The purpose of this report is to set out how the £1.1 million Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) capital funding is proposed to be spent and to seek the necessary approvals to do so.

That:

a) approval is given to draw down the £1.1 million Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) capital funding allocated in BSIP+ funding for Herefordshire Council 2025/26 in accordance with the Council’s BSIP and supported by the Enhanced Partnership; and

b) delegated authority is given to the Chief Operating Officer to take all operational decisions (as set out in paras 3 to 5 below) over the lifetime of the project, to deliver the investment set out in recommendation (a)

To seek approval to allocate and spend the Employment Land capital budget to bring forward detailed designs and accompanying business case for the development of business workspace units on the former Bromyard Depot site, and to support the development of local co-working business hubs in Leominster and the other remaining market towns. To approve expenditure of up to £3.5 million (capital) for the development of business workspace units on the former Council Depot site in Bromyard and up to £500,000 (capital) on the development of local Business Hubs at the Buttercross Building in Leominster and the other remaining market towns.

a.     To approve the drawdown and expenditure of up to £3.5 million capital to procure and appoint a design team and thereafter a contractor to develop business workspace units on the former Council Depot site in Bromyard;

b.     To approve expenditure of up to £500,000 capital to procure and appoint the detailed design team and thereafter a contractor to complete internal alterations to the Buttercross Building in Leominster, and business hubs in Ross-on Wye, Ledbury, Bromyard and Kington (subject to availability of suitable property, need and budget); and

c.     To delegate all operational decisions to the Director for Growth in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Services and Assets and the Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, to implement recommendations (a) and (b), including the award of contracts to the preferred bidder following conclusion of the procurements undertaken in accordance with the Contract Procedure Rules.

To seek approval to commission, by means of a competitive tender process in line with the council’s contract procedure rules, a housing related support service for 16–25-year-old children in care and care leavers. The existing service is currently delivered by Connexus and is due to expire on 28 February 2026.

That:

a) the commissioning of a housing related accommodation-based support service through an open procurement process be approved, for a period of up to 84 months, commencing from the end of the previous contract on 1 March 2026 up to 28 February 2033 with a maximum total cost of £3,041,376 across the 84-month period;

b) authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Children’s Services to award a contract for a housing related support service, following the completion of a procurement process and;

c) that delegated authority is given to the Corporate Director of Children’s Services to approve any changes to the commissioning process, or subsequent contract for the duration, including the option to extend, vary and terminate.

Application approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

Application deferred.

Application approved in accordance with the case officer’s recommendation.

Application approved with a change to conditions.

a)    The response to the Environment and Sustainability Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations regarding Tree and Hedgerow Management shown as Appendix 1 as attached is approved.

The purpose of this report is to set out how the Local Transport Grant, Integrated Transport Block and Local Transport Revenue Fund, will be allocated and managed.

That:

a) approval is given to draw down the £4,760,000 Local Transport Grant, £1,077,000 Integrated Transport Block and £242,000 Local Transport Resource Fund, in accordance with the Council’s capital programme.

b) delegated authority is given to the Corporate Director Economy and Environment to take all operational decisions over the lifetime of the funding, to deliver the investment set out in recommendation (a)

To accept the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) 2 appraisal report in respect of the delivery of Student Accommodation at Blackfriars St and Venns Lane and to note we do not intend to take this project further forward at this time.

That:

a) The advice issued in the RIBA2 appraisal report for delivery of Student Accommodation at Blackfriars St and Venns Lane is accepted; and

b) The Council does not to proceed with RIBA3 and the project is not progressed further at this time