Compliance with approved council policy.

To facilitate the growth of existing Herefordshire business.

Deliver private sector investment and job creation in the EZ which will boost confidence and interest from others and help generate further private sector investment and job creation.

Following the award of enterprise zone status in August 2011 approximately 45 hectares (110 acres) of council owned land was included, along with other privately owned land, in the designated EZ.

All the EZ land is being actively marketed, and is being sold according to independent land valuations and the EZ Land Disposal Policy which was approved by cabinet member on 7 January 2016.

Sustained progress has been achieved with well over 50 acres sold to date.


The sale of the land is on a freehold basis. The purchaser will not accept or proceed with the purchase on any other basis.

This sale has the full endorsement of the Hereford Enterprise Zone Board.

The sale is to a local business who wishes to develop small scale business units for rent.

The decision to sell this plot supports council policy to use capital receipts from sale of land within the Enterprise Zone to fund the capital expenditure on installing necessary infrastructure across the site. The latest council decision to incur this expenditure is available via this link: http://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=6182

The current Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 system was purchased and developed in 2011, which provides a basic system for recording customer contact and logging requests for service. Components of the current system used by the customer services team and supports forms on the website are no longer supported by the existing supplier which provides the associated risks:

It is no longer possible to develop the current solution to meet our changed needs as the original supplier is no longer available to carry out this work on our behalf.
Although the data is regularly back up it provides a risk
It has not been possible to capture data required to support the Council’s response to Covid-19 such as volunteer contact details, key support requirements for members of the public and food ordering and delivery information.

This project will review the current functions and services required for the future within the customer services team and provide a system that will:

Give the customer a consistent and improved quality experience regardless of the channel
Allow in-house development which will easily respond to changing demands
Enable a combined view of the customer and activity across the council’s departments and services – a ‘golden’ record
Provide monitoring and management of the contacts received from start to completion
Enable the analysis of trends and demand so that the council can be proactive in offering services and be more timely in their delivery
Provide a portal for councillors to raise and track requests on behalf of their constituents as well as access information.

To complement this work a customer service strategy will be developed to consider the future customer services offer for Herefordshire Council which will also scope the future integrations required across all directorates to improve the customer experience.

This proposal and recommendation will improve the system for the customer and staff and at this stage will replace the existing functions, further development and scoping is required for integration across other service areas.

To enable the Town Deal projects within the programme to access the early 5% programme release to pay for work to support the development of the final business case.

The council to enter into funding agreements between the projects that require the funding

The council is keen to progress the investigation of delivering affordable housing as quickly as possible. Expert advice is required to inform decisions regarding the site value of any purchase of third party owned housing schemes on across Herefordshire.

Fisher German have already completed an initial Red Book Valuation and initial assessment of the site. A minor review only will be required due to changes to the property market over the last six months since the initial Red Book Valuation was completed. The property remains the same.

In order to effectively manage the councils highway network in respect of parking, occasionally a Penalty Charge Notice needs to be issued to a vehicle. Where payment is not made in respect of these the relevant legislation provides for debt to be pursued.

In order for the council to continue to exercise its public duty, and recover all associated costs with the enforcement of parking contraventions, and to ensure that the principles of enforcement are not undermined, it is appropriate to take all legal and necessary steps to obtain payment.

Notwithstanding a review of any correspondence received against any of these matters, and the councils underpinning duty to protect those that are vulnerable, the following documents have been served in accordance with legislation in the last period.

December 2021
Charge Certificate – 293
Order for Recovery – 153

In the same period 159 were warrants were executed for the councils contracted Enforcement Agency (Bailiffs) to, in accordance with the relevant legislation, make enquires and enforce the outstanding debt.

2 monthly to provide an update of progress and seek the view of Scrutiny Committee.

The Blue Badge Case Management System contract was awarded for an initial one year period from 19th December 2018 and extensions were utilised with the contract ending 18th December 2021.
A new corporate CRM solution is currently being designed and procured to not only support existing council requirements but deliver an ambitious transformation programme and a revised customer service strategy. Once the initial implementation is completed work will commence to make available the Blue Badge functionality within the CRM system.
Mobilisation for the first phase of the CRM system is sited as July 2022 but the current scope does not detail a timescale for the Blue Badge element. Therefore the contract extension will enable the council to continue to process Blue Badge applications while a new corporate, fully integrated CRM system is designed, procured and implemented and allow for any lapse in proposed draft timetable.

This decision is to award a two year security service contract to Octaga Security Services Ltd

Government published its National Bus Strategy (NBS) in March 2021 and this set out the approach it wished local transport authorities to take in developing improved local bus services with a promise of additional funding to support delivery of proposals. The government has provided £165k to the council to support its development of proposals.

