On 16th December 2021 the Department of Health and Social Care issued grant conditions for the Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Fund.

Funding conditions
The grant conditions are:

“The 2022 to 2023 funding is designed to ensure local authorities can prepare their markets for reform (particularly the impact of section 18(3)) and move towards paying providers a fair cost of care, as appropriate to local circumstances. To prepare markets, we expect local authorities will carry out activities such as:
1. conduct a cost of care exercise to determine the sustainable rates and identify how close they are to it;
2. engage with local providers to improve data on operational costs and number of self-funders to better understand the impact of reform on the local market (particularly the 65+ residential care market, but also additional pressures to domiciliary care);
3. strengthen capacity to plan for, and execute, greater market oversight (as a result of increased section 18(3) commissioning) and improved market management to ensure markets are well positioned to deliver on our reform ambitions;
4. use this additional funding to genuinely increase fee rates, as appropriate to local circumstances.

As a condition of receiving further grant funding in the 2 following years, local authorities will need to submit to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC):
1. a cost of care exercise – produced by surveying local providers for 65+ residential and nursing care and 18+ homecare to determine a sustainable fee rate for different care settings. Local authorities will be expected to publish the exercises;
2. a provisional market sustainability plan setting out local strategy for the next 3 years (2022 to 2025);
3. spend report – this will detail how money has been allocated in line with our expectations in order to achieve a more sustainable local market (as set out in 1 to 4 above)”

Funding distribution
The government distributed 2022 to 2023 funding using the adult social care relative needs formula as is used for the Social Care Grant and improved Better Care Fund

Herefordshire Council’s allocation is £594,414.

The guidance states that local authorities are required to use all funding to improve sustainability of the 65+ care home and 18+ domiciliary care markets (including domiciliary care providers who operate in extra care settings), and not just cover existing pressures.

Local authorities are expected to use at least 75% of allocated funding in 2022 to 2023 to increase fee rates paid to providers in scope, where necessary, and beyond pressures funded by the Local Government Finance Settlement 2022 to 2023.

As an incentive for providers to complete and take part in the cost of care exercise a £500 payment was made for a completed return. Therefore, £20,000 has already been paid to eligible providers. Decision - Fair Cost of Care Review (herefordshire.gov.uk)

The remaining allocation of £574,414 will be divided between Home Care and Care Home providers on the basis of each sector’s weighted average share of the council’s spending on spot-purchased Adult Social Care.

The funding will be apportioned to each eligible provider on the basis of:
• Home Care- commissioned hours of home care per provider
• Care Homes- commissioned care home bed days per provider

To approve the continued funding of the Chair and Technical Lead post and required technical studies, for the WMRTAB.
Contribution from each member waste planning authority: £900 per annum, paid as a lump sum of £2,700, for the three-year period 2023 - 2026.

Council to approve the appointments of all Electoral Service Office staff as Deputy Electoral Registration Officers with limited powers.

To approve the 2023/24 budget and associated medium term financial strategy and treasury management strategy.

To grant a Protection of Geographical Indication Certificate of Conformity to Lambswick Drinks Co Ltd, Oldfields Farm, Frith Common, Eardiston, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, WR15 8JX, for 1 additional Cider product under Council Regulation(EEC) Number 1151/2012

To revoke a dual driver’s licence for driving and undertaking Hackney Carriage duties whilst suspended, therefore not complying with the licence conditions and policy attached to a dual driver licence. This put the public at risk due to the driver not having valid insurance in place.

The Waste Management Services PFI Contract (WMSC) between Herefordshire Council and Worcestershire County Council and Mercia Waste Management Ltd (Mercia) was signed in December 1998 for 25 years. It is important to recognise that the WMSC was for an integrated solution to be delivered by Mercia for the disposal of all Local Authority Collected Waste (LACW), known as ‘Contract Waste’ arising within the two counties.

The original procurement process undertaken prior to the award of the WMSC envisaged a contract of up to 30 years. The WMSC also includes contractual mechanisms for the proposed extension. There is nothing within the current WMSC which would preclude the proposed variation to the contract to deliver the defied outcomes from the Integrated Waste Management Strategy.

On 25 November 2021 Cabinet approved both the new waste collection service model and for the council to progress Mercia’s proposal for extending the duration of the WMSC for a period of five years until 11 January 2029 by entering into a variation of the existing WMSC.

