The delivery of the Old Gore safety scheme comprises improvements to the junction which includes the installation of traffic signals to control traffic movements at the junction. The scheme has been developed to address accidents which have occurred at this site.

The junction improvements proposed require acquisition of land to enable localised road widening and to achieve the required visibility splays for a signalised junction.

0.05 hectares (500 sqm) of land outside of the highway needs to be acquired – all of this land is within a single landownership.

Negotiations with this landowner have concluded in the value set out in the decision made section of this report as the value which will be accepted by the landowner. This value represents a value per hectare which is above the agricultural value of the land but is recommended as it enables acquisition to be secured by agreement and within timescales to ensure works progress to programme on site and should be complete by end of 2021/2022 financial year. On this basis it is a without prejudice offer.

The project is funded from the Investment in Infrastructure capital budget, with a sum of £500,000 currently allocated within that budget for this project, together with £260,000 from the minor safety improvements budget within the 2021/22 Annual plan. This gives an overall budget of £760,000.

The annual plan decision can be seen on the councils website by following the link below:

https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=7852

The current forecast of the scheme costs excluding the land acquisition costs and risk allowance but including scheme development costs are £760,000.

The costs of the land acquisition and risk allowance will be funded by allocating additional budget to this project from the annual plan LTP capital budget. This will be the subject of a future governance report.

The history of collisions at this site are significant, the 2021 Accident Cluster Site List 2021 ranked list has the ‘A449 junction with the B4224 Old Gore Cross Roads’ as the highest ranked site, this is based on the number of accidents and severity. There have been 8 accidents in previous 5 years.

The location has previously been treated with signing and lining, the continuous investigation into the site location, type and number of accidents has identified the need for a significant investment and change in how the junction is managed, Due to the topography the designed scheme is the preferred option.

The delivery of this scheme delivers significant benefits in regards to road safety and impact on people’s lives, communities and economy.

The cost of a collision and casualty is based on direct costs, loss of productivity and loss of welfare. Using the Anticipated Return on Investment criteria, which underpins the councils work on safety intervention, the first year return without land acquisition is a positive 47%, with land, a positive 45%.

If the delivery of the scheme was paused to enable further negotiation with landowner or the statutory compulsory purchase of this land it is anticipated that the costs of the scheme would increase. There are significant increases in material prices as well sub contract prices arising from high demand in the construction sector and the impact of volatility in the energy market.

If the scheme were delivered 6-12months later than currently programmed this could result in an increased cost significantly in excess of the land acquisition value.

On the basis it is recommended that land is acquired by agreement within a budget of £37, 000.

To ensure that the council manages its transport services effectively whilst also meeting its statutory duties and ensures children are transported to school in line with eligibility.

The sub-tenant in occupation wishes to erect an enclosed storage area within a dedicated service area to enable them to extend their e-commerce operations from the site.

The sub-tenant is responsible for obtaining all necessary planning and building regulation consents.

The direct landlord of the sub-tenant is agreeable to the proposal but Herefordshire Council’s consent as head landlord is also required under the terms of the head lease.

To award a contract to Griffin Care Ltd, at a value of £39,700, to deliver a Core Skills Development Programme for frontline children’s service workers and managers by 31 March 2022

In addition to the review of the existing High Town design it has been determined that the provision of streetscape and green infrastructure elements is a valuable part of the overall public realm improvements to be delivered as part of the HCCI.

This package of streetscape and green infrastructure elements will be identified and procured within the initial phase of the project and will include:
• Street furniture including benches and bins
• Trees and soft landscaping
• Public art
• Provisions to maintain public safety including the risk of errant vehicles
• Cycle storage provision
• Street Lighting
• Improvements to the facilities for markets and events
• Measures to improve air quality
The distribution of these streetscape elements will be undertaken in parallel with the design review and where appropriate they will be installed within the public realm at this point. This will provide for an early enhancement to the public realm whilst other elements come forward over a longer period.

These works will be funded from the LEP Getting Building Grant.

