The Ayles Brook is designated as an Ordinary Watercourse which therefore falls under the regulatory supervision of Herefordshire Council. Following flooding in February 2020, this location is a settlement within the county at which the council has been trying to mitigate flood risk.

It is proposed that grant monies would be used to complete hydraulic modelling to improve the existing surface water mapping on the route of the Ayles Brook.

The surface water modelling work may facilitate a future project to extend the current hydraulic modelling of the Widemarsh Brook to include the Ayles Brook. In turn the model may be used to demonstrate the impact of installing a flood defence structure, such as bunding on the Racecourse to attenuate flow during storms. This future project would benefit properties in the vicinity of the racecourse and also downstream. Such a scheme would seek to mitigate fluvial flood risk to 18 properties and a school from the Ayles Brook.

It was identified within the Business Case for our Natural Flood Management Project that delivery on the ground will largely be through the deployment of Catchment Advisors who will engage with landowners and communities to advise them as to how they can implement NFM measures. A Record of Operational Decision was taken on 14 July 2022 to award a contract to the Wye and Usk Foundation for these services.

This decision is to formalise the arrangements for the NFM Capital Grant Scheme and to invite applications for grant funding to support landowners and farmers within the project’s priority sub-catchments in altering their land and water management practices to slow the flow of water and reduce flood risk to downstream communities. Guidance for this grant scheme is attached at Appendix 1 which has been shared with partner organisations through the NFM steering group and which builds upon the successful round of grants we ran under the NFM pilot project.

The budget allocated until 31 March 2027 for this grant scheme is £250,000. We anticipate that it will fund measures such as: Soil Management; Over winter cover; In field water retention; In channel water retention; Fencing; Trackway; Tree planting; and Landowner innovation. Alternative measures can also be proposed where there is a clear benefit to flood risk reduction.

The grant scheme will be promoted through Catchment Advisors, the council’s website, partner networks and via social media to ensure the opportunity is well-publicised.

Further information regarding the grant criteria and the appraisal process is contained within the scheme guidance document.

The amount of support required from the Delegated Grants Team in assisting with the NFM Capital Grant Scheme will be reviewed but will be up to a maximum of £5,000 per annum.

To provide members with an update on progress

To prosecute one defendant for failing to secure the attendance of a compulsory school age registered child from the dates of 14th March to 8th July 2022, contrary to Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996 using the Single Justice Procedure.

To prosecute one defendant for failing to secure the attendance of a compulsory school age registered child from the dates of 20th June to 28th June 2022, contrary to Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996 using the Single Justice Procedure

Herefordshire Council has received an allocation of £1,329,601.78 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) under the Household Support Fund.
The DWP guidance states that the ‘Household Support Fund must support those most in need. There may be groups that are vulnerable to rising prices, for example, large families or single income families. The fund in intended to cover a wide range of low income households including families with children of all ages’.

The ‘Warm Spaces’ offer currently in place has limited access for families, due to their operational times. By providing additional funding from the Household Support Fund this will enable voluntary and community organisations to open at times more accessible for families, particularly, weekends and evening.

Herefordshire Council will work with trusted partners, many of who are either existing ‘Warm Spaces’, ‘Talk Community Hubs’ or were part of the ‘Let’s Talk Children and Families Project’.

By utilising the funding from government, this will have a positive impact on low income families by providing them with an essential space to keep warm during the winter and helping to minimise the debt burden for those struggling to pay heating costs.

As set out in the Cabinet Member Report, the proposed investment, will invest in the Public Realm and mitigates identified risk in the network, due to the scale of need and investment, which cannot be mitigated in the current Annual Plan due to other commitments and constraints.
The investment supports the county plan and ambition for Herefordshire:
Environment: protect and enhance our environment and keep Herefordshire a great place to live;
Community: strengthen communities to ensure everyone lives well and safely together; and
Economy: support our economy which builds on the county’s strengths and resources.
Reducing the Risk of Highway Retaining Wall Collapse is a concern following the B4224 near to Fownhope. The risk in structure remains significant. In order to manage the risk of these, without diverting funds from other critical assets or asset types, this project intends to deliver works to the most important structures. Priority will be based on the risk and road hierarchy such as strategic and resilient network. This work has been progressed using the principles of utilising a risk-based approach as required by both the Highways Maintenance Plan and the UK Roads Liaison Group’s Well Managed Highway Infrastructure: A Code of Practice.
A procurement strategy which will adhere to the Councils Procurement Rules will be developed for the delivery of this investment to ensure value for money which will be confirmed in further governance as set out in recommendation (b).

