megilleland

New application for 2 ATMs in Old Market.

From Herefordshire Council News - Thursday, 27th July 2017 Keepmoat appointed as ‘preferred bidder’ to work in partnership with the council to realise housing targets

Car crime in Herefordshire Find out what the car crime rate is where you park your car. With the help of government crime data, the Park Smart tool helps you to see where vehicle crime is most frequent. Pop your location or postcode in to help decide where to leave your car.

Is it this one Dippy: Post 39 Posted 17 January 2016 There isn't one Denise - as I understand it Natalia Silver one of Geoff Hughes' proteges is now in charge of the legal department, but doesn't have any legal qualifications. Neither does the grandly titled Head of Law, Governance and Resilience who is also in charge of the legal department... One of the Deputy Solicitors is fulfilling the post of monitoring officer. A case of too many chiefs perhaps? As to whether Bill Norman was any good? er...no. Rumour is he hadn't made himself too popular with the Plough Lane bigwigs after a botched restructure of the legal and committee departments which saw a load of experienced staff depart, but subsequently failed to recruit anyone new. Doh! That might have something to do with his sudden departure from Hereford. Edited by Pete Boggs, 17 January 2016 .

Or goes off topic!

It would be a good idea if everyone kept the area outside their own house clean.

Taken from Herefordshire Council's website: Balfour Beatty Living Places contract The council’s public realm contract for providing services includes highways, public rights of way, parks and open spaces, street cleaning and street lighting. Balfour Beatty were awarded the contract in 2013 and the procurement for the contract set out to achieve the following objectives: * Ensuring our roads, public open spaces and streets are accessible, safe, clean and well-maintained * Maintaining the delivery of essential services * Achieving value for money, facilitated by process improvement and transparency through open book accounting * Achieving service delivery which is efficient and responsive to local needs and priorities and * Contributing to the regeneration of the economy and social capital in Herefordshire Obviously they have seriously failed and we can see the result all over the city. Maybe the contract needs reviewing. It would appear the money from council tax payers to do this work has been diverted to shareholders pockets.

Belmont Rural Neighbourhood Plan referendum I had trouble trying to load up documents. To see all click on link above.

The government is the body that set up the "One Public Estate" which is resulting in the council selling off its assets. I don't think they would be independent. They are working hand in glove.

And waste more money?

Sounds as if the council tax payers are being stitched up again. Appendix 6 High level description of the contract.pdf

The council are now publishing expenditure at 3 monthly intervals. The latest figures for April, May and June are available here. £49,618,861.29 spent over the 3 months and here are the top 10 single payouts. £6,660,000.00 Worcestershire County Council £3,188,139.38 Balfour Beatty Living Places Ltd £2,008,638.35 Balfour Beatty Living Places Ltd £1,957,751.68 Balfour Beatty Living Places Ltd £1,386,250.00 Hoople Ltd £1,386,250.00 Hoople Ltd £1,296,090.29 West Mercia Police & Crime Commissioner £1,296,088.00 West Mercia Police & Crime Commissioner £1,296,088.00 West Mercia Police & Crime Commissioner £1,016,604.38 Worcestershire County Council £19,483,261.73 Total for 10 cheques - 39% of total spend (4861 cheques) Hoople was paid £3,286,660.58 inclusive of all payments Worcestershire County Council was paid £9,736,492.85 inclusive of all payments So it's not only the BBC that pays above the norm.

