The purpose of the paper is to provide the Board with an update on the progress of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy draft implementation plans for the two key priorities ‘Best Start in Life’ (BSiL) and ‘Good Mental Health’ (GMH).

To review the progress of audit recommendations implementation.

To review the better care fund (BCF) Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 2023-2024 report as per the requirements of the programme.

To update on the progress being made to develop the community paradigm approach in Herefordshire

As of the 30th September 2023, 717 Ukrainian guests have arrived in Herefordshire. There are currently over 320 guests staying with 125 hosts.
This additional monthly payment of £200 means that each sponsor will receive a total of £700 per month between November 23 and March 24. Thereafter the monthly payments will be £500. If sponsors start hosting Ukrainian guests during this period, they will be paid the additional winter payment pro rata for the months of the guests’ stay. Based on current figures, the cost of this additional payment will be approximately £125,000.
The decision being made is comparable with the Record of Officer Decision taken on 02.12.22, which also saw sponsors receive additional winter payments over the same five months in 2022/23 to £700 per month.
It should be noted that Herefordshire Council has already decided (Record of Officer Decision – 22.03.23) to top up the Government’s £350 payment to sponsors whose guests have been with them for up to a year, so that all sponsors receive £500 per month. The payment to hosts for guests after a year will be maintained at £500, as this is the amount of the Government’s increased payment for the second year.
Payments will be made through the Homes for Ukraine operational team. The team already manage the thank you payments to hosts.

A RoOD is required to approve the budget allocation and implement of the scheme.
Background
The council has been allocated £7,545,330 to be spent between 2022 and 2025, of which £450,000 (£200,000 for 2023/24 and £250,000 for 2024/25) has been allocated to enhance community resilience and infrastructure and provide tailored business support for the VSCE sector.
E11 VSCE Development
A key finding from the survey of Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises, conducted as part of the State of the Sector Report 2021, was the need to support the sector in accessing training, business support and expertise; focusing on marketing and communications, income generation opportunities, recruitment and retention.
Providing training will enable the sector to enhance their skills and knowledge, learn new techniques and strategies, improve their overall effectiveness, increase their capacity to meet the needs of their community and ultimately achieve their goals more efficiently.
Total fund allocation is £37,000 to deliver training in 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 to 113 individuals.
E11 VSCE Grants
Recognising the important and valuable contribution that our vibrant VCSE sector makes to the lives of residents across the county, the Community Grant Fund aims to build on this to deliver the aims and objective of the UKSPF Investment Plan.
Through the Fund, we want to enable community and voluntary groups to access funding for projects that will support community initiatives and activities across the county addressing their local needs.
The Community Grant Fund will support community-based activity with grants of up to £15,000 for community groups across Herefordshire.
Projects will need to align with the following priorities:
? Pride in place – improving people’s satisfaction with where they live
? Enhancing engagement with community activity
? Improving health and wellbeing
? Tackles issues related to the cost of living crisis
The aim is to not be too prescriptive of the type of projects which can be funded but they must contribute to the Community and Place theme set out in Herefordshire’s UKSPF Investment Plan and therefore, projects must be able to show how they will:
? Be community-based
? Improve our communities
? Improve people’s satisfaction with where they live
? Increase the number of people engaging with community activity in local neighbourhoods
? Help improve the health and wellbeing of people in the community
? Help improve the quality of life of people affected by the cost of living crisis
This Fund is open to community and Third Sector organisations that deliver locally within Herefordshire and engage local people in the design and development of
services to meet their needs. These can be new or established services
The grants scheme will be delivered through a competitive process managed by Herefordshire Council’s grants team. The funding will represent an opportunity to facilitate the sustainability of community-based activity. Total fund allocation is £413,000 in 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.
Specific Outcomes and Outputs
E11 VSCE Development:
113 people receiving training (52 in 2023/24; 61 in 2024/25).
E11 VSCE Grants:
23 voluntary, community and social enterprise groups receiving grants to enhance community resilience and infrastructure (10 in 2023/24; 13 in 2024/25).
The Fund has the following overarching outcomes:
? People and communities have access to services, support and opportunities that improve their lives and well-being.
? People and communities are more self-reliant and are better able to identify ways to improve and take control of their lives and well-being.
? People are better able to gain the skills, capacity and confidence to play an active role in their communities.
? People and communities are better able to influence and participate in decision making and service development.
? People and communities are better able to identify and deliver solutions that meet their needs.
? People and communities are better able to participate in the social, economic and cultural life in Herefordshire.