A design process to identify the planters to be purchased has been undertaken which has included consultation with the Cabinet Member, Ward Member, Hereford City Council, Hereford Business Improvement District and the Hereford Tree Forum. Feedback from this consultation has identified a preferred style of planter and tree species which has been agreed with the Cabinet Member.

Following the selection of a planter style BBLP sought three quotations for supply of the planters.

Supplier Planter Unit Price Comment
1 £8,200 Price includes trees soil and plants.
Can deliver 90% of planters by end of March 2021.
Payment made on delivery.
2 Provided provisional price but were unable to supply by end of March and required 50% payment in advance. On this basis further enquiry was not pursued.
3 £9,485 Price excludes trees, soil and plants.
50% payment in advance was required.

The first supplier has been selected on the basis of their ability to deliver the majority of the planters by the end of March 2021, their payment terms and on the basis their price was lower than the other compliant quotations.

To agree to vote yes in the Herefordshire County Business Improvement District ballot due to be held in November 2021.

Should the ballot be successful, the county Business Improvement District (excluding Hereford City Centre, which has an existing Business Improvement District) will implement a 5 year business led programme to support the growth of the tourism and retail across Herefordshire.

Should the outcome of the ballot support the development of the Herefordshire Business Improvement District the council would be required to make an annual contribution of £14,515.

A three quote exercise was undertaken, due to the short time-scales and the focus on physical activity, providers were limited.

Tiller have experience in evaluating physical activity interventions and local connections.

Temporary road closures and highway decisions from1 September to 30 September 2021

BB Ross-on-Wye Footway Remedial Works 2021 (21-180)

U94009 Popland Lane

U72003 Witherstone Lane from Knapp Green, Carey (TTRO21-191)

s.278 - Old Pound Cottage

B4347 From B4348 To Morehampton Park Farm, Vowchurch

BB Resurfacing Works Sept/Oct (21-162)

C1007 From Upper Kinsham To Powys Boundary, Kinsham (TTRO21-754)

BB Drainage Investigation Works Sept/Oct 2021 (21-193)

PU1904 Section 50

U65022, The Gains Road, Whitbourne

C1203 From Monnow Farm To Powys Boundary, Craswall

C1165, Old Church Road, Colwall

C1110, Pencombe Road, Winslow (TTRO21-1001)

U71020, Ashe Ingen Court Road, Bridstow (TTRO21-744)

C1275 The Hill Farm To Bill Mills, Pontshill (TTRO21-763)

A40 Bridge Maintenance Works September 2021 (21-198)

TCO KS5

.38 - Phase 4, The Oval

C1234 From A49 To Old Hall, St Owens Cross (TTRO21-787)

C1136 From Shobdon Cottage To Hill Oak Farm, Bringsty

U91417, Cabal Lane, Lyonshall

C1110 From Little Maidenhyde To C1116 Via Pencombe, Pencombe (TTRO21-751)

C1125 From The Vauld To The River Lugg, Sutton St Nicholas

C1262 From B4348 Llandinabo To A49 At Oaklands House, Llandinabo (TTRO21-750)

C1286 From B4221 To Kempley Road, Upton Bishop (TTRO21-780)

C1098 From Lulham Cottage To Madley, Lulham Madley (TTRO21-743)

East Street, Hereford

Malvern

C1094 From A4110 To Lower Bush Road, Bush Bank

C1097 From The Steps To Bishon Lane Via Bishopstone

U70214, Watery Lane, Lea Bailey (TTRO21-776)

U70232, Gorsley Common Road, Gorsley (TTRO21-770)

U70239, Hereford Lane, Linton Ross On Wye

U71423, Mount Way, St Weonards (TTRO21-785)

U70211, Bartwood Lane, Dancing Green (TTRO21-745)

U81100, Huntington Lane, Hereford (TTRO21-732)

U92207, Kinton Lane, Whitton Leintwardine

Birtley Fibre - Road Closures

C1152 From C1154 To Redcastle Farm, Canon Frome

C1131 From A465 To A417 Via Ocle Pychard

C1034 Ledicot Lane From B4362 Shobdon (TTRO21-757)