Meeting: Cabinet Meeting date: 27 July 2017 Title of report: To approve the appointment of a developer to work in partnership with the council in delivering the development and regeneration programme Report by: Cabinet member contracts and assets Key decision This is a key decision because it is likely to result in the council incurring expenditure which is, or the making of savings which are, significant having regard to the council’s budget for the service or function to which the decision relates. Purpose To approve the appointment of a developer to work in partnership with the council in delivering the development and regeneration programme. Recommendations THAT: a) the highest scoring tender (name to be announced at the meeting) be appointed as the preferred bidder to work in partnership to deliver the council’s development and regeneration programme; b) the director for economy, communities and corporate having consulted with the chief financial officer and cabinet member contracts and assets, and having received satisfactory confirmation of tender commitments, be authorised to complete contractual arrangements with X for a period of 10 years; c) in the event that satisfactory confirmation of tender commitments is not received from the preferred bidder, the director for economy, communities and corporate, following consultation with the chief financial officer and cabinet member for contracts and assets and having received satisfactory confirmation of tender commitments, be authorised to enter into the contract for the development and regeneration programme with the second highest bidder (‘the reserve bidder’); d) following completion of contractual arrangements options appraisal and business cases for development of the former Bromyard depot and the Hereford station approach sites be brought forward for consideration as the first phase sites; and e) thanks are extended to all bidders for the courteous, prompt and productive way in which they have all participated in the procurement. (extracts) 5 The arrangements that have been agreed with the bidders represent the most effective mechanism by which to: a) Generate the greatest potential to raise capital and revenue receipts from the council’s land holdings, whilst controlling the nature, speed and character of developments; b) Contribute to the delivery of the target of 800 homes for Hereford city centre and to the housing targets set out within the core strategy; c) Create a commissioning option that supports the emerging objectives of programmes including the economic masterplan, one Herefordshire and one public estate; d) Underpin the regeneration of the county via a long term pipeline of works e) Target the use of local labour and local supply chain, creating jobs, apprenticeships, training and education initiatives and provide support for local SMEs for third sector groups and the community; f) Improve skills and educational attainment and enable the development of new economic activity to address the problem of low wages in the county; g) Facilitate collaborative working between partners conducting developments within the county. 6 The council’s corporate plan 2016-2020 includes the following strategic priorities: helping residents to live safe, healthy, independent lives; keep children and young people safe and give them a great start in life; support the growth of our economy; and to secure better services, quality of life and value for money. 55 The overarching agreement commits the council to a strategic partnering arrangement with its chosen partner/developer whereby the council makes available specified council sites exclusively to the partner/developer for first call on potential development. The partner/developer writes a development programme (and refreshes it annually for council cabinet approval, always at partner/developer cost) and then either the council or partner/developer seeks to call off new projects from the development programme. The partner/developer only makes a financial return/profit if it successfully implements a new project. 56 It is appropriate for the council to enter into the overarching agreement. The term is for 10 years and does not have an earlier termination date. The decision whether to agree to projects will be a decision for cabinet and will have its own terms and conditions. Plenty to read in this report and lots of opportunity for the Council to cock up again. Will we see Hereford Futures resurrected under another name?

Extracts from the Agenda Cabinet Thursday 27 July 2017 2.00 pm Meeting: Cabinet Meeting date: 27 July 2017 Title of report: Joint customer services hub – budget update Report by: Chief finance officer Purpose To approve an increase in capital expenditure to deliver a joint customer services hub at Blueschool House. Recommendation(s) THAT: (a) £50k be allocated from the ICT revenue reserve to provide sufficient ICT equipment at Blueschool House; (b) £200k be allocated from the earmarked economy, communities and corporate revenue reserve to support the increased costs; © having regard to the continued revenue benefits identified in the revised business case, a further £720k be approved to deliver a joint customer services hub at Blueschool House, bringing the total estimated cost to £1.92m; (d) the audit and governance committee be asked to identify and recommend improvement actions to strengthen property capital project management and control. Reasons for recommendations 3 On 2 June 2016, the cabinet member contracts and assets approved the establishment of a joint customer services hub at Blueschool House in Hereford. The project involved DWP co-locating with council staff, generating a revenue income for the council resulting in a reduction in the net premises costs for the council. 4 As investigative and refurbishment works have progressed it has become apparent that the original capital estimate for the project is insufficient to deliver the full scope of requirements. Value engineering exercises are ongoing to ensure best value is achieved, however the current project estimates total £1.92m (an increase of £970k relative to the original estimate). Legal implications 18 The council has entered into an implied contract, with price and specification agreed, to refurbish Blueschool House with a contractor procured under an EU compliant framework agreement. Although the contract has not been signed in writing, a contract has been formed. If the council were to terminate the contract upon reasonable notice the council would be liable to pay costs incurred to date. Deciding whether to continue or terminate the contract should depend on whether best value can be achieved. 20 The proposed cladding is not the same as that used on Grenfell Tower, however the inquiry into the tragedy may alter national regulations regarding cladding. This could have a future impact upon the premises. Consultees 22 The ward member, Councillor Polly Andrews, has been consulted and is supportive of referral to audit and governance committee. The views of political groups were sought but no comments were received.

