Decisions
14/03/2023 - Acceptance of Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Pilot Grant ref: 9370 Recommendations Approved
To approve the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enable Herefordshire Council to work alongside five Local Authorities as part of a consortium supported by Midlands Connect.
Decision Maker: Cabinet member Infrastructure and transport
Decision published: 14/03/2023
Effective from: 21/03/2023
Decision:
That:
a) Herefordshire Council enters into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to participate in the consortium;
b) Herefordshire Council takes part in an procurement process led by Lincolnshire County Council seeking a delivery partner for the operation and expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging point network across the five local authority areas;
c) The Interim Service Director Highways and Transport is authorised to sign the Memorandum of Understanding and contract award; and is authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Danny Lenain, Richard Vaughan
09/02/2023 - On Street Parking Review - Hereford City Centre ref: 9305 Recommendations Approved
To consider and approve the recommendation to consult on introducing On Street parking charges in areas on the periphery of the Historic City Core Centre.
Decision Maker: Cabinet member Infrastructure and transport
Decision published: 17/02/2023
Effective from: 24/02/2023
Decision:
That:
a) residents and businesses are informally consulted on the proposals to introduce on street parking charges at the locations shown in Appendix A for the reasons set out in this report, and;
b) the current on street paid parking scheme in Hereford City Centre is extended so that charges for parking apply on Sundays; and
c) all operational decisions are delegated to the Interim Service Director, Highways and Transport, to progress these proposals including the formal consultation stage, noting a further Cabinet Member decision will be required to formally implement any changes.
Wards affected: Central; Hinton and Hunderton; Widemarsh;
Lead officer: James Hughes
27/01/2023 - Decision to spend monies related to Brookfield School and the need to divert the existing Gas Main running through the proposed Arrow Centre Building ref: 9312 Recommendations Approved
The Brookfield Special School is an academy
situated in Hereford on two sites – the main site being close
to the racecourse and the second located across the City in a
mobile classroom close to the inner ring road (approximately 20
minutes apart by car). It has both primary and secondary phases. It
is Herefordshire’s only social, emotional & mental health
(SEMH) special school.
A small group of the most vulnerable and challenging pupils are
currently accommodated offsite in a temporary demountable building
of poor quality and unsuitable layout on Symonds Street. The use of
this building is subject to a temporary planning permission which
requires the mobile building to be removed by 16 April 2023.There
are no female pupil toilets in the secondary building and as there
is now demand for female places at the school (although this has
not been the case previously). All current classrooms are small and
there are only 9 as opposed to the 10 classrooms described as
necessary in BB104 (Establishes non-statutory area guidelines for
buildings and grounds at special schools and alternative
provision). There are no indoor sports facilities despite physical
education being a statutory requirement of the national
curriculum.
This decision supports the Cabinet decision, on 21 July 2022, to
accept of the Department for Education (DfE) funding offer and move
forward with The Brookfield Special School project.
There are a number of requirements to allow the progression of this
decision in a timely manner.
The three required tasks needed to start the project are:
1. Negotiate and agree the surrender of the current lease with the
Greyhound Rugby Club (GRC) and take forward a new lease.
2. Commission a contractor to divert an existing gas pipe that
currently runs through the proposed construction site. (subject to
approval of the GRC, legally documented by a license and works
agreement.)
3. To re-engage consultants to review and update the existing
tender documents and design Stage 4 and carry out procurement for
design and build.
This decision is for Part 2 above, commission contractor (Cadent
Gas) to divert the existing Gas pipe.
Cadent Gas Ltd are a company that owns a gas network serving 11
million homes and businesses in the North West, West Midlands, east
Midlands, South Yorkshire, east of England and North London. They
own the existing gas pipe line and are the only company we can be
used to carry out the works. Detailed quotation has been received
and valid till 12/4/23 with a 20 week lead-time to start
works.