Since November 2021 significant due diligence has been undertaken with support from specialist legal, finance and technical consultants on the proposed extension and variations to the WMSC.

Through the contract extension and variation Mercia have commit to defer taking sufficient commercial waste to enable a reduction to just 1% of Herefordshire’s waste going to landfill from 2022.

On 28 November 2022 the Council jointly published a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency (VEAT) Notice in order to provide voluntary prior transparency.

In order to undertake the extension and variation the Joint Working Agreement between Worcestershire County Council (WCC) and Herefordshire Council has been updated to reflect the extended term of the WMSC and future arrangements between WCC and the Council.

The council, like other local authority areas across England has a skills gap and challenge in recruiting qualified social workers. There is therefore ambition and planning underway to ‘Grow Our Own’ social workers in both Community Well Being and Children and Young Peoples directorates to address this issue. One mechanism for this is through the development and delivery of social work apprenticeships.

As a large employer the council is required to make a mandatory contribution to the government apprenticeship levy pot. However, the council is also able to benefit from this levy to fund Apprenticeship courses directly from the levy.

The successful Apprenticeship provider will be required to draw down the funding directly from the government Apprenticeship levy. The maximum that can be claimed for each Apprentice is £23,000 for the three year Social Work (degree) Apprenticeship programme. The council is seeking to train up to 16 Apprentices starting in 2023. Therefore, the maximum contract value will be £368,000 which requires an open tender process to procure a provider.

The provider must be registered on the Register of Approved Training
Providers to deliver an approved apprenticeship leading to a degree level qualification in social work.

Children’s Improvement Plan Transformation Funding

In accordance with the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the Herefordshire Council Connected Communities Scrutiny Committee delivers the crime and disorder scrutiny function for Herefordshire Community Safety Partnership.

To provide an update on activity and impact since the completion of the Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Review (October 2022).

To approve the pay policy statement 2023-24 for publication

To share the key messages from the Local Government Association (LGA) Peer review of SEND services in Herefordshire

Children’s Services Improvement Plan – Implementation Review Update

It has been concluded that the current transport model needs to be updated in order for this to be robust enough for a Local Plan Examination.

The primary purpose of this commission is to develop a TAG-compliant multi-modal strategic transport model that can be utilised to test allocations in the emerging Herefordshire Local Plan, and the HSTM will also go on to act as a foundation for future business case development and submission of bids for the funding and delivery of new transport infrastructure.

Review of fees in accordance with the The Local Authorities (England) (Charges for Property Searches) Regulations 2008. This states that the charges must be assessed on a cost recovery basis and reviewed on a three year cycle.

The exemption to provide supplemental funding would boost the number of audits specifically for Herefordshire and provide learning and outcomes that will inform a wider future project subject to full procurement.
The Future Ready Homes project was set up in 2021 and runs to January 2024. Part of the project scope includes 150 fully funded retrofit surveys for residents across Shropshire, Powys and Herefordshire.
The project is already up and running with a good application pipeline. Due to the limited number of surveys available households will have to be turned down without this additional funding.
The UKSPF funding of £49,050 will provide supplemental funding to increase the number of audits for Herefordshire by 72 (60%) will be delivered, by March 2023 with the remaining 29 (40%) by the end of June 2023.
The project enables householders across Herefordshire to understand the optimal energy efficiency solutions for their homes whilst also helping to meet the County’s net zero carbon by 2030 ambition.
The project team choose a mix of on-gas/ off-gas, urban/rural, old and new homes, owner occupier/ private rental. This project targets the able to pay sector as these households often fall between the gaps as they are not eligible for grant funding but often need help to start their retrofit journey.

The purpose is to secure Severn Wye Energy Agency to carry out detailed Energy and Resource Efficiency Assessments of up to 30 local businesses that are currently working closely with Herefordshire Council to reduce their carbon emissions. The project ‘30 for 2030’ encourages and mobilises employers and their Colleagues across Herefordshire to plot their journeys to meet the County’s net zero carbon ambition by the end of the decade.

The audits one of the projects mobilised as a result from the climate assembly will put the spotlight on up to 30 employers, who will open up their organisations to share the actions they take and their achievements along the way to inspire others to do the same.

