To approve a project plan for the preparation of the update of the Herefordshire Local Plan.

That:

a)    the project plan for the Local Plan update in Appendix 1 to this report be approved;

b)    the project plan be maintained as a live document, with any significant change subject to the approval of the Cabinet Member; and

c)    the Assistant Director for Regulation, Environment & Waste is given authority for commissioning the evidence base studies set out in the project plan in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport.

To approve the recommissioning of Independent Advocacy Services for adults by means of an open tender process.  The current contract to deliver independent advocacy expires on 31 July 2021

That:

(a)       the commissioning of an independent advocacy service for adults through an open procurement process be approved;

(b)  the director for adult and communities be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the service including award of contract for the independent advocacy service for a period of up to five years and with a maximum value of £1.1m.

To approve a capital grant to Citizen Housing for improvement works to enable the launch of a homelessness hub in Hereford, with an associated nominations agreement.

The proposal forms part of Project Brave, an initiative developed during the Covid19 response and now evolving to make homelessness in Herefordshire rare, infrequent, non-recurring and short-lived.

It is proposed to make a grant of capital to Citizen Housing to enable redecoration and refreshment of the accommodation located west of the City Centre. The grant for works to create a homelessness hub will be funded entirely from a capital grant awarded for the purpose to the council by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)

The hub will launch during April 2021 and provide drop-in advice and support, eight units of emergency accommodation and four self contained flats for transition of homeless people towards independent living. Support and advice will be provided by the council's Housing Solutions service and Vennture, with housing management through Citizen Housing. There will be a nominations and operational agreement between the three organisations to support smooth and effective accommodation and support of homeless people at the hub.

That:

(a)       Capital funding of £104k on improving and equipping premises in Hereford as a homelessness hub, incorporating a grant to Citizen Housing be approved and

(b)       The director for Adults and Communities be authorised to approve a nominations and operational agreement with Citizen Housing and Vennture for the provision of accommodation and support at the homelessness hub.

This report provides an update on the budget for the Hereford City Centre Transport Package (HCCTP) project and seeks approval of budget adjustments.

That:

(a)       within the overall capital programme allocation of £40.651 million for the Hereford city centre transport package (HCCTP), a £1.377m  increase in budget for City Link Road Land Acquisition to £16.25m, and a £1.318m reduction in budget for the Transport Hub and Public Realm to £5.172m, be approved; and

(b)  the Director for Economy and Place in consultation with the Section 151 officer be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to make the remaining City Link Road land acquisition payments.

To approve the business case for investment in commissioned marketing and engagement services to strengthen the council’s in-house fostering service, increasing the number of general and specialist foster carers and reduce the reliance on the more costly IFA (independent fostering agency) sector in line with Herefordshire’s County Plan and Children and Young People’s Plan.

That:

(a)  the business case described within paragraphs 9-37 is approved

(b)  a contract is openly tendered for the provision of a professional marketing and engagement service, at a value of up to £261k over up to five-years for award by the Director for Children and Families under the Chief Executive’s scheme of delegation, which authorizes that commissioning for children’s services may be undertaken by the Director for Children and Families, and following the council’s Contract Procedure rules

In November 2019 Hereford was included by government in their Towns Fund Programme.  This report seeks to accept the grant of £162k to support the process, provide endorsement of the submission, by the Hereford Towns Fund Board to government, of a Town Investment Plan for Hereford and for the council to support the bid by agreeing to be the accountable body for the funding. 

That:

(a)       The council endorses the Hereford Town Investment Plan submission to government which the Hereford Towns Fund Board will prepare, approve and return before 29 January 2021;

(b)       The council acts as the accountable body for the Hereford Towns Fund programme and any Town Deal that is agreed with government;

(c)       The Hereford Towns Fund Board is included on the council partnerships register as a significant partnership; and

(d)       The council accepts, on behalf of the Hereford Towns Fund Board, the grant of £162k capacity funding to support the development of the Town Investment Plan.

To enable the accountable body, Shropshire Council, to delegate responsibility for managing the Get Building Funding grant and the relationship with the successful grant applicant NMITE to the council. The grant amount of £1.6m for the project will be transferred from the accountable body to the council, £800,000 in 2020/21 and £800,000 in 2021/22.  The grant funding will be utilised to accelerate development of NMITE’s Centre for Automated Manufacturing on the Hereford Enterprise Zone.