Decision Maker: Director of Resources and Assurance
Decision published: 09/02/2023
Effective from: 27/01/2023
Lead officer: Andrew Lovegrove
09/02/2023 - Halo Joint Use Leisure Centre Funding Arrangement ref: 9309 Recommendations Approved
Halo Leisure Services Limited has successfully
operated the Lady Hawkins Community Leisure Centre in Kington on
behalf of Herefordshire Council since 2016 and are considered
specialists in the field of delivering affordable and accessible
leisure facilities.
The Community Leisure Centre is situated within Lady Hawkins School
and the facilities can be accessed by the school and the community.
The leisure offer has been well received by community of
Kington.
Halo Leisure Services Limited is a charity and social enterprise
which means that any profit from traded activities is reinvested
into services. Halo Leisure Services Limited are able to offer a
range of discounted and concessionary memberships enabling
individuals living on low incomes to access the facilities and
become members. Data indicates that people on low incomes suffer
from significant health inequalities.
There is already a Joint Use Agreement between Halo Leisure
Services Limited and Lady Hawkins School in place, which outlines
the use of the facilities and both parties have confirmed that they
want the partnership to continue.
Maintaining support for this community based leisure facility
supports the ambitions of the Council’s Physical Activity
Strategy which aims to increase physical activity levels and build
community resilience. It also support priorities 3 (increase
quality of life) and 5 (increase active lifestyle) of the
Council’s Health and Wellbeing strategy.
Decision Maker: Corporate Director - Community Wellbeing
Decision published: 09/02/2023
Effective from: 09/02/2023
Lead officer: Hilary Hall
03/02/2023 - Decision to issue a community protection notice for anti-social behaviour. Castle. 03.02.23 ref: 9308 Recommendations Approved
To issue a Community Protection Notice under
Section 43 of the Antisocial Behaviour Crime and Policing Act
2014
Decision Maker: Officer Decisions - Economy and Enviroment
Decision published: 09/02/2023
Effective from: 03/02/2023
Lead officer: David Hough
27/01/2023 - To acquire land and associated access rights at Tarrington in order to develop a phosphorous-reducing wetland site ref: 9307 Recommendations Approved
As set out in the cabinet member decision, the
creation of wetland areas will, in addition to improving the water
quality of the River Lugg, positively contribute toward the
delivery of the environmental and economic priorities within the
County Plan 2020-2024; enhancing local biodiversity, enabling
sustainable housing growth in the north of the county and reducing
carbon emissions through carbon sequestration.
The benefits of wetlands in releasing prospective housing
development currently unable to complete the planning process
because of phosphate load will be of particular value in terms of
the local construction economy and the delivery of established
housing targets.
Acquisition of suitable land is essential if wetland schemes are to
be progressed so that their benefits can be realised.
The area of land in question is suitably positioned in relation to
the wastewater treatment works and the watercourse, and has been
identified as having the physical properties necessary to form a
well-functioning integrated wetland.
Negotiations with the landowner have concluded and the value set
out in the ‘decision made’ section of this report have
emerged as the minimum values which will be accepted by the
landowner. All negotiations have been carried out by agents with
appropriate expertise and experience in this area, appointed to
represent the council’s interests.
The council has undertaken the required due diligence in
considering the acquisition, in particular:
•A commercial ‘red book’ valuation of the land in
question has been commissioned previously. At the close of
negotiations the agreed land purchase cost and arrangements set out
in the ‘decision made’ section of this report are
recommended by the council’s appointed agents as being
appropriate to the circumstances.
•A range of site investigations have been undertaken to verify
the suitability of the land, including soil sampling, ground water
risk assessment, preliminary ecological survey and phosphate load
monitoring from the waste water treatment works. A preliminary
wetland design was also undertaken by a specialist consultant on
the basis of the information generated by the site investigations
to confirm that the area of land proposed for acquisition would be
suitable and adequate for the wetland proposed.