The Section 106 Contribution arises from one Section 106 legal agreement:

Planning Reference GT / FIN Code Original Contribution £ Expiry Date
P140285/O GT05 FIN1718 £109,817.84 13/06/2029
TOTAL £109,817.84

The decision to fund £109,817.84 will fully utilise the Section 106 Primary Contribution.

From the Primary contribution there has been no expenditure to date.

The project is a two single-story extensions to either side of main entrance to school building. The extensions will form a new Sensory Room and Library.

With increasing numbers and the diverse needs of the children attending St. Peter’s Primary School these additional facilities are required. The Library project will provide a more suitable location and facility whilst utilising unused space. Books are currently stored in the corridors providing an unsuitable location for learning activities.

The sensory room will also utilise unused space within St Peter’s Primary School. The school is seeing increasing numbers of pupils, especially in KS1, with a variety of conditions including but not limited to ADHA, autism and sensory associated conditions. These adversely affect their mental health and wellbeing. A sensory room will provide a highly effective intervention for these pupils at the point of need and will have a lasting impact.

A full tender exercise has been completed in September 2022, with three contractors provides formal quotations for completion of the work:

Contractor Tender Cost £
C J Bayliss (Hereford) Ltd 108,364.00
Bolts of Hereford 114,226.00
Owen Pell Ltd 155,449.93

A technical and arithmetical check was undertaken and no errors were found.

St Peter’s Primary School would like to appoint C J Bayliss (Hereford) Ltd as the most cost effective solution.

Given the budget limitations a further value engineering exercise was carried out (Appendix A) providing savings of £4470.00. This has revised the overall costs including fees to a works total of £112,205.52.

St Peter’s Primary School have agreed to provide £2,387.68 to make up the difference over the contribution amount available.

Planning consent for the Library and Sensory Room extension was granted on 17th February 2022 (application number: 220531) and included as Appendix B.

Responsibility for monitoring the project and managing expenditure within the total spend budget is to be with the Senior Project Manager.

The Section 106 Contribution arises from one Section 106 legal agreement:

Planning Reference GT / FIN Code Original Contribution £ Expiry Date
DS082931/F GT05 FIN1929 £2951.00 29/01/2030
TOTAL £2951.00

The decision to fund £2951.00 will fully utilise the Section 106 Primary Contribution.

From the Primary contribution there has been no expenditure to date.

With increasing numbers the school is under the recommended guidelines of toilets per pupil. The project is therefore a conversion of a storage room into an additional toilet facility.

A full tender exercise was completed with two quotations returned:

Contractor Tender Cost £
Spa Glass Ltd 25,729.00
DM Ward Plumbing 9208.94

Goodrich Primary School would like to appoint DM Ward Plumbing as the most cost effective solution.

Goodrich Primary School have agreed to provide the remaining balance to make up the difference over the contribution amount available.

Responsibility for monitoring the project and managing expenditure within the total spend budget is to be with the Senior Project Manager.

To consider the status of the council’s corporate risk register in order to monitor the effectiveness of risk management within the performance management framework.

To present to the Committee an overview of the signposting services to the variety of wellbeing services that are available through the council to improve accessibility within Adult Social Care and Talk Community.

To provide an annual update to the committee on counter fraud activity.

To prosecute two defendants for failing to secure the attendance of one compulsory school age registered child from the dates of 14th December 2021 to 1st July 2022, contrary to S.444(1) of the Education Act 1996 using the Single Justice Procedure

To prosecute one defendant for failing to secure the attendance of a compulsory school age registered child from the dates of 21st June to 28th June 2022, contrary to S444(1) of the Education Act 1996 using the Single Justice Procedure.

To prosecute two defendants for failing to secure the attendance of their two compulsory school age registered children from the dates of 27th June to 5th July 2022, contrary to Section444(1) of the Education Act 1996 using the Single Justice Procedure.