Byford Common Road, Byford (TTRO21-759)

C1206 From B4348 Vowchurch To Slough Breast Wood Track, Vowchurch (TTRO21-778)

C1226 From A465 Belmont To Railway At Haywood Lodge, Belmont (TTRO21-788)

B4219 From Crumpton Oakes Access To Worcestershire Boundary, Cradley (TTRO21-781)

C1125 From The Vauld To The River Lugg, Sutton St Nicholas (TTRO21-768)

C1031 Lyonshall From A480 To Cabal Lane, Lyonshall (TTRO21-786)

C1019 From Westfield Farm To St Marys Church, Elton (TTRO21-758)

Ivington Fibre

U91017, Mahollem Road, Huntington

C1280 Whitehall Road To Bury Hill Lane, Weston Under Penyard

Wye Street Closure - Ross

C1165, Old Church Road, Colwall (TTRO21-779)

C1082, Gorsty Corner To Bearwood Cross Road

C1133 from B4214 to East Lodge, Bishops Frome (TTRO21-753)

C1297 Woolhope To Woodland Car Park, Woolhope

BB Old Gore Crossroad Scheme 2021 (21-195)

B4234, Copse Cross Street, Ross-On-Wye

C1203 from Monnow Farm to Powys Boundary, Craswall (TTRO21-797)

U91017, Mahollem Road, Huntington

C1297 Woolhope To Woodland Car Park, Woolhope

C1052 Leysters To Bockleton Road, Leysters

TCO LR35

C1196 From Rose Cottage To Cornerstone Via Madley Madley Closure - OD (TTRO21-761)

TCO BW16

- Fuel Poverty affects an estimated 13,902 out of 84,028 households (16.5%). This figure is higher than the national level of 13.4% and reflects the challenges that the county faces in relation to the energy efficiency of properties including a large proportion of older, hard to treat ‘solid wall’ properties, restricted access to mains gas and the resulting prevalence of expensive heating fuel systems.

- The fund, administered by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is to be used to improve the energy efficiency of low-income houses living in Herefordshire and Shropshire as well as supporting the green recovery in response to Covid-19.

- The Recovery Plan will allow a further seven Herefordshire and Shropshire fuel poor households to access fully funded energy efficiency measures, allowing a further £67,725 of funding to be utilised.

The purpose of this decision is to approve additional funding to enable Hoople Care to have a recruitment dive for the Home First service to attract people to work in the care and reablement sector, to address a shortfall in whole time equivalent (WTE) staffing for the Home First service

The funding increase will also enable Home First to increase the rate of pay for Reablement Workers (RW) and Assessment and Review officers (ARO).

• Contractors employed by the Environment Agency (EA) require consent to access land to install a temporary work cabin on land adjacent to 69 Osborne Close Leominster

• The scheme to repair the floodwall at this location was frustrated and suspended earlier this year when a cable strike occurred.

• The cable strike has now been repaired and rebuilding of the floodwall at this location may now be completed.

A procurement process was undertaken in line with the council’s Contracts Procedures Rules for contracts under £25k. Four responses to the ITQ were received and these were assessed by Herefordshire Council and Leominster Town Council representatives.

The CAA is identified as a project in the Leominster Heritage Action Zone programme.

The contract was procured in accordance with the council’s Contracts Procedures Rules. Border Archaeology Limited’s response to the ITQ was considered to have met the required criteria and is within the budget for the project.

Border Archaeology Limited are a local company based on Leominster Enterprise Park with the capability and experience in delivering CAAs and a deep understanding of the town of Leominster.

The Maylord Shopping Centre has been owned outright by the council since June 2020
These contracts are with the existing providers for the provision of services essential to meeting the Council’s obligations as owner and landlord and to the good management of the shopping centre. Under the terms of the sale and purchase agreement for Maylord Shopping Centre these contracts are to be novated to the council as such these are not new contracts but a formalisation of existing arrangements.