•The council’s legal representatives have, through the
conveyancing process, fully assessed the proposed land purchase
agreement to ensure that the acquisition is appropriate and
suitably robust in terms of risk. No unacceptable liabilities or
obligations have been identified which would impact on the proposed
use of the land as a wetland or otherwise result in unacceptable
levels of risk to the council.
•A formal pre-planning consultation was undertaken to
establish the suitability of the proposal for the granting of
planning approval.
•The Environment Agency, and Natural England have been
consulted.
Decision Maker: Service Director – Environment , Highways, & Waste
Decision published: 09/02/2023
Effective from: 27/01/2023
Lead officer: David Jones
04/01/2023 - Decision to spend monies related to Brookfield School and the re-engagement of Principal consultants McBains and Pick Everard. ref: 9306 Recommendations Approved
The Brookfield Special School is an academy
situated in Hereford on two sites – the main site being close
to the racecourse and the second located across the City in a
mobile classroom close to the inner ring road (approximately 20
minutes apart by car). It has both primary and secondary phases. It
is Herefordshire’s only social, emotional & mental health
(SEMH) special school.
The premises are inadequate – A small group of the most
vulnerable and challenging pupils are currently accommodated
offsite in a temporary demountable building of poor quality and
unsuitable layout on Symonds Street. The use of this building is
subject to a temporary planning permission which requires the
mobile building to be removed by 16 April 2023.There are no female
pupil toilets in the secondary building and as there is now demand
for female places at the school (although this has not been the
case previously), this poses an equality issue. All current
classrooms are small and there are only 9 as opposed to the 10
classrooms described as necessary in BB104 (Establishes
non-statutory area guidelines for buildings and grounds at special
schools and alternative provision). There are no indoor sports
facilities despite physical education being a statutory requirement
of the national curriculum.
This decision supports the Cabinet decision, on 21 July 2022, to
accept of the Department for Education (DfE) funding offer and move
forward with The Brookfield Special School project.
There are a number of requirements to allow the progression of this
decision in a timely manner.
The three required tasks needed to start the project are:
1. Negotiate and agree the surrender of the current lease with the
Greyhound Rugby Club (GRC) and take forward a new lease.
2. Commission a contractor to divert an existing gas pipe that
currently runs through the proposed construction site. (subject to
approval of the GRC, legally documented by a license and works
agreement.)
3. To re-engage consultants to review and update the existing
tender documents and design Stage 4 and carry out procurement for
design and build.
This decision is for Part 3 above, re-engagement of consultants.
Other parts will require other decisions.
We need to re-engage the consultants, who were appointed following
a competitive tender process, to prepare the original tender
documents, to review and update the documents ready for re-tender.
At the outset of the project, design and cost consultants were
appointed as part of the delivery team. During the ongoing
negotiations with the DfE regarding funding, the consultant’s
contracts were temporarily paused and now require to be re-engaged.
This will allow for a prompt tendering process which can be done in
parallel to the gas works, again saving time and additional
cost.
It is intended that once the transfer of the Brookfield Special
School to the MET, the funding provided from Capital Development
budget will be reimbursed from the funding allocated to the
Brookfield Special School capital improvement budget.
Decision Maker: Service Director - Education, Skills and Learning
Decision published: 09/02/2023
Effective from: 04/01/2023
Lead officer: Liz Farr
03/02/2023 - To agree the proposals to spend the Active Travel England (ATE) Capability and Ambition Funding grant allocation ref: 9304 Recommendations Approved
LCWIP Commission:
1) ATE have been clear that local authorities are expected to have
an LCWIP in place before bidding for capital and/or revenue funds
for future active travel projects. Indeed, it is expected that any
bid for funding without an LCWIP in place will be rejected except
in exceptional circumstances.
2) PJA are currently developing an LCWIP for Hereford as part of
the City Masterplan project and are therefore familiar with the
county, and have already collated a lot of the background evidence
required to be able to expand the LCWIP to countywide. This will
enable PJA to start work immediately on drawing up the detailed
elements of the plan.
