The purpose of the report is to agree the scope, funding allocation and recommendations for delivery of the Technology Enabled Communities (TEC) Programme.

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.

The multi-gym equipment would utilise a currently unused space and provide the additional capacity required during breaks. It would also enhance the schools PE, science and RSE curriculums as well as supporting the priority for children to be more active.

The trim trail would allow a currently unused area of the outdoor area to be redeveloped and add a large area of additional capacity. It would provide a purposeful space in line with the schools ‘Healthy Me’ agenda of encouraging children to be as active as possible during breaks. It would also support the PE, science and RSE curriculum.

To improve security at both car parks and prevent crime and anti-social behaviour and reduce revenue repair costs.

OpenView Security Solutions Ltd are the councils incumbent supplier of Security and Surveillance Equipment & Maintenance Services as agreed by the non key decision made on 15th April 2019 (Report Ref: Upgrade and Renewal of CCTV Equipment). Decision - Upgrade and Renewal of CCTV Equipment - Herefordshire Council

The have proved best value for money following their original competitive tender and assessment process in accordance with Council procurement procedures so a quotation for both car parks was sought from them and returned at £31,475.

The installation of CCTV equipment at Maylord Orchards and Garrick House Car Parks to be Awarded to OpenView Security Solutions Ltd at a cost of £31,475.

To enable the event organisers to hold their event on the open space on Wednesday 10th August.

• Ross Library is owned by Herefordshire Council and Ross TC have requested permission to install an electronic noticeboard outside the property with a view to promoting and informing the general public including tourists about the local area.
• The council are supportive of their proposals and to facilitate the project intend to grant a licence permitting the installation.
• The terms of the licence will require Ross TC to undertake any necessary surveys prior to installation, pay for all installation and on-going maintenance costs, comply with all relevant legislation including planning, conservation area, health and safety etc, ensure that no obstruction is caused, remove the works on termination of the licence and fully reinstate to the satisfaction of the council.

• The artwork is being commissioned by Bromyard & Winslow Town Council who will retain the responsibility for the maintenance and ultimate removal of the work.
• This is being funded by the Welcome Back Fund and Great Place to Visit public realm improvement grant-funding in Bromyard to install artwork in critical access/footfall points in the town

• The Marches Makers Steering Committee is a community group supporting and showcasing local art works in and around Kington. They are working with Rachel Ricketts, a local internationally recognised sculptor, to make and erect a public art works sculpture entitled 'Fly: the Walking Dog of Kington' and have approached the council for consent to erect this outside the Museum in Mill Street, Kington
• Planning and Conservation Area Consent has been applied for
• The bronze figure will sit on a locally quarried sandstone plinth with a footprint measuring approx. 2.0m x 2.0m

1. The properties are owned by the council as part of its property investment portfolio held to deliver optimum commercial returns through rental income which is used to support the council’s strategic objectives in line with the County Plan 2020 – 2024.
2. In 2021 the council appointed Messrs JNA Property Ltd, Chartered Surveyors (JNA) under a contract for the provision of estates professional services including rent reviews.
3. The contract was awarded in consultation with the procurement team and in line with the council’s procurement rules and accordingly JNA were instructed.
4. JNA have surveyed the properties, reviewed the level of market rents achievable in this location and made justified recommendations on the appropriate level of rent to be agreed.
5. Provisional agreement, subject to formal approval, has been reached with the tenants.

Following the decision of Full Council to stop progress on the Southern Link Road and Western Bypass, the land acquired by Herefordshire Council is no longer required by.

Under the terms of the acquisition, should the Council decide not to proceed with the highway scheme then it must be offered back to its former owner.

It is therefore incumbent on the Council to now formally offer the land back to its former owner.

The mechanism for offering back the land is by way of Right of First Refusal Notice.

• The council own this small area of land extending to approximately 0.04ha/0.1 acre. It was acquired many years ago as part of a larger area for highway improvement works which were completed and this small piece was left over. Whilst it adjoins the public highway it is not part of the adopted highway and highways dept have confirmed they have no requirement for the land.
• The east side of the land comprises a steep almost vertical bank covered in scrub trees and bushes. There is no retaining wall or other structures in place to prevent a landslip occurring to the bank, which supports the garden of the adjacent property, Even Pitts.
• The owner of Even Pitts wishes to purchase the land to enable him to carry out any necessary works to support his adjoining land
• To ensure best value can be demonstrated independent valuation advice has been obtained and has assessed the market value of the land to be £10,000. This figure has been agreed as the sale price with the adjoining owner.
• The use of the land will be restricted to private garden/parking only

