To upgrade or renew equipment, outlined in the MSC Global report, which forms part of the Herefordshire CCTV system up to a capital budget of £184,000.

That:

(a)       approval is given to implement the CCTV infrastructure upgrade and renewal as identified in the report MSC Herefordshire Report V1.4 at a capital cost of not more than £184k;

(b)       Global MSC be commissioned to write a specification and project manage the upgrade and renewal of equipment as identified in the report MSC Herefordshire Report V1.4 at a cost of £6,246; and

(c)       the acting assistant director for technical services be authorised to take all operational decisions, including award of contract, to implement the above recommendations.

To make the Ballingham, Bolstone and Hentland Group neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Ballingham, Bolstone and Hentland Group neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure

That:

(a)        The Ballingham, Bolstone and Hentland Group neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)        The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map

To make the Leominster area neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Leominster area neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure.

That:

(a)        The Leominster area neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)        The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map.

To make the Shobdon neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Shobdon neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure.

That:

(a)        The Shobdon neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)        The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map.

To approve a direct award of a contract for accommodation based support for care leavers and other vulnerable young people for the period to 1 November 2020.

The accommodation based support service provides 30 units of accommodation for young people with moderate support needs. The service is currently provided by the supported housing for young people project (SHYPP), part of WM Housing Group. It supports care leavers and young people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

Plans to re-commission the service and regularise the contract position in 2018 were deferred, owing to multiple changes of national policy on supported housing, announced by the government. It is now clear that welfare spending on accommodation based services will not be transferred to the council but other changes to the way such services are funded are still being considered by the Government.

It is now proposed to award a contract to SHYPP (WM Housing) for the period ending 1 November 2020. This will help secure continuity of the service for vulnerable young people and provide for the preparation of an open procurement process in 2020. It will give an opportunity  for the council to work with the provider to strengthen and update the service. This will address the delivery model, referral arrangements, cost modelling and the demand and delivery model for Ross on Wye, to ensure the service is sustainable. It is proposed that the supported housing after care service (SHAC), operated by SHYPP for care leavers, which is currently funded separately by the council on a spot purchase basis should be incorporated into the new contract.

That:

(a)       a contract be awarded to WM Housing( SHYPP )for the accommodation based service for young people for a period of 31 months to 1 November 2020 with a maximum cost of £410k.

To make the How Caple, Sollers Hope and Yatton Group neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the How Caple, Sollers Hope and Yatton Group neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure.

That:

(a)       The How Caple, Sollers Hope and Yatton Group neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)  The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map.

To make the Pembridge neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Pembridge neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure.

That:

(a)   The Pembridge neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)  The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map.

To make the Lea neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Lea neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure.

That:

(a)        The Lea neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)        The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map.

To confirm the annual plan 2019/20 for the public realm services contract with Balfour Beatty Living Places.

The annual plan has been formed by Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) based on instruction by the council to ensure that it meets the council’s objectives for the public realm (highways and related services) within the assigned budgets. The service manager’s acceptance of the annual plan has ensured that the annual plan complies with the terms of the public realm services contract. Cabinet member approval of the plan provides final confirmation of this acceptance and in doing so ensures that the plan provides a sound basis for performance and contract management during the forthcoming financial year. The council has confirmed that the necessary contractual requirements have been complied with in regard to the annual plan.

That:

(a)  the annual plan for public realm services, as outlined at Appendix 1 of this report be approved as the basis for service delivery during 2019/20 with an overall budget of up to £21,321,300; and

(b)  the acting assistant director highways and transport be authorised to agree, through the contract governance arrangements, final adjustments to the programme and budget allocation to each of the annex and any in year adjustments to the plan.

To make the Burghill neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Burghill neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member

That:

(a)       The Burghill neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)       The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map.

To make the Ocle Pychard neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Ocle Pychard neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure.

That:

(a)       The Ocle Pychard neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)       The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map.

This report considers and approves capital expenditure on a number of enhancements to the council’s off street car parks in the county.

A maximum agreed budget for each piece of enhancement work, as outlined, will be considered and approved with operational decisions relating to the spending on each area delegated to the Assistant Director Technical Services.  

To make the Putley neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make / adopt the Putley neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure

That:

(a)       The Putley neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)       The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map.

A number of active travel options have been considered and consulted on in 2014 and 2016. A robust appraisal process outlined in this report has been adopted to determine the schemes which should be included in the scheme business case. If these schemes are not progressed the objectives of the SWTP will not be met.