Refugee Resettlement

Herefordshire Council made a commitment in 2020 to resettle at least 125 refugees by mid-2025. A total of 84 Afghan people were resettled through the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) during 2022/23. The Council has now made the decision to undertake a second phase of resettlement for people resettling under the ARAP and ACRS schemes during Autumn 2023 into Summer 2024.

Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and Ukraine Family Visa Scheme

Since March 2022, Herefordshire has welcomed 717 Ukrainian guests (as at 01.11.23) to stay with over 260 sponsors through the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, of these 324 are still with 125 sponsors. Whilst the scheme is not a formal refugee scheme, it is fully funded by the government based on a tariff grant per guest arriving in the county.
An operational team to run the Homes for Ukraine Scheme was established by the council in April 2022, to fulfil the requirements of the government guidance including carrying out safeguarding and accommodation checks, providing support to both households and hosts.
The Homes for Ukraine scheme is well into its second year, there is currently no end date to the scheme and Herefordshire continues to welcome families. The focus of the scheme is now largely on individual casework and supporting longer term resettlement.

Accommodation for future resettlement

A total of 13 units of affordable accommodation have been negotiated specifically for the resettlement of Afghan refugees. A further 37 properties have been secured in partnership with local Registered Providers using grant funding secured through the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF). The terms and conditions of the LAHF grant state that 9 of these properties must be for Afghan families. The remaining 28 can be used to accommodate Ukrainian and / or Afghan families. The LAHF funded properties will range in age, condition and location as they are being purchase from the open market. The matching process for these properties has commenced.

These properties will have to be prepared for occupation including painting, carpeting/flooring, furnishing and equipping for occupation.

• Since the decision of 22.05.22 referred to above further legal advice has been provided to the Southside Project members that separate leases to the group members with an agreement to share the proposed community building is a more efficient means of delivering the project than setting up a completely new CIC
• The land at Ashley Farm and Newton Farm is owned by the Council and comprises a block of agricultural land and a sports ground already leased to Belmont Wanderers Football Club who have agreed to surrender their existing lease.
• The Southside Project Group which includes Growing Local CIC (who encourage and educate communities to grow and eat local food) and Belmont Wanderers FC have been identified as a recipient of Stronger Towns funding which forms part of the Governments’ levelling up agenda to deliver community facilities to enhance the well-being of local residents.
• In line with the council’s CAT policy the Southside Project members have submitted reasoned and detailed business cases demonstrating the community/sporting/educational value they can deliver as a result of the grant of the leases and that they have financial resource at their disposal to take on responsibility for the property and deliver the identified outputs.
• The business cases have been evaluated by a panel of officers from across the council and has recommended that the grant of the leases is progressed
• The leases will be subject to confirmation that all necessary planning and other statutory consents have been sought and obtained
• In addition to the leases a development agreement is required to deal with the construction of the proposed new community building which will be used to provide the community/sporting/educational services required by the Stronger Towns funding

These works are part of the programme of residual improvement works from 2019 condition reports.

The required improvement works have been assessed and prioritised based upon select criteria which covers health and safety, operational need, impact and lifecycle and value.

The council owns a property investment portfolio held to deliver optimum commercial returns through rental income that is used to support the council’s strategic objectives in line with the county plan 2020 – 2024.

The Council has appointed agents to achieve new lettings in respect of vacant units.

The agents have openly marketed the units and following negotiations with prospective tenants make fully justified recommendations as to the terms of the agreements and the level of rent to be agreed that reflect the current market conditions.

These works are part of the Estates Capital Programme 2022/25
Residual

The required improvement works have been assessed and prioritised based upon select criteria which covers health and safety, operational need, impact and lifecycle and value.

• Tenant’s request to upgrade the floodlighting to LED.
• Landlord’s formal consent for alterations is required under the lease.
• The works will be entirely within the site and there will be no impact on passing traffic or pedestrians.
• Tenant is obtaining external funding and the installation will substantially improve their sustainability and reduce energy costs

• Land and buildings at the Blackfriars end of the football ground are not included in the lease to Hereford FC although they have been granted a licence to use the toilets and snack store;
• The Football club wishes to erect additional temporary fencing and provide mobile welfare facilities in this area for the benefit of away visitors for a number of potentially large fixtures during the current season.
• This is a temporary licence whilst the club works on a permanent solution.