3) PJA co-authored the LCWIP guidance alongside the Department for
Transport (DfT) in 2017 and therefore have extensive knowledge of
the requirements of an LCWIP. They have also worked as trusted
advisors to ATE for walking and cycling strategies and
LCWIPs.
4) PJA have experience on working on LCWIP’s for other shire
local authorities including Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Somerset
and Lancashire.
Monitoring active travel schemes:
5) All authorities in receipt of the ATE Capability and Ambitions
Fund grant are required to submit a 6-month and 12-month monitoring
report to ATE outlining total outputs and spend.
6) The Traffic Technology multi-modal sensor is the recommended
option to monitor cycle and pedestrian movements on St Owen St
contraflow. Quotes were sought from three companies, however, only
two companies were able to provide quotes because they are the only
two suppliers who provide this type of monitoring technology in the
UK.
Decision Maker: Corporate Director – Economy & Environment
Decision published: 09/02/2023
Effective from: 03/02/2023
Lead officer: Ross Cook
08/02/2023 - 221177 - SHEEPCOTTS, ULLINGSWICK, HEREFORDSHIRE, HR1 3JQ ref: 9301 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Planning and Regulatory Committee
Made at meeting: 08/02/2023 - Planning and Regulatory Committee
Decision published: 08/02/2023
Effective from: 08/02/2023
Decision:
Application refused contrary to the case officer’s recommendation.
Wards affected: Three Crosses;
08/02/2023 - 220370 - WOODFIELDS FRUIT LTD, WOODFIELDS WESTON UNDER PENYARD, ROSS-ON-WYE, HEREFORDSHIRE, HR9 7PG ref: 9300 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Planning and Regulatory Committee
Made at meeting: 08/02/2023 - Planning and Regulatory Committee
Decision published: 08/02/2023
Effective from: 08/02/2023
Decision:
Application approved with a change to the case officer’s recommendation; temporary permission granted.
Wards affected: Penyard;
07/02/2023 - Allocation of Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Grant Funding to Adult Social Care Providers ref: 9299 Recommendations Approved
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
Decision Maker: Corporate Director - Community Wellbeing
Decision published: 07/02/2023
Effective from: 07/02/2023
Lead officer: Hilary Hall
02/02/2023 - Continued funding of chair and technical lead of the West Midlands Resource Technical Advisory Body (WMRTAB) ref: 9297 Recommendations Approved
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.
Decision Maker: Service Director - Economy and Regulatory
Decision published: 06/02/2023
Effective from: 02/02/2023
Lead officer: Tracey Coleman
03/02/2023 - Appointing Deputy Electoral Registration Officers
Council to approve the appointments of all
Electoral Service Office staff as Deputy Electoral Registration
Officers with limited powers.
Decision Maker: Council
Decision due date: 03/03/2023
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Colette Maund
Notice of decision: 03/02/2023
Anticipated restriction: Open
03/02/2023 - 2023/24 Budget Setting
To approve the 2023/24 budget and associated
medium term financial strategy and treasury management
strategy.
Decision Maker: Council
Decision due date: 09/02/2023
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Rachael Hart
Notice of decision: 03/02/2023
Anticipated restriction: Open
27/01/2023 - PGI grant for Lambswick Drinks Co Ltd. Worcestershire. 27.01.23 ref: 9293 Recommendations Approved
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
Decision Maker: Officer Decisions - Economy and Enviroment
Decision published: 02/02/2023
Effective from: 27/01/2023
Lead officer: David Hough
19/01/2023 - Decision to revoke a dual drivers (taxi) licence. All Wards. 19.01.23 ref: 9292 Recommendations Approved
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.
Decision Maker: Head of Public Protection
Decision published: 02/02/2023
Effective from: 19/01/2023
Lead officer: Marc Willimont
02/02/2023 - Temporary Accommodation Policy and Procurement ref: 9276 Recommendations Approved
The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the implementation of the Temporary Accommodation Policy.