The South Wye Transport Package comprises the Southern Link Road and a complementary package of active travel measures. The South Wye Transport Package Options Refinement Report contained in Appendix 1 of this report describes the selection of this preferred package and outlines how a range of active travel measures has been considered, consulted upon publicly and refined according to feedback and technical appraisal of how well each of the schemes performed against package objectives. The report proposes which active travel elements should be included in business case for the scheme to ensure a robust case for funding can be made and confirms that other active travel measures will be considered for future delivery as other funding sources become available.

That:

(a)  the preferred package of active travel measures as outlined in the current Options Refinement Report (in Appendix 1) be considered and approved by the cabinet member for infrastructure for inclusion in the South Wye Transport Package full business case within a budget of £5.041m;

(b)  subject to confirmation of the statutory orders for the Southern Link Road,  authority is delegated to the director of economy and place following consultation with the Section 151 officer to submit the final full business case to the Department for Transport to draw down Growth Fund grant funding for the delivery of the South Wye Transport Package, comprising the Southern Link Road and the active travel measures approved under recommendation (a);

(c)  active travel measures not included in the appended Options Refinement Report preferred package be considered for future delivery as other funding sources become available through the annual plan process for the Public Realm.

To approve the section 75 (s75) agreement between the council and Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), effective from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020. In summary the report identifies the following points:

·         the s75 agreement is a national requirement, set by NHS England under the NHS Act 2006, which enables partners to commission integrated health and social care services;

·         the existing agreement is due to end on 31 March 2019;

·         the new agreement covers a range of services and operational functions of both partners at a total value of £55.685m for 2019/20;

·         scheme level detail of the agreement will be finalised following the publication of the national BCF policy framework and planning guidance; and

·         a key change to existing schemes is the introduction of a discharge to assess pilot for 2019/20.

That:

(a) The section 75 (s75) agreement for the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 at a total value of £55.685m between the council and Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CGG), as at appendix one, is approved; and

(b) the director for adults and communities be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to complete the section 75 agreement.

To increase the council tax charge on empty properties.

Currently Herefordshire Council imposes a 50% premium council tax charge on unfurnished property empty for more than two years.  This premium is proposed to increase to 100% from 1 April 2019. This is to encourage returning empty properties back into occupation.

Additionally it is proposed to increase the premium charge to 200% from 1 April 2020 if the property has been empty for more than five years and up to 300% from 1 April 2021 if the home has been empty for more than ten years.

That:

(a)       The empty property council tax premium charge is increased as follows:-

a.    100% premium council tax charge on unfurnished property empty for more than two years from 1 April 2019 (this is currently 50%);

b.    to increase the premium charge to 200% from 1 April 2020 if the property has been empty for more than five years;

c.    and up to 300% from 1 April 2021 if the home has been empty for more than ten years.

To approve the strategic purchase of the southern campus of the Royal National College for the Blind (RNCB), Venn’s Lane, Hereford within a defined budget of £6.25 million and to authorise officers, following appropriate consultation and due diligence, to proceed with the purchase of the property.

The proposed purchase will be a strategic acquisition which would support the council’s policies in respect of economic growth and ensure that a key education site within Hereford is retained and enhanced.

That:-

(a)  the purchase of the southern campus of the Royal National College for the Blind, Venns Lane, Hereford as set out in the redline plan at Appendix 1 (“the Site”) be approved within a maximum budget of £6.25 million;

(b)  subject to the Chief Finance Officer being satisfied that appropriate heads of terms have been agreed, due diligence has been completed and the purchase provides value for money, the acting director economy and place, in consultation with the cabinet member contracts and assets, be authorised to complete the acquisition of the Site;

(c)  on acquisition, the Site be added into the council’s property portfolio for all asset management and maintenance purposes;

(d)  the acting director economy and place be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendations; and

(e)  a further report be brought to the executive following any acquisition, in order to determine whether the Site should be entered into the council’s development and regeneration programme.

To make the Border Group neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Border Group neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure.

That:

(a)       The Border Group neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)       The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

The application was refused contrary to the Case Officer’s recommendation.

The application was refused contrary to the Case Officer’s recommendation.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

The application was refused contrary to the Case Officer’s recommendation.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation, with additional conditions.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation, with an additional condition.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

A decision was taken by the cabinet member contracts and assets on 8 May 2018to dispose of land adjacent to Hereford railway station by way of a 125 year lease to Prime (UK) Developments Ltd to facilitate the development of a new healthcare centre.