The council has received funding from the ESFA and predecessor organisations annually since 2001 to deliver adult and community learning. Agreeing to the ESFA grant enables the continuation of the council’s adult and community learning provision in Herefordshire.
The council’s Adult and Community Learning Plan sets out the plans for delivery in Herefordshire for the period 2019-2022, agreed by the cabinet member for Children and Families on 2 May 2019. https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=5929
The current adult and community plan is being reviewed and revised.
The aim of the plan is to deploy the ESFA funding to ensure that Herefordshire residents have access to a range of appropriate learning opportunities that will contribute to their personal, social, educational and economic development.
The local authority is responsible for receiving the grant allocation for maintained school sixth forms in Herefordshire and paying these schools for delivery of education provision for students aged 16 to 19 as per the ESFA funding guidance.
The ESFA grant contributes to the Herefordshire County Plan, in particular the ambition for communities: strengthen communities to ensure everyone lives well and safely together; and the economy ambition to support an economy, which, builds on the county’s strengths and resources. It will contribute to the delivery plan’s priority to invest in education and the skills needed by employers and supports the action to work with partners to increase the Skills and Workforce in the county (supporting objective EC3).
Adult and community learning programmes also contribute to the ambitions of the Herefordshire Children and Young People’s Partnership plan 2019-20204 by:
•Targeting resources and supporting vulnerable people aged 19 and over into learning including care leavers
•Improving the emotional and mental health and wellbeing of adults including parents and carers
•Achieving success in life, learning and future employment e.g. family learning, English, maths and employability programmes

Herefordshire Council has received an allocation of £1,329,601.78 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) under the Household Support Fund. In line with DWP guidance most of the funding has been earmarked to support families with children and pensioner households who would otherwise struggle with energy, food and energy bills as well as other essential costs. The decision to support third party organisations will enable those organisations to support other Herefordshire households who are struggling to meet essential household bills.

The funding to third party organisations is an important component of the support that is provided to low-income households. Providing funding to third party organisations will mean that those organisations can provide residents who are struggling with the increase in the cost of living.
Having regard for the time available to deliver the scheme, Herefordshire Council identified existing trusted partners which had already been recipients of government grants to support low income households during the Covid 19 pandemic. The partners have also been identified based on the need to support all the eligible spend categories specified by the DWP guidance and to provide support to vulnerable households, across Herefordshire whatever their household composition.

Age UK Hereford and Localities - Support for food - £24,000
Bromyard Foodbank and Money Advice Centre - Support for food; support for energy; support for other essentials - £22, 680
Hereford Foodbank - Support for food - £22,825
Herefordshire Community Foundation - Support for energy; support for other essentials - £30,000
Ledbury Foodbank - Support for food; support for other essentials -£9,870
Leominster Foodbank (including the Money Advice Centre) - Support for food; support for energy; support for other essentials - £21,500
The Living Room - Support for food; support for energy; support for other essentials - £26,400
Mothers’ Union – Diocese of Hereford - Support for household essentials - £10,100
NILS Scheme - Support for household essentials - £20,000
Putson Baptist Church - Support for food; support for energy; support for other essentials - £28,120
Severn Wye Energy Agency - Support for energy - £28,750
Total: £244,245

Consumer prices, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 9.4% in the 12 months to June 2022, up from 9.1% in May. The Bank of England expects inflation to rise further to around 11% in 2022 before levels start to fall during 2023. There have been significant increases in the price of energy and food and this is likely to increase with a further rise in the price cap on energy in October 2022. Low-income households spend a larger proportion than average on energy and food so will be more affected by price increases.

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

Following the successful delivery of the ERDF Start-up Programme (in partnership with Telford and Wrekin Council), to over 40 entrepreneurs and start-ups, Herefordshire Council would like to continue the delivery of 1-2-1 business start-up support and advice, to Herefordshire based entrepreneurs and business start-ups (up to 12 months old).

In 2018, 715 new businesses started up in Herefordshire, a rate of 8.5% (start-ups as a percentage of all active businesses). This was lower than in the West Midlands (13.3%) and nationally (13.0%). Start-ups are surviving longer in Herefordshire than regionally and nationally (92% at one year for businesses started in 2017, 59% at three years for businesses started in 2015 and 48.1% at five years for businesses started in 2013). Herefordshire has a greater number of businesses per head of population (527 per 10,000 per population aged 16+) than across the West Midlands (498).

CGRBS will be expected to work alongside the Marches Growth Hub (Herefordshire), liaising with the Growth Hub Manager, and the Economic Development Team, to generate interest and take up of the start-up 1-2-1 support programme but it is worth noting that there is also a pipeline of entrepreneurs waiting to receive support as the previous programme has met all of its targets.

Each business will have a minimum of 14 hours support. A minimum of four hours will be 1-2-1, to cover personalised and bespoke action/business planning and follow up.

Up to 10 hours can be business workshops focusing on sessions that will provide the skills and understanding to start a business, assess viability, how to explore and exploit business opportunities, legal considerations, access to finance and successful business planning, selling and marketing etc.

CGRBS has extensive experience in delivering start up courses and tailored advice and was successfully chosen following a tender process carried out in accordance with council’s contract procedure rules.

The maximum budget for this contract is £24,500 for the term up to 31 March 2024.

This contract will run up to March 2024 or until the funding has been fully allocated (whichever is the soonest).

The Council does not have the required officer capacity and technical specialism in order to develop the service specification and associated contractual documents to re-procure this essential service.