Decision Maker: Cabinet Member housing, regulatory services and community
Decision published: 02/02/2023
Effective from: 09/02/2023
Decision:
That:
a) The Temporary Accommodation Procurement and Placement Policy 2023– 2026 is approved;
b) Authority to be delegated to the Director of Community Wellbeing Directorate to make all operational decisions to implement this policy.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Hayley Crane
12/12/2022 - Waste Disposal Extension, Variation and updated Joint Working Agreement ref: 9290 Recommendations Approved
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.
Decision Maker: Director of Resources and Assurance
Decision published: 02/02/2023
Effective from: 12/12/2022
Lead officer: Andrew Lovegrove
18/01/2023 - Apprenticeship Programme for Social Work (Degree) procurement ref: 9289 Recommendations Approved
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.
Decision Maker: Service Director - Corporate Services
Decision published: 02/02/2023
Effective from: 18/01/2023
Lead officer: Tracey Sampson
01/02/2023 - Children’s Improvement Plan Transformation Funding
Children’s Improvement Plan
Transformation Funding
Decision Maker: Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee
Decision due date: 14/02/2023
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Bart Popelier
Notice of decision: 01/02/2023
Anticipated restriction: Open
01/02/2023 - Herefordshire Community Safety Partnership
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.
Decision Maker: Connected Communities Scrutiny Committee
Decision due date: 13/02/2023
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Adrian Turton
Notice of decision: 01/02/2023
Anticipated restriction: Open
01/02/2023 - Developing SEND services - progress report
To provide an update on activity and impact
since the completion of the Local Government Association (LGA) Peer
Review (October 2022).
Decision Maker: Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee
Decision due date: 14/02/2023
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Liz Farr, Darryl Freeman, Bart Popelier
Notice of decision: 01/02/2023
Anticipated restriction: Open
01/02/2023 - Pay Policy Statement
To approve the pay policy statement 2023-24
for publication
Decision Maker: Council
Decision due date: 10/02/2023
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Leanne Edwards
Notice of decision: 01/02/2023
Anticipated restriction: Open
31/01/2023 - SEND Peer Review feedback
To share the key messages from the Local
Government Association (LGA) Peer review of SEND services in
Herefordshire
Decision Maker: Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee
Decision due date: 14/02/2023
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Liz Farr, Darryl Freeman
Notice of decision: 31/01/2023
Anticipated restriction: Open
31/01/2023 - Schools Budget 2023/24 ref: 9274 Recommendations Approved
To approve school forum’s recommended budget proposals for school budgets, central school services and early years within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2023/24.
Dedicated Schools Grant funding for the schools block in 2023/24 is £123.2m, which is an increase of £1.3m for primary pupils, £2.1m for secondary pupils, a total of £3.4m after consolidation of the £3.3m supplementary grant from 2022-23. In addition the government have announced a further grant for schools valued at £5.15m (£4.15m for mainstream schools and £1m for high needs). The funding for high needs and early years block are provisional and are both subject to final adjustments for pupil numbers and commissioned places. The school funding values and formula calculations are in accordance with the national school funding formula as set by government. The £0.616m is to be transferred to the high needs block for 2023/24 to continue the SEN protection scheme.