Wye Valley NHS trust have requested the payment of £111,817.38 of section 106 Health Care monies (Appendix 1) to deliver services (Appendix 2) at Hereford Hospital, from the following planning permissons;

• Planning permission was approved for 180517, proposed 39 dwellings with associated access, parking and landscaping. The permission was subject to a section 106 agreement dated 28 April 2021. The section 106 agreement required the monies to be used towards Health Care contribution to provide the Health Care Facilities required as a consequence of the Development – means the development of infrastructure at Hereford County Hospital.
• Planning permission was approved for 190568, Erection of a 64-bed care home (within Class C2), parking, access, landscaping and other associated works. The permission was subject to a section 106 agreement dated 9 December 2019. The section 106 agreement required the monies to be used towards the provision of hospital services in Hereford.
• Planning permission was approved for 191770, outline application for residential development (with all matters reserved except for access), public open space, landscaping and associated infrastructure works. The permission was subject to a section 106 agreement dated 15 November 2019. The section 106 agreement required the monies to be used towards the provision of services in Herefordshire at Hereford County Hospital Wye Valley NHS Trust.
• Planning permission was approved for 184662, hybrid application: Approval sought for access for the whole development. Approval sought for appearance, layout and scale for 17 dwellings identified on drawing number. PA 5057-2a. Approval sought for proposed demolition of modern agricultural buildings and replacement with a development of up to 100 market and affordable dwellings including the conversion of traditional barns into four dwellings, conversion and replacement extension of Holmer House to create seven apartments and associated sustainable drainage works, de-culverting of Ayles Brook, roads, footpaths, cycleways, public open space and landscaping. See also accompanying LBC 184699. The permission was subject to a section 106 agreement dated 12 November 2019. The section 106 agreement required the monies to be used to provide Hospital Services Facilities in Hereford.
• Planning permission was approved for 210793, S73 Application - Proposed variation of condition 2 of planning permission 173522(Proposed erection of 150 dwellings) to facilitate plot substitution for (plots 70, 71 & 83 & 84) and plot 72 double garage replaced with single garage and the inclusion of additional information in respect of conditions 7, 9, 12, 13, 15 & 16). The permission was subject to a section 106 agreement dated 1 October 2021. The section 106 agreement required the monies to be used towards health care infrastructure at Hereford Hospital.

It is agreed to pay Wye Valley NHS Trust the following section 106 monies;

• 180517 – Land to the north west of Kings Road, Orleton – £20,611.00 from account B03302 FIN2126 GT12.
• 190568 – Land adjacent to St Martins Way, Ledbury - £18,631.12 from account B03302 FIN2128 GT12
• 191770 – Land east of Canon Pyon Road, Hereford - £63,331.26 from account B03302 FIN2193 GT12
• 184662 – Holmer House Farm, Holmer - £9,012.00 from account B03303 FIN2151 GT12
• 210793 – Lagan Holmes, Kingstone - £232.00 from account B03303 FIN2152 GT12

The hire of plant covered by this document over a five year period is £560,000. The total purchase price is £343,000 giving a payback of just over 3 years.
Details of equipment to be purchased:
? Quantity 2 x Road sweepers
? Quantity 2 x 1t high lift dumpers
? Quantity 2 x 2.7t Excavators
? Quantity 1 x Towable wood chipper
The purchase of these items through capitalising plant will not only payback the full cost of borrowing repayments over a short period of time, but it will then release funds within revenue annexes that can be re-invested into the service.

To consider the development of the scrutiny function at Herefordshire Council.

To agree a report of the scrutiny committee on its review of the Human Resources and Workforce Strategy.

To approve the 2023/24 local council tax reduction scheme (CTR).

Council tax charges can be reduced where the bill payer meets certain set criteria contained in the council tax reduction scheme (CTR). The 2022/23 CTR scheme was approved by Council on 11 February 2022.

It is a legal requirement to annually review the council’s council tax reduction scheme and the decision to approve the scheme is reserved to full Council.

An update on performance for Quarter 2 of 2022/23 and the forecast budget outturn.

To note the Treasury Management Strategy for 2023/24-2026/27 and Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Review