27 to the Cabinet Member Children and Young People.

Dedicated Schools Grant funding for the High Needs Block (HNB) in 2026/27 is £25.14 million. At this stage, the funding for HNB is provisional and is subject to final adjustments based on actual termly take up. The funding values and formula calculations are in accordance with the National Funding Formula (NFF) as set by the Government.

To approve the establishment of a Council wide Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Commissioning Framework.

To approve the capital budget allocated to Strategic Housing through the Council’s capital programme to meet the immediate housing need of vulnerable groups and provide grant assistance to property owners to bring empty properties back into use.

To approve the council’s Delivery Plan 2026-27. Cabinet is required to produce a delivery plan each year of the administration which sets out how the strategic priorities within the Herefordshire Council Plan 2024-28 will be delivered and monitored.

To adopt the new carbon management plan for the period 2026/27 to 2030/31

To agree to commence a pilot programme for a School Transport Operating Model that will provide evidence to inform the delivery of a clear, consistent, and efficient framework for delivering the council’s statutory home-to-school transport service.

To approve an extension to the council’s current commissioned home care framework for up to six months from 31 October 2026 to 30 April 2027.

The purpose of the report is to approve the 2026-2036 Herefordshire Adult Social Care Prevention Strategy

To report to Cabinet the quarterly outturn of key KPIs and progress against the Delivery Plan 2025/26.

This is a five year statutory strategy to replace the 2020-2025 strategy. It sets out our approach to the prevention of homelessness and rough sleeping in the county.

To provide Cabinet with an update regarding the Phosphate Mitigation Wetland schemes

To seek cabinet approval for Herefordshire Council to take receipt of the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) grant as a programme funded by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) between 2026-2029. The CRF replaces the Household Support Fund (HSF) and the Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) and will enable Herefordshire to work collaboratively with partners and communities at county and local levels to build long-term resilience, cohesion, and reduce the need for crisis support.

To update the Highway Maintenance Plan, which sets out the reasonable system of inspection and repair that will
be deployed by the Council to ensure that it meets its duty to maintain all publicly maintainable highways.

To formally adopt the Herefordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy and accept associated government grant for delivery.

To Allocate the balance of the Climate and Nature Reserve for the delivery of projects which will positively impact the climate and natural environment of Herefordshire to the benefit of all who reside in the county.

This report seeks approval to procure and undertake any necessary works to depot and other facilities as required to deliver the New Public Realm Service from 1 June 2026.

To seek Cabinet approval for the adoption of the Local Walking and Cycling Plan

To approve the scoping and construction of solar car ports at Plough Lane