To approve the submission of a Local Investment Plan for consideration by the Department for Education, by the deadline of 30 June 2022, for the delivery of the Multiply programme in Herefordshire.

To recommend the approach to develop the medium term financial strategy (MTFS)

The demand for the Discharge to Access (D2A) home care continues and the council will need to extend and vary the two fixed term, existing block contracts for up to 250 hours a week for each contract

The block will enable the council to continue to meet its obligations as set out in the national COVID-19 discharge guidance and ensure there is sufficient capacity to meet estimated levels of need.

The service will provide up to four weeks of person- centered, home care and support to enable people discharged from hospital to maximise independence in their own home. This will avoid, or reduce, the risk of unnecessary longer - term interventions and inappropriate admissions to residential or nursing care.

Approval is sought for the additional capacity and continuity of the current arrangements to support timely hospital discharge, continue to assist in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and the current pressures on the health and social care system. Thereby, ensuring the availability of care and support to enable timely hospital discharge of people who are medically fit to return home.

Block 1 contract with Katherine Harriet which allows for a 13 week extension to 19th June 22 and a variation is sought to further extend up to 2nd October 22. The total overall value of the original contract is £225,675 the extension increases the contract value up to a maximum of £318,600
The value of the extension beyond the original contract amount is £99,562.50 that is below the permitted 50% contract variation.

Block 2 contract with Quality Care at Home which allows for a 9 week extension to 31st July 22 and a variation to a further extension up to 2nd October 22. The overall value of the original contract is to a maximum cost £204,435. The extension term has been previously included to 31st July 22, the variation will cover up to 2nd October 22, and the additional value will be £59,737.50 that is less than the 50% permissible within the contract variation.

The land formed part of the smallholdings disposal in 2017, in accordance with the cabinet decision dated 13th October 2016, a blanket overage provision was imposed on farm buildings and other land in regards to any future change of use.

The owner has obtained planning permission for change of use on areas under the overage provision. The councils appointed agents Atcham’s have negotiated and agreed, based on the terms of the overage deed, a value of £85,000 to lift the agreement.

Through Annex 7 of the Public Realm Annual Plan, BBLP support the council in its role as a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA).
The Yazor Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) was delivered to reduce the risks of flooding within the city of Hereford to public infrastructure and public and private properties within the existing Yazor/Widemarsh Brooks floodplains. The Yazor Brook FAS was completed in 2012 but shortly after it became operational damage occurred at the outfall of the scheme to the River Wye bank during periods of heavy rainfall and floods that occurred. Permission was given by Natural England for the temporary repair of the River Wye bank and this was put in place immediately following the heavy rainfall and an appraisal of alternative permanent designs for the outfall area damaged by flooding commenced.
A series of consultations with relevant stakeholders took place over subsequent years. In FY 2021/22 a budget of £20k was allocated to progress further stakeholder consultation to inform the development of a preferred option to be taken forward for detailed design and delivery. Details of these decisions can be viewed using the following links:
Decision - Variation to Public Realm Annual Plan 2021/22 – addition of funding - Herefordshire Council
Decision - Variation to Public Realm Annual Plan 2021/22 – addition of funding - Herefordshire Council
Spend against the FY 2021/22 budget allocation is estimated at £13,000.
The £25k allocation will enable the progression of the next stage of works identified with stakeholders to inform further discussions to establish a preferred option.

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 4,000 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 £15 for the week of the May half-term.

Consumer prices, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), were 7.0% higher in March 2022 than a year before. The CPI is also forecast to remain above 7% for the remainder of 2022 into 2023, peaking at 8.7% in Quarter 4 2022. 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. At least one third of the allocation should be ring-fenced to support vulnerable households with children.

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.

A Hereford City Masterplan framework will help Hereford to become a more active travel city in the short, medium and long term. To complete a workable and suitable framework then a specialist marketing and communications team would need to be brought on board to help deliver and promote the message within the final framework. It will be these specialist consultants that develop and deliver a campaign to support modal shift from car to public transport, which is key to encouraging more people to walk, cycle and use public transport and therefore helping with the climate emergency.

The project used the ESPO framework to speak to the specialist consultant

- A fully compliant procurement exercise took place in May 2019 which saw the appointment of Severn Wye Energy Agency as the Keep Herefordshire Warm provider;
- The original tendered cost for the service is £99,214 over 3 years, with an option to extend the contract for one year providing that performance over the period is deemed satisfactory and value for money is maintained;
- Performance has been deemed satisfactory and value for money has been maintained.

To approve the Energy Rebate Discretionary Funding scheme and the criteria for the allocation of the funding.

To approve tranche two funding of £6.49m for Children's Transformation.

To approve the addition of revenue grant funding to the Lengthman's Scheme, together with the changes to the scheme that will target help towards parishioners through their Town or Parish Council to better meet their riparian drainage responsibilities where such assistance will benefit highway users.

The purpose of this report is to:
i) authorise a transformation programme budget to appoint key resources to develop a digital strategy for the council and to authorise key appointments to support the IT Client and to support the council in the development of large scale bid applications
ii) agree a base budget for the transformation office and
iii) to delegate spend authority to the Corporate Director for Economy and Environment, the Corporate Director for Children and Young People and the Corporate Director of Community Wellbeing in consultation with the councils Director of Resources and Assurance (Section 151 officer) to make all operational decision relating to the transformation programme

To review of Transformation Funding ahead of Cabinet decision for Tranche Two funding in July

Government has allocated Herefordshire £7.545m of UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) to be spent between 2022/23 and 2024/25 (including circa £800K to be spent in this financial year). However, in order to access these funds the council has to submit a multiply (adult numeracy) investment plan by the 30 June 2022 and a UKSPF Investment Plan by the 1 August 2022.