Decision Maker: Cabinet member children and families
Decision published: 31/01/2023
Effective from: 07/02/2023
Decision:
That:
Due to insufficient funding within the Dedicated Schools Grant the National Funding Formula(NFF) factors for 2023/24 be reduced by 1% as included in the recommendations 1. (a) – (n) as below, be approved as follows;
1. The final school funding values be agreed, subject to a minimum total funding per pupil of £4,405 for primary schools and £5,715 for secondary schools, including the Minimum Funding Guarantee at 0.5% as follows:
(a) Basic entitlement per pupil Primary £3,361, basic entitlement per secondary pupil Key Stage 3 £4,738 and basic entitlement per secondary pupil Key Stage 4 £5,340
(b) Deprivation per free school meal Primary £475.50 Deprivation per free school meal Secondary £475.50
(c) Deprivation per ever-6 free school meal Primary £697.95, Deprivation per ever-6 free school meal Secondary £1,019.70
(d) Socio-economic deprivation Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI)
(i) Band A Primary £663.30 Secondary £920.70
(ii) Band B Primary £504.90 Secondary £722.70
(iii) Band C Primary £475.20 Secondary £673.20
(iv) Band D Primary £435.60 Secondary £613.80
(v) Band E Primary £277.20 Secondary £440.55
(vi) Band F Primary £227.70 Secondary £331.65
(vii) Band G Primary £0 Secondary £0
(e) Low prior attainment per pupil Primary £1,143.45, per pupil Secondary £1,732.50
(f) Lump Sum Primary £126,720, Secondary £126,720
(g) Primary sparsity, on NFF taper basis, over 2 miles and less than an average year group size of 21.4 pupils Primary £56,018.50
(h) Secondary sparsity, on NFF taper basis, over 3 miles and less than an average year group size of 120 pupils Secondary £81,081 using the updated DfE actual road distance measure
(i) English as additional language (EAL3) per primary pupil Primary £574.20 English as additional language per secondary pupil Secondary £1,549.35
(j) Mobility Primary £935.55 Mobility Secondary £1,346.40
(l) PFI contract Secondary £336,104
(m) Exceptional premises factor – Eastnor rent Primary £9,556
(n) Business rates: At the indicative cost of £1,292,043 as determined by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and 2021/22 funding in arrears for Marlbrook primary school of £21,964.77
2. Additional growth funding of £187,250 for 2023/24 be approved as follows;
(a) Growth funding for basic need expansion at Kingstone High School, £140,437.50 (summer term £56,700, autumn & spring £83,737.50) for the financial year 2023/24 for an additional 30 planned pupils
(b) Growth funding for basic need expansion at Fairfield High School, £46,812.50 (summer term £18,900, autumn & spring £27,912.50) for the financial year 2023/24 for an additional 10 planned pupils
3. Transfer to high needs block to support the SEN protection scheme, £616,000 be approved by Schools Forum and to set the school funding cap at £170 x Number on Roll for 2023/24 allowing £50,000 growth in 2023-24 subject to further consideration of the funding cap at the March meeting of Schools Forum.
4. That prior to submission to the DfE, any minor adjustments to the schools budget up to £5k required to comply with the regulations, be made to the funding allocated to the growth fund to provide a contingency.
5. That the Cabinet Member for Children’s and Families be advised for information, that Schools Forum approved an inflationary increase for the central support services funding for 2023/24, and advise the Cabinet member for children’s and families for information, as follows
(a) Statutory retained duties £387k
(b) Schools Forum administration costs £19.5k
(c) School admission costs £135.6k
(d) National licences for schools £153k
(e) Additional funding for statutory duties for SEN casework team £27k
(f) SACRE funding for statutory duties £8,120
(g) Transfer to the high needs block £80k
6. That the Cabinet Member for Children’s and Families be advised for information, that local authority maintained school members, approve an increase of 1.9% in the de-delegation of funding in 2023/24, and advise the Cabinet member for children’s and families for information, as follows
(a) trade union facilities for primary schools only be approved at £2.65 per pupil
(b) trade union facilities for secondary schools only be provided for through a Service Level Agreement at £2.65 per pupil
(c) school budgeting software licence at £422.89 per school
(d) ethnic minority support at £1.17 per pupil plus £6.93 per Ever-6 Free school meals and £36.68 per English as an Additional Language three years (EAL3)
(e) school meals entitlement assessment at £1.31 per primary pupil and £0.99 per secondary pupil (for local authority schools)
(f) behaviour support service at £4.08 per pupil to provide £38,300 income
(g) school improvement services be newly de-delegated at £6 per pupil
(h) contingencies be newly de-delegated at £1 per pupil
(i) the statutory education services for non-academy schools be charged at £12.48 per pupil
7. The early years funding formula for Herefordshire providers from April 2023 be increased by the inflationary increase provided by DfE and approved as follows;
(a) Two year olds: £5.63 per hour
(b) Three and four year olds: £4.48 per hour + a deprivation supplement of £0.38 per hour for Early Years Pupil Premium eligible children + a rurality supplement per provider of £57 per week (pro-rata for providers that deliver less than 100 hours per week) paid for 38 weeks per year
(c) Early years central expenditure be increased by 5.4% inflation £393,000 for NEF contract payments, Early years consultants and MASH support for early years settings.