The council commissioned Integrated Transport Planning (ITP) in June 2021 to assist in progressing its response to the NBS. The decision to award the contract was taken 8 June 2021 and can be viewed here.

The cabinet member for infrastructure and transport confirmed that the council’s approach would be to establish an enhanced partnership with local bus operators. The decision to progress an enhanced partnership was taken 18 June 2021 and can be viewed here.

Whilst most local transport authorities, in line with government guidance, are progressing enhanced partnerships the council is keen to explore the possibility for an approach based on bus franchising. This takes into account the low service coverage across the county, instability in the local bus market and the need to consider all available options.

On this basis, the cabinet member has asked officers to progress a technical assessment of the opportunity for bus franchising in Herefordshire and to answer the following questions:
• Can we do it
• How do we do it
• What would it cost
• How do we fund it

The current commission with ITP is based on its technical competence in terms of public transport policy and strategy and also value for money as assessed through an open procurement process. Hence, it is considered that a contract variation, consistent with the council’s contracts variation process, is progressed with ITP to undertake this work.

• The Herefordshire Local Plan - Core Strategy was adopted in 2015. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires that local authorities should review their local plan every five years to determine if an update is required. Herefordshire Council resolved in November 2020 that an update of the Local Plan would be required.
• Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended) requires that public consultation takes place at key stages during the preparation of a Local Plan.
• The new Local Plan will help shape growth and development across the county over the period from 2021 to 2041. The Plan will seek to ensure that we deliver the required homes, jobs, infrastructure and services to support growth in a way that is appropriate for the rural and historic character of the County.
• Vision/Objectives & Spatial Options have been developed in conjunction with Local Plan Cabinet Members Group.
• The document includes proposed vision/objectives 5 spatial options demonstrating how new housing development could be distributed across the County and a range of options for the overall approach to new development in the rural areas.
• It is proposed to undertake the public consultation from 17 January until 28 February 2022. The Spatial Options paper will be available to download from the Herefordshire website and view via an online consultation platform. Printed copies will be made available on request. It is intended to send posters and flyers to every town and parish council to post on their noticeboards and local parish magazines. A presentation for parish councils will also take place during the consultation period. Email notifications will be sent to all consultees and individuals registered on the Local Plan consultation database.
• Information points, including Talk Community Hubs and Libraries will be used to spread information about the consultation.
• The spatial options consultation results will help form the preferred options for housing distribution across the county.
• This will be the first of a series of Local Plan consultations undertaken over the next few months as options for the Local Plan are developed.

This decision confirms award of grant to community projects under the Covid Recovery Plan.

On 24th June 2021 Cabinet approved £1m of funding to progress a range of travel focused initiatives to support the Covid-19 Recovery Plan 2021/22.

https://hc-modgov.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents/s50090724/Appendix%201%20Covid%2019%20Economic%20Recovery%20Plan.pdf

Under the theme of safe and welcoming places the agreed plan includes ‘Return to Towns and City’ which identified various activities including:
• feasibility for future cycling connectivity routes.

During the development of the Recovery Plan cabinet asked that funds be made available for technical feasibility studies of rural walking and cycling greenways which are being promoted by local community groups

This decision confirms award of grant to community projects under the Covid Recovery Plan.

On 24th June 2021 Cabinet approved £1m of funding to progress a range of travel focused initiatives to support the Covid-19 Recovery Plan 2021/22.

https://hc-modgov.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents/s50090724/Appendix%201%20Covid%2019%20Economic%20Recovery%20Plan.pdf

Under the theme of safe and welcoming places the agreed plan includes ‘Return to Towns and City’ which identified various activities including:
• feasibility for future cycling connectivity routes.

During the development of the Recovery Plan cabinet asked that funds be made available for technical feasibility studies of rural walking and cycling greenways which are being promoted by local community groups.

To prosecute the defendant for offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, Section 117

To prosecute, using the Single Justice Procedure, one defendant for failing to secure the attendance of a compulsory school age registered child from the dates of 17th May to 9th July 2021. Contrary to Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996

To assess the viability of the Holme Lacy Site and The Paddock as affordable houses and/or to provide the potential for a capital receipt to cross-subsidise other schemes, a third party design team will need to be engaged to complete outline designs, site surveys and complete the planning application submission.

Oxford Architects LLP have the expertise in this area and are able to complete the outline design and planning application submission.

The council has opted to use an Open Single Stage Tender Process to assess the value for money of this contract. The procurement process complied with the council’s contract procedure rules for a contract of this value.