These works are part of the Property Services Estates Capital Programme 2022/25 and Residual Improvement Works from the 2019 Estates Condition Reports

The required improvement works have been assessed and prioritised based upon select criteria which covers health and safety, operational need, impact and lifecycle and value.

- As part of the procurement process, two contractors are procured to minimise the risk of delays to the scheme associated with contractor capacity.
- The named companies have been chosen as the preferred suppliers for the works via a whole house retrofit tender exercise run through the Midlands Net Zero Hub (MNZH) Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) in conjunction with Commercial Services and Sustainability & Climate Change officers.
- The project, to install selected retrofit measures including Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP), Solid Wall Insulation (SWI) and insulated doors and windows across fuel poor homes in Herefordshire uses Home Upgrade Grant 2 funding from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) via MNZH.
- 306 household installations are targeted across Herefordshire in principle by the end of March 2025.
- Fuel poverty remains a significant issue in Herefordshire, with an estimated 14,145 (16.7%) of households in fuel poverty across the county.
- Fuel poverty levels in the county are a result of a combination of low incomes, above average numbers of older, ‘hard to treat’ properties and poor coverage of the mains gas network, due to rurality.
- Many homes in the county therefore rely on expensive heating fuel systems and as a result have poor energy efficiency ratings and high relative greenhouse gas emissions. There are an estimated 60,000 properties Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rated D to G (Building Research Establishment 2019) in Herefordshire.

The free school meal system is an important component of the support that is provided to low-income families. Providing vouchers in the school holidays for children entitled to free school meals is an extension to this support and will benefit over 4,650 children. Through this proposal, primary and secondary aged school pupils who are eligible for benefits related free school meals will receive a food voucher of £30 for the school Christmas Holidays.

Household Consumer prices, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing cost (CPIH), were 6.3% higher in September 2023 than a year before. Low-income households spend a larger proportion than average on energy and food so will be more affected by price increases.

Herefordshire Council has received an allocation of £2,659,203.57 from the Department of Works and Pensions under the Household Support Fund. The expectation is that the funding should be used primarily to support households in the most need, particularly those including children and pensioners who would otherwise struggle with energy, food and water bills as well as other essential costs.

By utilising the funding from government, this will have a positive impact on low income families and child poverty by minimising the debt burden on those that struggle to pay essential bills.

To scrutinise the draft 2023-2024 delivery plan and to receive an update on the production of the 2024-2027 County Plan

To inform the committee of performance in the areas of complaints, data incidents and requests for information made to the council over the municipal year 2022/23.

To recommend to Council for approval the revised Cabinet proposals for the proposed capital investment budget for 2023/24 onwards.

Providing an update to Environment and Sustainability Scrutiny Committee on the Environment Act 2021.

To undertake a four quote process, via the ProContract portal, from appropriately qualified and competent organisations. To award a six month contract with the successful provider for an Occupational Therapy Assessment Support Service.

There is currently a national shortage of directly employed Occupational Therapists (OT), including in Herefordshire, which is impacting on the council’s capacity to complete statutory OT assessments.

This solution ensures the council’s responsibilities under the Care Act 2014 are fully met.

The successful provider will complete approximately 200 OT assessments, in order to support the council, during the six month contract, at a maximum cost of £75,000.

Herefordshire Council has a dedicated committee meeting room (Committee Room 1) for use by officers to run both public and internal meetings. This assigned room currently has four TV screens and a camera which staff can connect to their laptops to run the meetings.
Herefordshire Council requires a solution which will provide in room audio enhancement through delegate microphones, enable hybrid meetings to be run, with some presenters in the room and some attending remotely, and allow meetings to be recorded and live streamed to the public without the need for external third parties.

The Roofing works at Withington Primary School are included in the
Schools Capital Maintenance Programme.

M&J Group (Construction & Roofing) Ltd were the successful bidder
following a tender via the Council’s procurement portal.

To deliver beneficial improvements in the condition of the Council’s
Educational building stock, improving the educational experience for
pupils within the buildings. To reduce ongoing building maintenance costs
by addressing known defects with high maintenance cost potential and
preventing further deterioration.

