We have today added a new colour theme to the website as part of our overall upgrade.

You can pick your preferred background colour by clicking on the icon on your profile bar that looks like a little mountain, from here you can select your colour choice.

Alternatively, you an always just use the standard default theme by selecting it from the 'Theme' dropdown box at the bottom of the page.

We are hoping to add additional themes as and when finances allow.

Italian restaurant chain Prezzo is preparing to close around 100 of its 300 stores in an attempt to rescue the business.

The chain - which is owned by private equity firm TPG Capital - employs around 4,500 people. 

Prezzo is also expected to completely close its TexMex chain Chimichanga, which has 33 restaurants in the UK.

The closures would form part of a deal to renegotiate debts owed by the company to its landlords.

Specialist restructuring firm AlixPartners is understood to be drafting a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) - a step short of going into administration - on the company's behalf.

The CVA would allow Prezzo to continue trading without being pursued for the money it owes.

We are not sure at this time if the Prezzo restaurant in the Old Market Hereford is listed to close although we understand that Chimichanga  will be closing.

School Closures for tomorrow (Friday 2nd March)

• Ashfield Park Primary
• Ashperton Primary
• Aylestone High
• Barrs Court  
• Barrs Court Hub
• Bishop of Hereford Bluecoat
• Blackmarston School
• Bosbury CE Primary
• Brampton Abbotts CE Primary
• Bredenbury Primary School
• Bridstow CE Primary
• Broadlands Primary
• Brockhampton Primary
• Brookfield School
• Burghill Community Academy
• Burley Gate CE Primary
• Canon Pyon CE Academy
• Clehonger CE Primary
• Clifford Primary
• Colwall CE Primary
• Eardisley CE Primary
• Earl Mortimer College
• Ewyas Harold Primary
• Fairfield High
• Garway School and the Preschool
• Goodrich Primary School
• Hampton Dene Primary
• Holmer CE Academy
• Ivington Primary
• John Kyrle
• John Masefield High
• Kings Caple Academy
• Kingstone High School
• Kingstone Primary
• Kington Primary
• Lea CE Primary and the Preschool 
• Leintwardine Primary
• Leominster Primary
• Little Dewchurch Primary
• Llangrove CE Academy
• Longtown Primary
• Lord Scudamore
• Lucton School
• Lugwardine Primary
• Luston Primary
• Marden Primary
• Marlbrook Primary
• Michaelchurch Escley Primary
• Mordiford Primary
• Much Birch Primary
• Orleton CE Primary
• Pembridge CE Primary
• Pencombe CE Primary
• Peterchurch Primary
• Queen Elizabeth Bromyard
• Riverside Primary School
• Shobdon Primary
• St Francis Xavier
• St James CE Primary
• St Joseph's RC Primary and the Nursery
• St Martin's Primary School
• St Mary's CE Primary Credenhill
• St Mary's Fownhope
• St Mary's RC High
• St Michael's Primary
• St Paul's CE Primary
• St Peter's Bromyard
• St Thomas Cantilupe
• St Weonards Primary
• Staunton on Wye Primary School
• Stretton Sugwas Academy
• Sutton Primary
• Stoke Prior School
• Trinity Primary
• Walford Primary
• Wellington Primary School
• Weobley High
• Weobley Primary
• Westfield School
• Weston Under Penyard Primary
• Whitchurch CE Primary
• Wigmore Primary
• Wigmore High
• Withington Primary
• Whitecross High

Full details, updates and travel news can be found at Herefordshire.gov.uk

Motions to consider: Code of Conduct, Verge Parking, Video Casting and Eastern River Crossing

Agenda
Council
Friday 9 March 2018 10.00 am
 

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item 10: 4 notices of motion under standing orders

Motion – Code of Conduct
(Proposed by Councillor EPJ Harvey, Seconded by Councillor MD Lloyd-Hayes)
The constitution of this Council rightly requires our employees to conform to high standards as regards the declaration of their personal interests. Presently we have not set a similarly high standard for elected members. In the interests of fairness and in line with the standards of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership which are required of councillors, I propose that:

This council commits its elected members to the standards for the declaration of their personal interests which it already requires of its employees as regards membership of any organisation which: is not open to the public without formal membership; or requires a commitment of allegiance; or has secrecy about its rules or about the conduct of its members.