The disposal was conditional upon, amongst other matters, the development being completed within three years of the disposal date. The purchaser, Prime (UK) Developments Ltd, has requested that this period is amended to five years from the disposal date in order to comply with the conditions of their insurance and funding agreement. All other conditions remain unchanged.

That:

the condition attached to the council’s approved disposal by way of 125 year lease of development land adjacent to Hereford railway station to Prime (UK) Developments Ltd or a company within the Prime plc group of companies, namely that the development be completed within three years of the lease being completed, be amended to development being completed within five years of the lease being completed.

To agree the executive response to the recommendations from the task and finish group’s review of section 20 processes and procedures following High Court judgement of historical failings.  The task and finish group was supportive of the action taken and the new arrangements introduced, and made seven recommendations to the executive. It is proposed that all of the recommendations are accepted and the responses to them are set out in appendix 1.

That:

(a)       the response to the children and young people scrutiny committee’s recommendations regarding the task and finish group’s review of section 20 processes and procedures following High Court judgement of historic failings in Herefordshire, as attached at appendix 1 be approved.

To agree the executive response to the recommendations from the spotlight review into dental health and childhood obesity for children and families in Herefordshire.

A spotlight review focusing on dental health and childhood obesity was undertaken following concern about the levels of tooth decay and childhood obesity in Herefordshire reported in the Understanding Herefordshire Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2017.

A broad range of local partner organisations attended the spotlight review in September 2018 and presented evidence and detail of work being undertaken to progress the priorities of dental health and childhood obesity. The spotlight task and finish group reviewed the evidence and identified recommendations, which were finalised and agreed with the children and young people’s scrutiny on 12 November 2018.

The spotlight review made 19 recommendations, of which nine directly relate to the executive. The recommendations cover on oral health: recruitment of dentists, dental access centres and rurality, early years dental access, sugary food advice, access to dentists and fluoridation; and on obesity: maternity services, obesity and mental health, planning restrictions on fast food restaurants, active travel measures, survey of parental food choices and cookery teaching in schools and open spaces and green infrastructure.

We recommend accepting seven recommendations, partially accepting one and rejecting one recommendation. Our rationale for rejecting and partially accepting recommendations is to ensure that our approach is based on evidence and uses the most appropriate methodologies. The actions proposed under each recommendation, including the partially accepted and rejected recommendations, are given in Appendix 1.

That:

the response to the children and young people scrutiny committee’s recommendations regarding the spotlight review concerning dental health and childhood obesity in Herefordshire as attached at appendix 1 be agreed, subject to an amendment to the response to recommendation xii that the proposed feasibility study consider both benefits and disbenefits of fluoridation.

To approve the proposed expenditure of capital grants for schools building, maintenance and accessibility improvement works.

The Department for Education provides capital funding to local authorities responsible for schools. This funding includes the schools condition allocation which is intended for the maintenance of community and voluntary controlled schools, and the basic need allocation which is intended for the provision of additional of school places to meet the needs of growing populations. An individual pupil needs budget is intended for any accessibility improvement works identified to enable children with special educational needs to attend schools.

The distribution of this funding is determined in accordance with the principles set out in the schools capital investment strategy and is based on regular condition surveys and assessments of current and forecast demand for places.

The proposals are to spend £1.5m on maintenance improvements works and £120k on accessibility improvements works. Appendix 1 provides the details of the schemes being proposed as part of this programme of works.

That:

(a)       the school capital and maintenance schemes as set out in appendix 1 be approved for implementation in 2019/20; and

(b)       the Assistant Director Education Development and Skills be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the approved schemes within an approved budget of £1.535m for maintenance and £120k for individual pupil needs.

To approve the multi-agency Domestic Abuse Strategy for Herefordshire 2019-2022 and governance arrangements for implementation of the strategy.

Domestic abuse is a complex and pervasive issue which cannot be addressed fully by any single organisation. The overall purpose of the strategy is to provide direction to partner organisations on how they can work collaboratively to prevent, identify and respond to domestic abuse.

The strategy builds upon learning from the former 2014-2017 strategy adopted in 2014. It includes a shared vision, priorities and outcomes developed collaboratively with partner organisations and service users, updated national and local context and clarified governance arrangements to ensure delivery of the strategy.

The vision of the strategy is that domestic abuse is unacceptable to people and communities in Herefordshire.

There are four priorities under the shared vision:

·         Priority 1 – Prevention: The aim is that individuals and communities understand domestic abuse and the harm it causes and have the skills to build, and a culture that supports, healthy relationships.