That:

(a)  The Council accept responsibility for managing the £1.6m Get Building Fund grant and the relationship with NMITE for the development of their Skylon Park campus.

(b)  The Chief Finance Officer be authorised, following consultation with the monitoring officer and cabinet member for finance, to complete such legal documentation including, but not limited to the funding offer letter from Shropshire Council and subsequent funding agreement between the council and NMITE to protect the council’s interests as the project accountable body and take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendations.

Herefordshire Council has been investigating potential measures to reduce the risk of flooding to Brimfield, Orleton and Little Hereford and has identified Property Flood Resilience (PFR) as the preferred approach in this catchment. This scheme will offer PFR Measures to 33 properties and will cost £234,465, depending upon uptake. This report seeks approval for the acceptance of funding for delivery of the PFR Scheme.

That:

(a)        Herefordshire Council accepts the grant offer of £234,465 from the Environment Agency for the delivery of the Brimfield, Orleton and Little Hereford Flood Alleviation Scheme; and

(b)        the Acting Assistant Director for Highways and Transport be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the scheme and to agree all necessary grant documentation (acting in consultation with Legal Services).

To approve the acquisition of eight properties and to undertake the refurbishment of numbers 4 & 5 Blackfriars Street, Hereford.  This will enable the council as part of the Covid-19 emergency response to accommodate those who have a long and/or repeated history of rough sleeping.

The eight properties would be self-contained accommodation suitable for homeless clients with disabilities and /or accessibility issues.

4 & 5 Blackfriars Street would be used as accommodation for homeless applicants prior to resettlement into sustainable accommodation.

That:

(a)        Cabinet accepts the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) capital grant of £420k for the purposes of purchasing up to eight properties

(b)        Approval is given to purchase up to eight properties within a budget of £1,120k and to refurbish 4 & 5 Blackfriars Street within a budget of £500k, to enable the council to protect and accommodate those currently in Covid-19 emergency accommodation from future homelessness.

(c)        Authority to purchase the properties be delegated to the Director for economy and place, following consultation with relevant cabinet members and the Chief Finance Officer.

To approve the proceeding to the next stage of the rebuilding of Peterchurch Primary School, on the existing site, by commissioning a developed design (Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage 3) for a traditional and/or modular build.

The design brief will include a requirement that the building must achieve net zero carbon emissions and obtain a green building certificate. As a minimum it should receive Passivhaus certification. The developed design will include the coordinated architectural, structural and building services design and updated cost information.

That:

(a)   the council proceed to the next stage of replacing Peterchurch primary school and associated on-site facilities on its current site; and

(b)  The Director Children and Families be authorised to commission a RIBA stage 3 developed design for the rebuild of Peterchurch primary school within a budget of not more than £300k including fees.

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

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

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

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

To approve the procurement and launch of a new local framework for the arranging and purchase of support and accommodation for care leavers and some looked after children who are 16+ years old.  The services purchased via the framework will support young people to secure accommodation and develop their skills and resilience and provide opportunities for training and employment, engagement with relevant services and participation in their communities, to enable them to move towards independent living.

There are currently limited options for accommodating care leavers and 16 and 17 year old looked after children in Herefordshire.  There is a reliance on “out of county” specialist placements, spot purchased at significant cost, and of varying quality.  There are also gaps in support for young people at risk of homelessness.  Young people require safe and affordable accommodation, aligned to support towards increased independence, underpinned by realistic opportunities for learning and work.

It is proposed this procurement process will commence in January 2021, with procurement evaluation, confirmation of contract, placement arrangements and administrative processes taking place over February and March 2021.  There will be a soft launch of the framework on 1 April 2021.  A review will take place in June with the aim of a fully operational framework by 1 July 2021.

The new framework will complement newly commissioned accommodation and support services for care leavers and vulnerable young people and support the vision and principles of the looked after children and complex needs placement sufficiency strategy 2019-2024.  The placements will be led by the needs of the young people to achieve positive outcomes.  The local framework will support the strategy to address the sufficiency, quality and sustainability of appropriate placement provision as well as value for money in Herefordshire.

That

(a)   a local framework be established for arranging and purchasing support and accommodation for care leavers and 16 plus care experienced children; and

(b)  confirmation of the detailed terms and operating arrangements for the framework to be approved by the director for children and families, in consultation with the cabinet member for children and families.