The purpose is to secure 4Recycling Ltd to carry out detailed farm carbon audits of up to 30 Herefordshire farm businesses that will be identified via an EOI process. The Climate and Nature Board land-use and farming sub-group, NFU and Farm Herefordshire will help select the 30.
The audits are one of the projects mobilised by the Climate and Nature Board and funded by the Climate Reserve.

• The original contract awarded to Cloudbooking provided a solution used in all Herefordshire Council sites but both Herefordshire Council and Hoople staff. The original procurement was carried using the Crown Commercial Services G-Cloud framework 12.
• A decision has been taken to add the Nelson House building as an additional site with 9 meeting rooms and 24 bookable desks.
• To ensure a consistent user experience it has been agreed that this site should also have the same solution to that provided in the other sites.
• The original contract value was £53,930
• The additional cost due to the variation is £4,721

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 4,505 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 £20 for the week of the February half-term.

Consumer prices, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), were 16.40% higher in November 2022 than a year before. The CPI is also forecast to remain above 8.6% for the remainder of 2022 into 2023. 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 £1,329,601.78 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.

£100k Gainshare from the Public Realm contract with BBLP has been identified for reallocation. It is recommended that this is reinvested into resurfacing within Hereford City. This forms part the the local transport plan line in the capital programme that is funded by a £15.466m annual grant that has to be spent in year. Therefor it is important to reallocate and spend this grant rather than have to return any underspend to DfT.

The original tender document for this scheme included the relevant measures but wasn’t specific to Park Homes and therefore the contractors didn’t consider this in their bid. Neither of the contractors appointed are able to carry installations on Park Homes due to PAS guidance restrictions.

A new tender was run via the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) on 02/11/22 but no bids were received despite a further extension. Hence taking the decision to make a direct award.

The named company has been chosen as they specialise in Park Home Installations, are fully PAS accredited and have come highly recommended with a proven track record of successful delivery

The project is to install insulation measures, External Wall/Loft/Underfloor insulation to approx. 10 Park Homes and will use Sustainable Warmth Competition funding from the Department for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) via the Midlands Net Zero Hub (MNZH).
The Sustainable Warmth scheme aims to raise the energy efficiency of low-income and low EPC rated homes including those living in the worst quality off-gas grid homes, delivering progress towards: reducing fuel poverty, the phasing out of high carbon fossil fuel heating and the national and local commitments to net zero. The fund also aims to support the green recovery in response to the economic impacts of Covid-19 and to help take low-income families out of fuel poverty.

The contract to provide this service was awarded to Capita in 2017 following a competitive tender exercise. The contract includes all associated software licences, support and maintenance for the following payment mechanisms: internet, automated telephone, MOTO (Mail Order & Telephone Order), Chip & PIN and Contactless, Post Office & PayPoint and Payment Portal.
The current system has been operational for over 5 years and is embedded within the council’s income management and collection processes. A change in system and provider is not recommended as the current system meets the council’s requirements and the cost of conversion, implementation and expected disruption to this essential finance function would be significant and prohibitive. It is estimated that these costs would be in the region of £100k.
Taking account of the costs and disruption of moving to a different system and the service standards provided by the current contractor, continuing with current service provider, does represent a best value solution for the council. The renewal is offered at a fixed price which protects the council from the risk of future prices increases over the contract term. The extension of the existing contract will ensure continuity of service and minimise the risk of failure or error.

The decision of 5th August 2022 outlined the costs as detailed below:

After the completion of a full tender exercise the costs for the works have been calculated as:

Multi-gym equipment £10,564
Trim trail £33,171
Total: £43,735

The project will be funded from:

S106 (GT05 FIN1800) Monies Received £73,449.12
Spend Proposal £43,735.00
Remaining £29,714.12

Due to materials & transport, energy, labour and salary cost rises a variation of £2366 has been administered, taking the total project cost to £46,101.

The S106 has additional funding within the primary allocation to cover the additional cost.

The S106 agreement allocation will now have £27,348.12 remaining of which further projects are proposed for the development of the forest school and potential internal remodeling works.

Pupil numbers at the school have been increasing in recent years making it difficult to provide sufficient purposeful space for children to use at break times. The school are encouraging children to be as active as possible during breaks and put on a range of additional activities to encourage this, however they do not have sufficient space to have multiple team games in operation safely.