• Herefordshire College of Arts (HCA) are taking a lease of these premises.

• HCA already occupy under a Licence to Occupy but this has expired and a new short-term licence is required to cover the intervening period before the lease is completed.

• Herefordshire College of Arts (HCA) are taking a lease of these premises.

• Alterations are required to the premises to open-up a pre-existing link between existing HCA leased areas and the new space known as the Chapel.

• A separate Licence to Occupy is also to be entered into to allow early occupation before the lease is completed and this will be covered by a separate RoOD.

• The Licence for Alterations is a stand-alone document under seal that will apply to both the Licence to Occupy and the subsequent Lease.

• Herefordshire College of Arts (HCA) are taking a lease of these premises.

• Occupation is to be by way of Licence to Occupy until the lease is completed as urgent occupation is required for service delivery (education)

1. The Shell Store is owned by the Council, and has been developed to operate as a business incubation, development and networking Centre to stimulate business activity, with 40 units for rent.

2. The Shell Store units are envisaged as being occupied through easy in, easy out terms, through licence arrangements.

3. We want to welcome and settle the first set of tenants into the building as soon as possible to create an income and generate a positive atmosphere to stimulate further interest.

4.The terms agreed reflect on market rents and the facilities on offer to tenants.

5.The prospective tenant has cleared appropriate checks.

1. The Shell Store is owned by the Council, and has been developed to operate as a business incubation, development and networking Centre to stimulate business activity, with 40 units for rent.

2. The Shell Store units are envisaged as being occupied through easy in, easy out terms, through licence arrangements.

3. We want to welcome and settle the first set of tenants into the building as soon as possible to create an income and generate a positive atmosphere to stimulate further interest.

4.The terms agreed reflect on market rents and the facilities on offer to tenants.

5.The prospective tenant has cleared appropriate checks.

• The council own Wilton Road car park and Ross Lions have requested that they be permitted to use the property on the evening of 5th November 2021 in connection with their annual fireworks display

• The event provides an enjoyable evening for the local community and raises funds for Lions Charity purposes.

• Ross Lions have many years’ experience of staging events such as this

The licence will require Ross Lions to reinstate any damage caused and to indemnify the council against any damages, claims or actions arising from the rights granted under the licence.

To approve the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) high needs budget for 2022/23 as recommended by Schools Forum

To approve school forum’s recommended budget proposals for school budgets, central school services and early years within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2022/23

The global Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting measures taken to reduce the spread of the virus have had an unprecedented impact on the national and local economy and on people’s wellbeing and mental health. We have seen large increase in the numbers of people accessing their GP, and mental health crisis services, suffering with severe anxiety, stress and depression. The online service that will be provided by Qwell will provide immediate access to support people, providing a drop in chat function, 24 hour chat facility with the counselling team, the ability to book sessions with a named counsellor as well as other support, guidance and signposting for people with low level or developing mental health needs, or to support people who may be concerned about or caring for others.
Perinatal mental health problems affect up to 20% of woman during pregnancy and the first year of having a baby. Due to the pandemic and lockdown, parents with new babies have not been able to socialise or be supported by universal groups in person. Multi-agency training to encourage consistency in understanding and approach re emotional health, wellbeing and relationships across frontline staff working with families, children and young people is key. Parent/carer/ infant early healthy relationship building improves overall family health and wellbeing. The Solihull Approach is recognised and utilised in Herefordshire, particularly in relation to the under-5s: training in additional modules on mental health and wellbeing and understanding the teenage brain will extend its reach to families with teenagers, schools and the wider community.

Provide an update on housing business case and seek approval to explore alternative housing delivery models

In July 2020 the government launched ‘Tackling obesity: Empowering adults and children to live healthier lives, this provided the government’s commitment to supporting a healthier environment to help support a healthy weight and to expand weight management services. Funding has now been allocated to local authorities via The Department of Health and social care to support the commissioning of behavioural (tier 2) weight management services for adults.
Herefordshire has been allocated £93,809.
There are conditions attached to the grant and reporting requirements, this fund is available for one year.