Motion – Verge Parking
(Proposed by Councillor BA Baker, Seconded by Councillor SP Anderson )
The damage caused by vehicles being parked carelessly on grass verges is not only unsightly but can add to the costs of maintaining the verges and highways at a time when council resources are already stretched. In light of this largely unregulated activity I move that the executive be asked to consider putting in place suitable controls to restrict parking on grass verges, including the introduction of by-laws.   

Motion –  Video Casting
(Proposed by Councillor AJP Powers, Seconded by Councillor FM Norman)
Recognising that, following It’s Our County’s proposal and after a nine month trial period, this council has recently decided to audio-cast public meetings and to adopt these recordings as audio minutes; and knowing that almost all our neighbouring authorities (Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, Powys and Worcestershire), and many others, already routinely video-cast their meetings – an option originally rejected by this council on cost grounds

That, to align this council with best practice elsewhere, the executive is asked  
a) to re-consider the merits of ‘up-grading’ from audio to live on-line video streaming so that the public meetings of Herefordshire Council and its elected members would be publically open and visible to those unable to attend, and that the recordings should be archived and made available on-line.  
 
b) to consider a trial period for live video streaming, with the opportunity during the trial for feedback from elected members and the public.

Motion – Eastern River Crossing
(Proposed by Councillor JLV Kenyon, Seconded by Councillor SM Michael)
This council notes that the dates for completion of the western bypass are unknown, that it will not relieve the traffic issues within the city and also it’s not its primary purpose.

The executive is asked to investigate and ensure that a protective corridor can be established for an Eastern river crossing from the B4399 at  Rotherwas crossing over the B4224 near to the proposed rugby club development through to the A438 close to the Cock of Tupsley.

 

Will they consider these items. I doubt it.

Having pointed out the iniquity of the council tax system in Hereford Voice in 2014, The Guardian has done a piece on the latest situation comparing Westminster with other parts of the country.

The top band H (properties over £320,00) will be paying £1,376 this coming year 2017 to 2018.

Your Council Tax for 2017 to 2018*:
Band    Westminster City Council     Greater London Authority   Total
A          £272.08                              £186.68                             £458.76
B          £317.43                              £217.79                             £535.22
C          £362.77                              £248.91                             £611.68
D          £408.12                              £280.02                             £688.14
E          £498.81                              £342.25                             £841.06
F          £589.51                              £404.47                             £993.98
G         £680.20                              £466.70                             £1,146.90
H         £816.24                              £560.04                             £1,376.28

*The council has increased its own general council tax requirement by 1.9%. Westminster council tax also includes a charge for Adult Social Care as proposed by central government costing an additional 2.0%. The GLA have increased their council tax requirement by 1.5%.

compare this with Hereford City Council

Hereford City Council including the Police & Fire precepts
Band
A     £1,184.17             
B     £1,381.54             
C     £1,578.89             
D     £1,776.26             
E     £2,170.98             
F     £2,565.72             
G     £2,960.43             
H     £3,552.52     

I leave you to digest the figures. Each parish has a different council tax figure - Ewyas Harold tops the charts with a Band H figure of £3661.76 and Stoke Edith, Dinmore and Hampton Bishop pay the least at £3445.84

Driving along Haywood Lane I noticed someone has dumped a whole load of rubbish and clothing down the side of the embankment next to the railway tunnel. 

There is a huge amount there as you can see from these photographs.

I took these photographs at 19.30 in Hereford this evening and as you can see the road conditions are pretty bad. This snow is like a powder and the wind is causing blizzard type conditions add this to the current -4 temperature and this is the result.

The forecast is that it is only going to get worse overnight.

The following stores at the Old Market in Hereford are closed due to the severe weather conditions

Joules
Clarks
Debenhams
Next
Vodafone

*Waitrose is however currently open.

Herefordshire 4x4 Response is an organisation made up entirely of volunteers. In times of bad weather we assist the NHS, Fire & Rescue, Police and Search & Rescue teams.

Our volunteers transport essential NHS Staff, Nurses, Doctors, Paramedics as well as essential medical supplies.