Approval was granted to carry out the Improvements to air conditioning/ chiller/ heating pipework at Plough Lane.

https://hc-modgov.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=8145

The site survey for the pipework highlighted issues with the ceiling grids, the ceiling void equipment supports and the ceiling void fire barriers and a further survey was commissioned to assess and cost these issues.

To ensure a cost effective solution was achieved the incumbent Contractor TClarke Contracting Ltd. was requested to quote for this work, which amounts to £188,243. Utilising the same contractor ensures the rates quoted are comparable with the tendered rates and will mitigate disruption as ceilings will only need to be removed once and the works above the ceilings can be coordinated.

As a result, the existing budget will require up to an additional £100k to complete the works. The total cost for the project, inclusive of the 100k being requested, is £492,232.

This funding is the latest announced to support business rated businesses impacted by the latest strain of Covid 19, omicron.

Funding is available to business rated properties in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors, these are defined in the national guidance, extract copied below;-

Eligible businesses must have been trading on 30 December 2021 to
receive funding under this scheme.

The value of the grant depends on the business rated property rateable value (RV), as follows;-

1. RV exactly £15,000 or under, £2,667 grant
2. RV over £15,000 and less than £51,000, £4,000 grant
3. RV exactly £51,000 or over, £6,000 grant

A number of pre payment data collection requirements have been stipulated that are not already available therefore an online application form will be launched for eligible recipients to apply for grant support. The data collection requirements include;-
a. Name of business
b. Business Trading Address including postcode
c. Unique identifier (preferably Company Reference Number (CRN)) if
applicable. If not applicable, VAT Registration Number, Self-
Assessment/Partnership Number, National Insurance Number, Unique
Taxpayer Reference, Registered Charity Number will also be
acceptable)
d. High level SIC Code
e. Nature of Business
f. Date business established
g. Number of employees
h. Business rate account number
i. Cumulative total of previous funding received under all COVID-19
business grants schemes

Following receipt of applications trading and bank account verification must be completed before grant support can be paid.

Applications must be received before 28 February 2022 and all final payments must be made and dispersed to recipients by 31 March 2022.

To prosecute the defendant for offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, Section 117

In response to the various national lockdowns commencing in March 2020, the government has provided an economic support package that included financial support to businesses and charities in the form of business grants to be administered by local authorities.

The business grant support has come in two forms:

• Support for businesses and charities on the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) ratings list;

• ARG support for businesses and charities not on the VOA ratings list, used to address local priorities.
The council has previously received £7.360m of ARG from the government. Of this amount a total of £304,000 remains as of 7 January 2022.
On 21 December 2021, Government announced the introduction of a further top up of ARG funds to be awarded to Local Authorities in response to the Omicron variant of COVID19. This top up funding totals £102 million which will be allocated to Local Authorities in England from 30 December 2021. The council has received an award of £440,000 rom this fund.

The amount of ARG funding available to support Herefordshire businesses and charities will be £740,000. This decision approves the acceptance and spend of this funding awarded to the council by government from the third top up of ARG funding.

The government issued guidance states that Local Authorities should continue to issue grants at their discretion, based on local economic needs, but have provided within the guidance a suggested list of sectors to be prioritised for support.

The government guidance on the ARG scheme states that unlike previous ARG funding this top up funding cannot be used by Local Authorities for wider business support activities.

All ARG funding is required to be allocated by the end of March 2022. It is intended that all of the council’s remaining ARG funding as well the ‘top up’ amount will be utilised through the following scheme.
Proposed Approach to the ARG Omicron business grant
Given the urgent need to support businesses and charities affected by the response to the Omicron variant of COVID19, the council is developing and implementing an ARG Omicron business grant as quickly as possible.

It is proposed to open an ARG grant scheme to businesses and charities in those sectors most impacted by the restrictions introduced in December 2021. In line with the government guidance for the ARG support, and local priorities, these sectors are:

a. Hospitality and supply chain
b. Accommodation and supply chain,
c. Leisure and supply chain,
d. Personal care
e. the travel and tourism sector, including group travel, travel agents and tour operators,
f. coach operators,
g. wedding industries and supply chain,
h. nightclubs,
i. theatres,
j. events industries,
k. wholesalers,
l. English language schools,
m. breweries,
n. freelance and mobile businesses
o. gyms
As with previous ARG schemes, and in accordance with the government guidance requirements, businesses and charities will need to complete an application process. This will be an online based process accessible from the council website. Officers will provide guidance and definitions to accompany the application process.