8. The Schools Budget be approved as follows;
(a). A balanced schools budget be approved for 2023/24; and
(b). the unusable reserve for the DSG deficit reserves of £275,319 be carried forward to financial year 2024/25 adjusted by any under or overspend in DSG at year end in March 2023.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Malcolm Green
30/01/2023 - Children’s Services Improvement Plan – Implementation Review Update
Children’s Services Improvement Plan
– Implementation Review Update
Decision Maker: Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee
Decision due date: 14/02/2023
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Bart Popelier
Notice of decision: 30/01/2023
Anticipated restriction: Open
30/01/2023 - To agree the Super Hubs approach ref: 9259 Recommendations Approved
The purpose of this report is to approve the recommended option for now taking this forward and deliver Super Hubs in Herefordshire
Decision Maker: Cabinet Member housing, regulatory services and community
Decision published: 30/01/2023
Effective from: 04/02/2023
Decision:
That:
a) The recommended option to deliver Super Hubs in Herefordshire is agreed as set
out in the key considerations section of the report and supported by appendix 1
b) Authority is delegated to the Corporate Director of Community Wellbeing to take all
operational and budgetary decisions to implement the recommended option,
including but not limited to approval of the grant award criteria and the capital bid
process and procedure to be applied utilising the approved budget following
consultation with the Cabinet member for Health and Adult Wellbeing.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Michelle Wood
26/01/2023 - Herefordshire Strategic Transport Model (HSTM) ref: 9288 Recommendations Approved
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.
Decision Maker: Service Director - Economy and Regulatory
Decision published: 27/01/2023
Effective from: 26/01/2023
Lead officer: Tracey Coleman
27/01/2023 - Appointment of Cabinet Members to the Shareholder Committee ref: 9270 Recommendations Approved
Cabinet approved the setting up a Shareholder Committee at its meeting on 12th January 2023. This report seeks Cabinet nominations of 4 named members of Cabinet to serve on the Shareholder Committee.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision published: 27/01/2023
Effective from: 03/02/2023
Decision:
That:
The following members of cabinet are nominated to be members of the Shareholder Committee:
a) Leader of the council;
b) Cabinet member, finance, corporate services and planning;
c) Cabinet member, health and adult wellbeing; and
d) Cabinet member, commissioning, procurement and assets
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Francis Fernandes
26/01/2023 - 2023/24 Council Tax Reduction Scheme ref: 9272 Recommend Forward to Council
To recommend to Council the 2023/24 local Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision published: 27/01/2023
Effective from: 26/01/2023
Decision:
That:
a) The Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2023/24, with the same parameters as the existing scheme, be recommended to Council for approval.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Rachael Hart
26/01/2023 - 2023/24 Capital Investment Budget and Capital Strategy Update ref: 9271 Recommend Forward to Council
To recommend to Council for approval the capital investment budget and capital strategy for 2023/24 onwards.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision published: 27/01/2023
Effective from: 26/01/2023
Decision:
That: the following be recommended to Council
a) To approve the proposed capital programme from 2023/24 attached at appendix C; and
b) Approve the capital strategy at appendix D
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Karen Morris
26/01/2023 - Big Economic Plan ref: 9245 Recommendations Approved
To approve the Herefordshire Big Economic Plan and accompanying initial five year delivery plan 2023 to 2028. To explore the principle of developing a place-focused partnership board, to lead the implementation of the Big Economic Plan and other associated key strategies, embedding a cross county partnership approach to achieving the county’s opportunities, and seek the public and private investment required to achieve our ambitions
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision published: 26/01/2023
Effective from: 02/02/2023
Decision:
a) To approve the Herefordshire Big Economic Plan, and initial five year delivery plan 2023 to 2028;
b) To agree to the principle of creating a place-focused partnership board, with proposals to be developed for cabinet’s consideration; and
c) To delegate to the Corporate Director Economy and Environment authority to agree minor typographical and presentational amendments prior to formal publication of the plan, subject to consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy and Environment.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Roger Allonby
19/01/2023 - Record of officer decision re Land Charges fee increase ref: 9287 Recommendations Approved
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.