If you work for the NHS, Police, Fire Service, Care Homes and even Meals on Wheels, and require transport during the snow please get in touch with the the Herefordshire Council Resilience Team on 01432 260223 and they will arrange for our team to be deployed. (Unfortunately we can not accept assistance requests from the public directly.)

To find out how you can help please visit: Herefordshire 4x4 Response or their Facebook page 

Only in Hereford, excessive speed cameras...

Severe Weather Warning.

Herefordshire Council is preparing to keep the county moving as the ‘Beast from the East’ moves in.

The council’s public realm contractor, Balfour Beatty Living Places, is continuing to monitor conditions around-the-clock to ensure the county’s 14 priority routes are kept clear during extreme weather conditions.

In preparation, over the past 24 hours, the Balfour Beatty Living Places team has gritted over 1,000 miles of road. This includes 600 miles of priority routes and over 400 miles of secondary routes.

The county’s salt barns are fully stocked with 4,800 tonnes of salt available to the 30-strong gritting team, which operates 16 frontline gritting vehicles, four snow blowers and two quad bikes.

Balfour Beatty Living Places contract director, Andy Williams, said:

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“Throughout the winter period, Balfour Beatty Living Places undertakes essential winter maintenance activities across Herefordshire, with our gritting team on stand-by 24/7 to treat the county’s routes.

Using real-time Met Office data and the latest tracking technology on our fleet of gritters, we can deliver effective gritting services at short notice.
“We are committed to keeping the local community and travelling public on the move and will be gritting again this evening and throughout the coming weeks as necessary to ensure optimum road conditions during this exceptionally cold period.”

Councillor Barry Durkin, Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Roads and Regulatory Services, added:

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"Weather conditions can change quickly and can make a significant difference to your normal driving experience. All routes can become treacherous, even once they have been salted. Rain can wash salt off the roads and, in very cold weather, even salting will not stop ice from forming.
“I would advise drivers to take extra care when driving on winter roads – avoid fast turns and sharp braking, use low-beam headlights to prevent glare and keep a respectful distance from the car in front."

Precautionary salting normally takes place in the early morning or evening but additional action may be required during extreme weather.

You can find the latest gritting route information on Twitter @HfdsStreets

The latest information about Herefordshire Council services affected by severe weather, such as road and school closures, can be found at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/severeweather

Driving back into Hereford along Haywood Lane I noticed that one of the new duck signs has disappeared...



The picture on the right I took yesterday. Can we have this replaced please?

I have been asked by several people if I would create a petition about the lack of grass/verge cutting in the County due to severe cut backs in Herefordshire Councils budget. 

You Can Sign The Petition HERE

  After two years of asking for yellow boxes at Belmont Tesco, following on from Colin's original suggestion I met on site with Amey last November, I was advised we could not have yellow boxes without traffic signals, I ask for an alternative and we compromised on 'keep clear signs' at the entrance to Northolme Rd, Abbotsmead Rd and Southolme Rd. I am please to advise that these will be put in on 20th March weather permitting.

From Herefordshire CC Press release

Cllr Tony Johnson has today announced his resignation as Leader of Herefordshire Council, which will take effect at the next full Council meeting on 9 March 2018.

Councillor Johnson has been a councillor with Herefordshire Council for more than seven years and has been Leader of the council for five years. He is stepping down to spend more time with his family and on his hobbies, and will remain a ward councillor for Hope End.

Councillor Johnson said:

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Over the past five years, I am lucky to have been involved in projects that have really put Herefordshire on the map. The new Enterprise Zone at Rotherwas brought new business and jobs, the new Livestock Market provided a purpose-built venue which enjoys growing trade and the Old Market has revitalised the city centre.

I am proud to have worked with Herefordshire Councils dedicated teams of professionals and would like to thank them for the support during my time as Leader. My work continues as a councillor for Hope End ward, as I support the council and my constituents. I look forward to following the progress made as I take life at a slower place and take time to enjoy this beautiful county.

 

In line with the council constitution, the new Leader will be elected at the meeting of full Council on 9 March.

A woman was taken to hospital and a child received minor injuries following an accident at the junction on Widemarsh Street along the new city link road yesterday evening at 5.50pm (Sunday)

Photo courtesy of OPU Herefordshire

Where's Jesse. Not much noise from Jesse about Council tax rises, bypass routes and business rates in the town centre. Any comments?