To ensure all Council buildings are fit for purpose and maintained to the
standards as set out in the condition survey to address suitability,
sustainability and affordability.

Herefordshire Council has received an allocation of £2,659,203.57 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) under the Household Support Fund.

In line with DWP guidance most of the funding should be earmarked to support those most in need and affected by the recent cost of living crisis. The decision to support vulnerable people with medical conditions that are facing fuel poverty would meet the recommended guidance.

Individuals with respiratory conditions tend to be at greater risk of poor health and more vulnerable to the colder weather. These individuals therefore typically need to spend more on their fuel bills in order to keep warm over the winter months and if they are not able to their health conditions can be exacerbated.

Individuals will be identified via a network of health professionals via referral into the ‘Keep Herefordshire Warm’ programme. This is to ensure those most in need are best placed to be in receipt of the funding.

Individuals referred to the scheme can receive up to £330 in energy support as well as receiving advice on how to reduce energy bills within their household. Individuals will also receive a support pack to reduce energy consumption. The support provided could benefit up to 230 households.

The project to deliver a new library provision and remodelled reception area will provide new learning provisions and improve overall safeguarding.

The project received planning consent in September 2022 under application number 222389. The planning decision notice and all approved plans have been contained with appendix 1.

The project will be fully funded from three Section 106 legal agreements:

Planning Reference GT / FIN Code Contribution £ Expiry Date
P151937/O FIN1868 £46,462.00 31/01/2025
N102065/F FIN1489 £21,000.00 27/10/2026
P150473/F FIN1902 £34,538.00 TBC
TOTAL £102,000.00

From the above Primary contributions, there has been no expenditure to date.

In April 2023, tenders were invited for the undertaking of these works and in addition, provision of an external classroom. The tenders far exceeded the S106 allowance for this scheme, so omissions were identified and a revised cost established. This cost still exceeded the budget available and Owen Pell Ltd, the lowest contractor, were unable to identify any further savings following a value engineering exercise.

The decision was made to re-tender the scheme on the reduced specification, as the time-scale for the work had changed and some material costs had gone down.

Following the re-tender in September 2023, three contractors returned submissions as detailed below:

Contractor
Tender Figure (plus VAT)
£
S C Joseph Ltd 82,721.00
P J B Merchants Ltd 88,350.00
Owen Pell Ltd 118,354.00

A priced specification was requested from the lowest contractor. A detailed technical and arithmetical check was undertaken and no errors were found.

Including all relevant preliminaries and professional fees the total costs for the works are outlined below:

Contract
Additional Security Works
Additional foundation costs 82,721.00
2,900
5,000
Building Regulations & Planning fees
Professional fees @ 10%
2,000.00
9,262.10

Total
£101,883.10

A contingency sum has been allowed to cover unknown risk during the delivery of the works.

A full tender report has been included in Appendix 1. The project programme has a 16 week works programme. Completion of the project is therefore due in early March 2024.

We are therefore satisfied that a sufficient tendering exercise has been completed in accordance with Herefordshire Councils Contract Procurement Rules (CPR).

It is therefore recommended that a contract is placed with S C Joseph Ltd for the undertaking of this scheme.

Responsibility for monitoring the project and managing expenditure within the total spend budget is to be with the S106 Programme Manager.

Funding has been secured from DLUHC to provide the following and must be utilised for its intended purpose:
• £60,000 – to prepare the shelter and overnight staffing of the premises.
• £47,647 to purchase 4 pods
• £40,000 for rental costs of up to 8 pods

It is Herefordshire Councils ambition that all people have access to safe, appropriate accommodation, which meets their immediate needs and provides a safe space. The provision of pods will form part of the council’s approach to preventing and relieving homelessness.

The premises identified and pods purchased ensure there is an immediate and safe off the streets offer for people experiencing rough sleeping. The purchased pods will also provide a longer-term asset in the county for continued for those people experiencing rough sleeping to access a safe space with associated support.

There is an established demand for the provision of winter accommodation, as of October 2023 there are 18 people rough sleeping in the county. Demand data demonstrates up to 22 individuals will typically require this service.

This proposal ensures we have sufficient accommodation to safely and appropriately accommodate males and females safely and meet the forecasted local demand.