Decision Maker: Director of Governance and Legal Services
Decision published: 26/01/2023
Effective from: 19/01/2023
Lead officer: Claire Porter
13/01/2023 - Future Ready Homes - Home Energy Audits Pilot Programme for Herefordshire. ref: 9286 Recommendations Approved
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.
Decision Maker: Corporate Director – Economy & Environment
Decision published: 26/01/2023
Effective from: 13/01/2023
Lead officer: Ross Cook
12/01/2023 - Energy and Resource Efficiency Assessments for Businesses ref: 9285 Recommendations Approved
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.
Decision Maker: Corporate Director – Economy & Environment
Decision published: 26/01/2023
Effective from: 12/01/2023
Lead officer: Ross Cook
11/01/2023 - Farm Carbon Audits ref: 9284 Recommendations Approved
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.
Decision Maker: Corporate Director – Economy & Environment
Decision published: 26/01/2023
Effective from: 11/01/2023
Lead officer: Ross Cook
06/01/2023 - Variation of contract previously awarded for the provision of room and desk booking solution ref: 9283 Recommendations Approved
• 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
Decision Maker: Service Director - Corporate Services
Decision published: 26/01/2023
Effective from: 06/01/2023
Lead officer: Sandra Mehigan
24/01/2023 - Decision to support families with children entitled to free school meals by providing a food vouchers during the February half term ref: 9282 Recommendations Approved
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.
Decision Maker: Director of Resources and Assurance
Decision published: 26/01/2023
Effective from: 24/01/2023
Lead officer: Andrew Lovegrove
19/01/2023 - Variation to Annual Plan 2022/23 – Utilisation Annual Plan Gainshare ref: 9281 Recommendations Approved
£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.
Decision Maker: Acting Assistant Director for Highways and Transport
Decision published: 26/01/2023
Effective from: 19/01/2023
Lead officer: Mark Averill
19/01/2023 - Installation of insulation measures to Park Homes using Sustainable Warmth grant funding ref: 9280 Recommendations Approved
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.
Decision Maker: Service Director – Environment , Highways, & Waste
Decision published: 26/01/2023
Effective from: 19/01/2023
Lead officer: Mark Averill
25/01/2023 - Decision to approve the renewal of the contract to provide income management and cash receipting services by Capita Pay 360 (Capita) ref: 9279 Recommendations Approved
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.
Decision Maker: Director of Resources and Assurance
Decision published: 26/01/2023
Effective from: 25/01/2023
Lead officer: Rachael Hart
26/01/2023 - Decision to fund £46,101, of Section 106 monies for “Education” (Primary) towards the development of a new Outdoor Play Provision at Kingstone & Thruxton Primary School, Hereford, HR2 9HJ ref: 9277 Recommendations Approved
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.
Decision Maker: Director of Resources and Assurance
Decision published: 26/01/2023
Effective from: 26/01/2023
Lead officer: Andrew Lovegrove