The trouble is the Chancellor can't see above the workers. After all he needs these common purpose trained managers to transform and cause chaos in the public sector. It's all part of the Conservative's plan for the Big Society.

Yes, but they don't read the small print in the contract. Similar to the signs you find in car parks in supermarkets and other parking places. If they said they will crush your car after 2 hours there wouldn't be a problem.

Judge finds for parking company on all 7 points at University Hospital of Wales. £28,000 costs awarded Money, money, money. What a state we are in - run and backed up by grubby people.

And we couldn't attract them with our floral arrangements along the city kerbs and verges. Maybe now they will tidy the place up. From the Guardian today: Although it is not a city, Paisley in Renfrewshire qualifies under rules that include any settlement with a “clear central urban focusâ€.

Just listened to BBC local radio and the council have cut another million pounds on highway maintenance, so it looks as if we will have weeds growing up through the road as well as along the verges. At the same time Worcestershire have increased their highway maintenance by two million. No doubt we will be hearing from Jesse Norman our man in the Department of Transport?

Bin fenced off on Great Western Way by Keepmoat development. Unable to use and also unable to be emptied. Surely the fence could have been erected behind the bin.

No greenery?

Polystyrene, which is 98% air can be processed here. How waste recycling helps our planet - Zero to Landfill. Nice little video about the perils of waste and its treatment in Devon.

And while we are at it here is the council's list of other waste they won't take. Please do not put the following items in your recycling bins or sacks, they are not currently recyclable Carrier bags Cling film Brown and black plastic Plant pots or tubs Corks Sharps (for example, needles) Aluminium foil Shiny wrapping paper Pet food pouches Crisp packets Tissue, toilet roll or kitchen towels Wet or dirty items Pyrex glass Flat glass Light bulbs Electrical items Batteries Garden waste Clothes and textiles Polystyrene CD and DVDs and their cases Paint containers Pottery and crockery Wood Furniture Other general rubbish

Apparently not. Came across this wheelie bin with notice attached. Resident puts out bin, dustmen turn up and refuse to empty contents due to unacceptable items. Dustmen leaves bin for collection in two weeks time. Resident collects bin and now has no where to put rubbish for a further two weeks. What does he do? Surely for the trouble it takes, the dustman could have placed these noxious items in a sack and disposed them back at their depot. OK leave the note attached to bin and possibly he won't do it again. Otherwise expect to see the overflowing contents spread across the estate.

From Herefordshire Council News: Tender process ended midday 5 July 2017 The Herefordshire Council smallholdings tender process has now ended with many bidders expressing an interest. The sales continue to be handled by Fisher German, the council’s appointed agents, and bids will be reviewed this week. Councillor Harry Bramer, Cabinet Member for Contracts and Assets, said: “The council is committed to its duty of care to the local community and to tenants. All decisions will be taken as quickly as possible so the sales can proceed efficiently for all parties.†The process of the launch, marketing and handling of bids and subsequent sales has, and will continue to, follow our adopted governance procedures. Published: Thursday, 6th July 2017