To share and agree the findings and recommendations of the committee's new public realm services working group.

To update the committee on the current status of the energy from waste loan arrangement to enable
the committee to fulfil its delegated functions.

1. The tenant has negotiated a deal to take the currently vacant Unit 32 on a short-term license agreement.
2. To provide the retailer with the experiences associated with the permanent retail operation of a shop without the long-term commitment normally associated with property rental agreements.
3. The Centre comprises multiple units, some of which have been vacant for some time and it is important that occupation levels are maximized so that the holding costs incurred by the Council are mitigated.
4. This unit has been unoccupied since the previous tenant vacated.
5. The terms agreed leave the tenant responsible for payment of the service charge, insurance, business rates and utilities in line with the Maylord Orchards Management Plan (January 2024).

• The council property portfolio is held to enable the council to deliver services and to produce commercial returns through rental income in support of the council’s ambitions defined in the County Plan 2020 – 2024.

• To enable the effective and efficient management of the property portfolio it is sometimes necessary to serve notices under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

• Not serving notices could impact negatively on the council’s ability to deliver services or expose the council to financial risk

• The decision is taken following the Tenant’s request to the Council made on 10th September 2024.

• The Lease between the Council and its Tenant provides that the Landlord must not unreasonably withhold consent.

• There is no reasonable ground on which consent should be withheld

• Tenancy terminates 30/09/24 but tenant’s move to new premises will
be delayed by a few weeks.

• Supporting the tenant to ensure business continuity.

1. The tenant entered administration on 21st August 2023 and has not paid any costs for the property since September 2023.
2. The Surrender allows the Council to take full control of the unit. There is a risk that if the administration ends the lease would transfer to the crown which can then result in a lengthy process to disclaim the lease.
3. It is understood that the administration process is nearing a close within the next 6 months.
4. The Council would be in a position to let the property once the surrender has been accepted.
5. The Surrender by Operation of Law incurs no costs to the Council.

Decision to fund up to £294,562.96 of Section 106 monies for “Education” (Secondary) for the creation of an additional block of pupil toilets and additional staff toilets at Whitecross High School, Three Elms Rd, Hereford, HR4 0RN.

Decision to vary Pre Application fees and introduce non-statutory Planning Services advice services and fees

That:

The expiry date of the Hereford (Rotherwas) Enterprise Zone Local Development Order 2019 be extended for an additional period , by amending Part F ‘Period of Operation of the LDO’ of the Order as follows:

This LDO and the terms within it will be active until midnight on the 10th April 2025. and will expire at the end this period unless prior to that date the LDO is further extended for a period of no more than three months. It will therefore cease to apply on 10th April 2025 or such later period unless it is readopted and/or further amended on or prior to that day.
Development which has commenced under the provisions of the LDO can be completed in the event that the LDO is revoked or revised or expires.

To report on the pressures facing the High Needs budget and to report on progress delivering the Deficit Management Plan (ESFA tool).

To provide an update to the forum on national school funding issues, including the recommendations of the budget working group (BWG) on the Herefordshire schools’ budget 2025/26.

To agree the committee's work programme

To award a contract (Works Order 3) to Tarmac Trading Ltd using the Council’s NEC 4 Framework Agreement, up to the value of £1,982,453.87 to resurface further A and B roads across the county.

To seek approval to commission, by means of a competitive tender process in line with the council’s contract procedure rules, an accommodation based housing related support service for 16-21 year old children in care and care leavers.

To approve and update the Herefordshire councillors allowances scheme having regard to the
recommendations of the council’s independent remuneration panel (IRP).

Agreement to use a framework contract mechanism in order to secure the procurement on the 30 block care home beds agreed by cabinet in February 2024.

The new waste contract comes operational from the 1st September 2024.

The contract was procured and awarded in accordance with the above cabinet decision.

The provider will operate from the two council owned depot sites at Grafton and Leominster and needs a lease to reflect their exclusive occupation of the sites for the period of the contract.

The leases are on full repairing terms.

For Connected Communities Scrutiny Committee to consider the

a) The Cabinet accepts the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities capital grant of £910,000 for the purpose of purchasing a minimum of ten properties and a revenue grant of £478,615 for dedicated support workers and associated services;
b) Authority for acquisition of the properties and all associated operational decisions including authority to award contracts for improvement works and the negotiation of the lease to a housing provider be delegated to the Corporate Director Community Wellbeing.

To agree an extension to the contract for the temporary Corporate Director, Children and Young People.

To accept the Household Support Fund allocation from the Department of Work and Pensions. To also approve the local eligibility approach for allocation of the funding for the Household Support Fund.

To authorise the spend/investment in the public realm
assets and infrastructure in 2025/26 following Council’s
resolution at the Council meeting 10 February 2023, to
approve the proposed Capital Programme for 2023/24
through to 2026/27.

To seek approval to spend up to £5m of the Acquisition Fund For Housing Development allocation in the Capital Programme, to enable the council to respond to short term opportunities to acquire and develop key strategic sites to meet critical social and affordable housing need.

To approve the approach for the Community Spaces Capital Grant Scheme

To update Cabinet Member on the progress and budget for the project

To approve the spend from the High Needs Grant to purchase a suitable building, to relocate on to one site, Herefordshire’s Pupil Referral Unit

To approve the corporate parenting strategy

To seek approval for the arrangements being made for the provision of winter service during the period of 2023 through to 2024 season, as set out in the Winter Service Plan.

The Winter Service Plan continues to build on existing best practice and the findings of reviews that have taken place both locally and nationally. Herefordshire Council will continue to meet its duties towards the maintenance of the highway network in full and by working in partnership with Herefordshire’s communities, wherever practicable, enhance the county’s resilience to the impact of prolonged or severe winter weather.

To develop a business case outlining options for a preferred investment model and;

to approve the preferred investment model option for the HWGTA Ltd and Herefordshire Council partnership to enable the development of a vocational centre of excellence on Skylon Park.

To consider and agree the business case to invest in and develop the council’s own care facility in Herefordshire to meet future demand