The UKSPF Investment Plan is a significant element of work requiring in depth evidence base and analysis of local issues and needs, review of the impact of previous programmes, as well as engagement with businesses, voluntary sector, communities, HE/ FE, and a broad range of public partners. The funding allocation also represents circa 33% of the funds available through the previous EU programmes, as such the development of the UKSPF Investment Plan will need to carefully consider prioritisation of future activities.

The council is also committed to developing a new Big Economic Plan, the UKSPF Investment Plan and the Big Economic Plan need to aligned, based on the same core evidence base and priorities.
Metro Dynamics have significant experience of working in Herefordshire, having led the development of the Marches Strategic Economic Plan and Local Industrial Strategy on behalf of The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership. Given the urgent timescales required to meet the government deadlines, and due to their existing experience and knowledge, Metro Dynamics have been appointed by way of a direct award to lead this work.

Value for money has been assured, as the tender is based on the same day rates set in the Homes England Research Framework.

To progress a key element of the council’s transport strategy in line with the Cabinet’s decision of 24 June 2021.

Cabinet agreed budget allocations to progress its preferred transport strategy for Hereford including provision of £400k for the development of the eastern access road (eastern link road).

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 encourage the first cohort of tenants into the building as soon as possible to create an income stream and to generate a positive atmosphere and activity to stimulate further interest.

4.The terms agreed reflect market rents and the facilities on offer to tenants.
5.The prospective tenant has cleared appropriate checks.

Herefordshire Council is the accountable body for NMITE's Local Growth Fund grant from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership. The decision report provides an update on the the delivery of the project, and seeks approval for NMITE to draw down the balance of the funds in 2022/23

This report is to outline options for the way forward for two council owned heritage sites within Hereford city centre - Shirehall and Town Hall including No.’s 8 and 10 St. Owen Street. Both sites accommodate Herefordshire Council services plus a variety of external tenants and require significant capital investment. The effects of Covid on the use of council buildings (including new ways of working) and building fabric issues create a complex situation in the context of a wider asset review. The report will include details of the required financial investment, holding costs and any associated savings. Cabinet are requested to decide upon the preferred option presented in this report regarding the investment in either site that will also inform the capital bid process.

To seek cabinet agreement to sign off and submit the Stronger Towns Fund Full Business Cases for the;

Hereford Museum and Art Gallery Redevelopment Project

Maylord Orchard Library and Learning Resource Centre Project

To approve submission to government of up to three bids to the Levelling Up Fund by the deadline of the 6th July 2022.

To consider an application under the Highways Act 1980, section 119, to make a public path diversion order to divert part of footpath YP6 in the parish of Yarpole and to formally abandon the current public footpath diversion order made under section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990

Up to £10,000 of grant funding from the Department for Transport Capability Fund will be utilised to offer ‘TravelFund’ grants. Businesses and organisations with paid employees will be eligible to apply for grants of up £1500 to purchase pedal bikes and/or bike parking stands to support sustainable business journeys. Applicants will be able to apply for up to 2 pedal bikes and up to 6 bike stands.

Two previous grant schemes have offered e-bikes and e-cargo bikes for business travel and both have been heavily oversubscribed. This smaller project offers businesses the opportunity to benefit from a quality pedal bike for everyday business journeys. It also seeks to enable more employees to try cycling and benefit from active travel.
This decision utilises existing Department for Transport (DfT) grant funding.

To approve expenditure from the 2021/22 high needs capital grant to enable feasibility studies at The Brookfield School, Blackmarston School and the Hereford Pupil Referral Service to be undertaken.

A community car club is a local, member-based initiative that provides access to pay-as-you-drive vehicles. Community car clubs are typically run by local groups to support their communities.
Car clubs can improve accessibility to transport provision for residents particularly in rural areas.
Car clubs can help households reduce their carbon footprint by not owning a car and having more consideration about car use.
Since Project inception car clubs in Fownhope, Kington, Leominster, South Hereford and Much Birch have been set up.
New car clubs cannot get insurance so hence the direct award to MHCC to administer this pilot

In order to effectively manage the councils highway network in respect of parking, occasionally a Penalty Charge Notice needs to be issued to a vehicle. Where payment is not made in respect of these the relevant legislation provides for debt to be pursued.

In order for the council to continue to exercise its public duty, and recover all associated costs with the enforcement of parking contraventions, and to ensure that the principles of enforcement are not undermined, it is appropriate to take all legal and necessary steps to obtain payment.

Notwithstanding a review of any correspondence received against any of these matters, and the councils underpinning duty to protect those that are vulnerable, the following documents have been served in accordance with legislation in the last period.

April 2022
Charge Certificate – 228
Order for Recovery – 176

In the same period 204 were warrants were executed for the councils contracted Enforcement Agency (Bailiffs) to, in accordance with the relevant legislation, to make enquires and enforce the outstanding debt.

To consider an application under the Highways Act 1980, Section 119, to make a public path diversion order to divert part of Public Footpath ZC24 (part) in the Parish of Leominster.

The report seeks approval for the Council to return the balance of the grant funding to the funder as per the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the council and the funder jointly hold.

To approve expenditure of up to £443k on supplier and implementation costs following the award of a new contract for the council's Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

To note and approve the annual earmarked reserves review.

Earmarked reserves are established to hold revenue balances to fund future year commitments over and above the annual budget requirement. They generally arise where funding exceeds expenditure, usually due to the timing of receipts being ahead of incurring expenditure. As a matter of good practice a review is undertaken each year to establish the continued need for reserves held for earmarked purposes to ensure resources can be used to best effect whilst maintaining a prudent level of reserves to meet future anticipated commitments.

To approve the procurement of a new CCTV/Security Monitoring staff contract