·         Priority 2 – Provision of service: The aim is that when domestic abuse is disclosed, identified or reported, those affected by domestic abuse can access timely and effective information, advice and support.

·         Priority 3 – Partnership working: The aim is to work together across organisations in an efficient and effective way to prevent, and protect those experiencing, domestic abuse, ensuring that organisational barriers do not have impact on those affected by domestic abuse.

·         Priority 4 – Pursuing perpetrators: The aim is that the tools available are used effectively and consistently and those experiencing domestic abuse see the police and criminal and civil legal systems as working to protect them and their children.

The Community Safety Partnership (CSP) will be responsible for strategic delivery and leadership of the strategy. The CSP will task the multi-agency Domestic Abuse Delivery Group (DADG) to develop and deliver annual action plans to implement the strategy. The action plans will need to take account of plans, opportunities and resources available within each partner organisation. Successful delivery of the action plans, and subsequently the strategy, will depend on the continued commitment and engagement from partner organisations.

To consider and approve a temporary parking tariff offer at St Martins car park to support use of the car park and the HALO leisure pool which will promote healthy lifestyles to residents by encouraging use of the HALO centre.

To consider and approve a permanent tariff change to coach parking tariffs in Hereford.

To consider and approve the reallocation of city coach parking provision in Hereford to direct the coaches, in the main, to park at Merton Meadow car park.

To consider and approve the expenditure associated with the redesign of St Martins car park to reduce parking capacity for coaches and increase capacity for cars.

That:

(a)        a temporary parking tariff at St Martins 1 car park, as detailed in appendix 1, be implemented for a period of six months, subject to formal agreement of the receipt of a financial contribution from HALO; and

(b)        revised tariffs for coach parking in Hereford, as detailed in appendix 1, be approved; and

(c)        the redesign of St Martins car park and other works associated with signing coaches to Merton Meadow car park be approved at a cost of not more than £25k.

To approve the adoption of  the regional Flexible Contracting Arrangement (FCA) for the provision of placements for looked after children and those with complex needs in residential children's homes from 15 December 2018 to 14 December 2021 with option to extend for up to a further 3 years.

That:

(a)   the Regional Flexible Contracting Arrangement (FCA) for the provision of placements in children’s homes be adopted to support the purchasing of residential accommodation up to an annual value of £5.5m ;

(b)  the Director for Children’s and Families and relevant Assistant Directors  be authorised to take all necessary operational decisions to implement the above recommendation, including award of placement agreements and mini-block contracts through the FCA;

(c)  the Director for Children’s and Families  and relevant Assistant Directors  be further authorised to take all necessary operational decisions to spot-purchase placements outside the FCA should the need arise for individual children.

To approve a 6 week public consultation for the draft Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

The Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP) is an element of the Herefordshire Local Plan.  It will align with the principles and strategic direction established in the Core Strategy, providing the council’s preferred strategy and planning policy framework for meeting the county’s minerals and waste management needs up to 2031 and beyond.

That:

The draft Minerals and Waste Local Plan (appendices 1and 2) and its supporting documents (appendices 3 - 7) are approved for the purpose of public consultation.

To amend the admission agreement between Herefordshire Council, Hoople Ltd and Worcestershire County Council, which will inform the preparation of the 2018/19 financial statements, in relation to the pension deficit of previous council employees transferred to Hoople Ltd.  

Accounting for pension liabilities is a complex area and the council has sought independent expert advice in this area.

That:

(a)        the admission agreement between Herefordshire Council, Hoople Ltd and Worcestershire County Council (as administering authority to the Worcestershire County Council Pension Fund) be amended in relation to pension liabilities so that Herefordshire Council is liable to the Fund for pension liabilities directly (under the terms of the admission agreement) rather than Hoople Ltd being directly liable. The effect of this will be that a ‘flow through’ agreement is put in place in relation to Hoople Ltd’s pension liabilities.

To make the Peterstow neighbourhood development plan as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Peterstow neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure.

That:

(a)        The Peterstow neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)        The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map.

To make the Ledbury neighbourhood development plan part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire and approve the consequential updates to the countywide policies maps.

To fulfil the legal duty to make /adopt the Ledbury neighbourhood development plan and update the countywide policies map as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire. Council delegated authority for the making of the neighbourhood development plans, and consequential amendments to the countywide policies map, to the cabinet member infrastructure.

That:

(a)        The Ledbury neighbourhood development plan is made as part of the statutory development plan for Herefordshire; and

(b)        The required consequential changes are made to the countywide policies map.