·           To consider the Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP) development plan document for pre-submission publication, in accordance with regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (as amended), prior to its consideration at Full Council on 11 December 2020; and

·           to report the recommendations of General Scrutiny Committee on 28September 2020 in relation to the MWLP; and

·           to refer the MWLP to Council, with a recommendation that, following the completion of the pre-submission publication period and consideration of duly made representations, it be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent testing, in accordance with section 20(3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012.

That:

a)    that authority be delegated to the cabinet member infrastructure and transport to review the plan in light of amendments discussed at cabinet before submission to council;

b)    the responses, at paragraph 128 of this report, to the recommendations made by General Scrutiny Committee be agreed; and the following be recommended to Full Council;

i.               the draft Minerals and Waste Local Plan development plan document as amended be approved for pre-submission consultation;

ii.              authority be delegated to the Programme Director Housing and Growth, following consultation with the Cabinet Member Infrastructure and Transport, to make any technical amendments required to the draft Minerals Local Plan and supporting documents resulting from the completion of ongoing technical work before pre-submission consultation begins; and

iii.            authority be delegated to the Programme Director Housing and Growth, following consultation with the Cabinet Member Infrastructure and Transport, to make any minor textual or graphical amendments, prior to the submission to the Secretary of State; and

iv.            following completion of the pre-submission publication of the Minerals and Waste Local Plan and its supporting documents, the documents be submitted to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public.

To approve the approach to the delivery housing model options available to the council to increase the supply of affordable housing in the County. Cabinet is also requested to approve Phase 2 of this strategic work to develop a pipeline of sites suitable for development as affordable housing to support discussions with key partners including Homes England.

The County Plan 2020-2024 sets out the council’s ambition to provide 1,000 affordable housing units in the county. The term affordable is taken in its widest sense – to provide a range of housing that is genuinely affordable to both rent and purchase given local earnings. The council has not owned its own housing stock since 2002 and a review has therefore been undertaken as to the most appropriate role for the council in delivering its ambition. The options and delivery proposals suggested recognise the structures already in place and available to the council.

That:

a)    Having considered the options set out in the paper to deliver up to 2,500 homes in the County over the next 10 years Cabinet agree that:

i.               the council own the affordable units initially under the General Fund and then establish a HRA; and

b)    approves to spend up to £72k on the development of the housing model chosen in recommendation (a), by developing a full business case;

c)    asks Engie to develop recommendations for proceedable sites to be reviewed at Cabinet in December 2020;

d)    approves to spend up to £71k to develop recommendations for potential sites to be reviewed at Cabinet in January 2021 to agree how to progress affordable housing delivery in Herefordshire; and

e)    an independent expert be appointed within a budget of £20k to advise on ensuring that housing built through this programme is compatible with our commitment to being a net zero carbon council by 2030.

To agree proposals for the council’s Delivery Plan 2020-22.  Each year Cabinet is required to produce a delivery plan which sets out how the strategic ambitions within the council’s County Plan will be delivered and monitored.

That:

(a) Cabinet approves the Delivery Plan, as set out in appendix A, as amended.

To receive the outcomes of the review; to agree the recommendations arising from the review; to approve the executive response to the scrutiny committees recommendations on the report of the review and to approve the peer on peer model guidance for use in all Herefordshire schools

THAT

a)    The executive note the contents and recommendations set out in the Peer on Peer Review MASH Report (appendix 1) as amended and express the view that: (1) in relation to section1.3 the review also investigated whether any children were put or left at risk. It found that according to the records held and cases under review, advice was given including national guidance at the time and was followed as far as was possible, separation was made and the likelihood of risk was reduced. We are aware however that contact between children, including sight of perpetrators and also bullying has taken place. With all due care being put in place, inadvertent contact remains possible and the findings here do not preclude this. Even now, with every effort being made and detailed guidance being shared with schools, we cannot guarantee that contact between children might not inadvertently occur however much care is taken. This includes outside of schools. We also acknowledge that harm has implications for social and mental health, potentially, well into adulthood; (2) all references to ‘alleged victim’ should be victim The executive agree the recommendations set out in paragraph 3 of appendix 1;

b)    The executive approves the executive response to the children and young people’s scrutiny committee’s recommendations set out in appendix 5 as amended;

c)    The executive approves the peer on peer model guidance set out in appendix 6 for use in all Herefordshire Schools; and

d)    The children and young people’s scrutiny committee be asked to review barriers to record keeping for children’s safeguarding.