The government is providing support to rateable businesses within the Hospitality and Leisure sectors via the Omicron Hospitality and
Leisure Grant. Rateable businesses in the sectors listed above which are ineligible for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant will be able to receive support via the ARG Omicron grant.

The scale of award made to businesses and charities will vary depending on employee numbers, the table below demonstrates the suggested award levels:



FTE Count (min stated) Award
0.5 – 1 £500
1.1 – 2 £1,000
2.1 – 3 £1,500
3.1 – 4 £2,000
4.1 – 5 £2,500
5+ £3,000

The council reserve the right to alter the above bandings to reflect any change in circumstances. All ARG funding allocated to the council will be utilised through the grant scheme prior to the end of March 2022 deadline. Delegation is given to the Head of Economy and/or the Economic Development Manager to amend the banding.

The Head of Economy and the Economic Development Manager are authorised to finalise the specific grant criteria and application process and are authorised to approve grant awards to businesses and charities following satisfactory assessment of the applications received (up to a value of £10,000 per business/charity).

The eligibility criteria for applicants broadly matches the previous ARG criteria and includes:
1. Must be a business or a registered charity;
2. Must employ someone for at least 15 hours per week within/from Herefordshire (charities can include volunteer time) and this can include the business owner(s) or director(s);
3. Either has a business rating or can demonstrate that the business or charity trades most weeks of the year from/within Herefordshire.

Unlike previous ARG schemes government guidance states there is no starting date from which businesses must have been trading or charities established in order to qualify for grant funding

To comply with the government’s ARG criteria, proof of trading checks will be required, and the council will need to ensure it holds the following information for each business:
a) Name of business/charity
b) Business trading address/ charity registered address including postcode
c) Unique identifier
d) High level SIC Code
e) Nature of business/charity
f) Date business/charity established
g) Number of employees
h) Business rate account number (if applicable)
i) Cumulative total of previous funding received under all COVID-19 grants schemes

To make appointments to vacant positions of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of council committees.

The latest condition survey highlighted repairs or replacement of the lower section concrete wall/surround and works to the cladded upper walls

S C Joseph Ltd have been identified as the bidder representing
best value for money following a competitive tender and assessment
process in accordance with Council procurement procedures. Tenders
were invited from four prospective companies and two returned valid tenders for consideration.

The work to be awarded to S C Joseph Ltd at a cost of £61,409 out of the £90,000 capital budget.

There is also a boost to the local economy as S C Joseph Ltd are a local contractor.

The Cabinet Member Infrastructure and Transport took a decision 26 April 2021 to confirm the annual plan 2021/22 for the public realm services contract with Balfour Beatty Living Places. This decision authorised:

the acting assistant director highways and transport be authorised to agree in consultation with the Section 151 officer, through the BBLP contract governance arrangements, final adjustments to the programme (including any recommendations from the strategic partnering board) and budget allocation to each of the annex and any in year adjustments to the plan, within the overall budget.

This decision can be viewed using the following link:

http://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=7852

Utilisation of £40K LTP funding can be accommodated within existing budget and this work is relevant to the terms of the LTP funding grant

To implement the consolidation of existing Speed Limit Orders and Moving Traffic Regulation Orders throughout the Herefordshire County Council (The Highway Authority) maintained Highway Network.

To ensure that the council manages its transport services effectively whilst also meeting its statutory duties and ensures children are transported to school in line with eligibility.

To provide an annual update to the committee on counter fraud activity.

Cabinet Member Infrastructure and Transport took a decision 7 October 2021 to approve the progression of the HCCI project. This included a provision for the installation of city green cycle shelters.

A design process to identify the type of green cycle shelters to be purchased has been undertaken which has included consultation with the Cabinet Member Infrastructure and Transport.

BBLP’s have sought the following quotations for the supply of green cycle shelters.

Supplier Quotation
1 £22,070
2 £20,270
3 Declined to quote.

Whilst it is noted that supplier two offers a lower cost, the first supplier has been selected on the basis of quality, consistency with other street furniture materials, lower maintenance requirement and extended life cost and is therefore considered to represent better value for money.

A further BBLP proposal is to be provided which includes installation costs for a concrete base and power supply to allow lighting in the shelters. Additionally tree pruning will be required over one of the shelters to allow the sedum to flourish. A proposal and permit to carry out this work is to be provided. These works will be managed within the allocated budget.

Based on the final version of the Annual Governance Statement agree in September 2021 an action plan has been formed based on continuous improvement requirements. This report provides a half year review of the actions.
The report also outlines future arrangements for producing the annual governance statement.

To recommend the 2022 pay policy statement to full council for approval and publication.