• Herefordshire College of Arts (HCA) currently occupy these premises under Licence.
• Terms have been agreed for a short lease to be coterminous with the lease of the main campus.

• Herefordshire College of Arts (HCA) currently occupy these premises under Licence.
• Terms have been agreed for a short lease to be coterminous with the lease of the main campus.

• Ground lease only, the wooden nursery building belongs to the tenant.
• Previous lease has expired.
• Lease renewal provides the nursery operator security for continued service delivery from this setting.

To approve and sign a Statement of Common Ground with Worcestershire County Council and Gloucestershire County Council on strategic, cross-boundary minerals and waste planning matters.
The Statement of Common Ground (SOCG), at appendix A, endorses the principle that Herefordshire Council (HC) has collaborated with Worcestershire County Council (WCC) and Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) during the preparation of the emerging Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan in identifying strategic planning matters. It demonstrates effective and ongoing joint working across administrative boundaries.

Reason for SOCG
The SOCG has been drawn up in pursuance of the statutory requirements to maintain effective cross-boundary co-operation, as detailed in the National Planning Policy Framework 2021 (paragraphs 24 to 27).

The SOCG updates and replaces the 2019 memorandum of understanding between HC, WCC and GCC.

Purpose of the SOCG
• Sets out roles and responsibilities to aid collaborative working on strategic matters;
• Demonstrates how statutory obligations under the Duty to Cooperate are being met in respect of:
o facilitating the steady and adequate supply of land-won sand and gravel, crushed rock aggregates and industrial minerals; and
o the delivery of sustainable waste management throughout the three administrative areas;
• Promotes the adoption of good practice partnership working;
• Establishes clear, consistent, effective and mutually beneficial and consistent approaches to evidence gathering, data analysis and dissemination; and
• Supports local plan-making functions and local decision-making on planning applications, as well as potentially informing sub-national or national policy development.

Next Steps
After the SOCG has been signed by HC, it will be sent to WCC and GCC. Once signed by all three authorities, the SOCG will be made publically available on the Minerals and Waste Local Plan examination pages of the Herefordshire Council website.

Appendix A: Statement of Common Ground between Herefordshire Council, Worcestershire County Council and Gloucestershire County Council on strategic, cross-boundary minerals and waste planning matters.

1. The land which is designated as public open space at Mabels Furlong Ledbury is owned by the council who have been approached by Last Mile Electricity Ltd, a statutory undertaker under the Electricity Act 1989 to grant consent for the laying of electricity cables in connection with new housing in the vicinity
2. The terms agreed provide for payment of a consideration of £5,000, all works will be carried out in compliance with all necessary statutory approvals, any damage caused during construction and future maintenance will be fully reinstated to the council’s satisfaction and the council’s fees in the matter will be paid.
3. The grant of the easement has been advertised in line with statutory requirements for the disposal of legal interests in public open space and the deed of easement will be reviewed and agreed by the legal team to ensure that the council’s position is fully protected

To grant an explosives licence to Aldi, Ledbury, Herefordshire, in accordance with the Explosives Regulations 2014 for 5 years - Expiry 31st August 2027.

To prosecute one defendant for illegally depositing waste and failing in duty of care under Sections 33(1)(a) and 33(6) and 34 (1) & 34(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Section 1 of the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989

The proposals have due regard to our public sector equality
duty. There are no health and safety implications or other
risks. This is because the owner of the tree is responsible for
it, including monitoring its condition and undertaking any works
required on safety grounds.

The proposals have due regard to our public sector equality
duty. There are no health and safety implications or other
risks. This is because the owner of the tree is responsible for
it, including monitoring its condition and undertaking any works
required on safety grounds.

The proposals have due regard to our public sector equality
duty. There are no health and safety implications or other
risks. This is because the owner of the tree is responsible for
it, including monitoring its condition and undertaking any works
required on safety grounds

The Robinia has high public amenity value which was
proposed to be felled following the submission of a notification
to carry out tree works in a Conservation Area.

The three trees mentioned in the TPO have high public
amenity value and are under perceived threat on account of
request to fell within a conservation area.

Cabinet is required to publish its timetable for making proposals to Council for the following financial year’s revenue and capital budgets and estimates of future years’ revenue resources by way of a Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Cabinet is also required to set out its approach public consultation on the budget proposals.

NLHF expect a completed Interpretation Plan to form part of the stage 2 application bid to outline what activities the Museum service will run following the successful completion of this project.

The Interpretation plan will inform the design of the spaces within the museum.

The proposed £15m significant redevelopment of the Grade 2 listed Hereford Museum and Art Gallery is a flagship project in the Hereford Town Investment Plan. The project will establish a modern high quality museum and art gallery visitor experience, attracting high profile exhibitions, providing additional space to display local heritage artefacts potentially including the Herefordshire Hoard, include a café and shop, and provide opportunities for corporate hospitality. A key feature of the proposed project is a culture trail on the roof of the historic building offering views over the city, including the Hereford Cathedral located opposite the site.