To review performance for quarter 3 2020/21 and the budget forecast.

To provide assurance that progress has being made towards achievement of the agreed revenue budget and service delivery targets, and that the reasons for major variances or potential under-performance are understood and are being addressed to the cabinet’s satisfaction.

To review performance for Quarter 2 2020/21 and the budget forecast.

To provide assurance that progress has being made towards achievement of the agreed revenue budget and service delivery targets, and that the reasons for major variances or potential under-performance are understood and are being addressed to the cabinet's satisfaction. 

The 2020/21 forecast outturn is a £14,790k overspend as at the end of September 2020.

That:

(a)        Cabinet reviewed performance and financial outturn for quarter 2 2020/21, as set out in appendices 1 - 8, and did not identify any additional actions to be considered to achieve future improvement.

To approve the continuation of the public realm improvement scheme in the High Town area of Hereford City and the commencement of the development of a public realm improvement scheme for the area of Hereford city centre to the south west of High Town referred to as the Cathedral and River Wye Quarter.

To confirm that the £3m grant from The Marches LEP can be accepted and the capital programme updated accordingly.

This report seeks approval to accept this grant funding from government and approval for the funds to be spent on delivering the projects submitted to government. The council has been successful in securing £750,000 Towns Fund accelerated finance from government to deliver a programme of projects across Hereford City that will provide economic and environmental benefit. 

That:

(a)       The £750,000 funding from government for the Towns Fund accelerated projects be accepted by the council;

(b)     The spending of the £750,000 funding from government on the Towns Fund accelerated projects as detailed within this report is approved; and

(c)     The Director of Economy and Place be authorised to take all operational decisions to implement recommendation (b) including, but not limited to, the procurement and commissioning of new projects, and, following consultation with the S151 officer, the movement of budgets between projects to ensure the full expenditure of funding.

To approve a three month direct award of a contract for accommodation based support service for young people for the period to 31^st January 2021.  The contract is due to end on 31^st October 2020 and an unavoidable delay has resulted a request for a direct award to extend to 31^st January 2021.  Once approved a waiver will be requested.

It was proposed that procurement would commence for a new housing related support service for young people in June 2020, with mobilisation aligning with the completion of building works and the end of the existing supported accommodation for young people contract on 31^st October 2020, it was planned that the new service would commence on 1 November 2020.

That:

A contract be awarded to Citizen Young People for the accommodation based support service for young people for a period of 3 months to 31st January 2021 with a maximum cost of £40k

To approve the procurement of a ChatBot (via the Crown Commercial Service's G-Cloud 12 procurement framework) as new functionality for the Council’s website, and WISH, in order to ensure more customers can self-service to meet their needs.

A sophisticated ChatBot will also enable integration to smart devices enabling citizens to access key Council and community information via platforms such as Google Home, and Amazon Alexa.

That:

(a)  To procure a ChatBot for the council’s corporate and WISH websites employing artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, up to the contract value of £158k, with contract award made in consultation with the cabinet member finance and corporate services.

To seek approval to accept and spend the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding (£3,856,020) allocation from government, to support businesses affected by the second national Covid 19 lockdown period, and any future periods of restriction up to the end of March 2022.

This decision is specific to the Additional Restrictions Grant.  The national guidance indicates that the council can use this funding for business support activities but it is expected to primarily take the form of discretionary grants to businesses to support them through period of trade restrictions due to Covid 19. The offer letter implies that this allocation is for the current national and any future national or local restrictions (the funding will not be refreshed) through to the end of March 2022.

That:

(a)       The cabinet member for Environment, Economy and Skills approves the expenditure (£3,856,020) of government funding provided for the Covid 19 Herefordshire Additional Restrictions Grant Fund.

(b)       The cabinet member for Environment, Economy and Skills approves the approach to delivering the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme.

(c)       To delegate to the Director for Economy and Place following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment, Economy and Skills and the Section 151 Officer the authority to vary the grant support for businesses in accordance with the national government guidance to be able to urgently respond to fast changing Covid 19 circumstances.

(d)       The Head of Economic Development and the Economic Development Manager be authorised to approve grant awards to businesses following satisfactory appraisal of the applications received (up to a value of £5,000 per business).