County plan 2020-2024 - herefordshire.gov.uk
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County plan
2020-2024
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hfdscouncil herefordshire.gov.uk
“Respecting our past, shaping our future -
we will improve the sustainability,
connectivity and wellbeing of our county by
strengthening our communities, creating a
thriving local economy and protecting and
enhancing our environment”.
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Contents
Introduction from the Leader 4
Herefordshire 6
Our challenge 7
Using our resources wisely 8
Where the money comes from 10
Where the money goes 11
What we heard 12
Our ambition for Herefordshire 13
AMBITION: Environment 16
AMBITION: Community 18
AMBITION: Economy 22
Useful information 27
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Introduction from
the Leader of Herefordshire Council
Councillor David Hitchiner
Our County plan shapes the always need to safeguard the most enterprise and our fellow
future of Herefordshire and aims vulnerable in our communities, public sector organisations. We
to encourage and strengthen our but we want to enable everyone to recognise that we will only be
vibrant communities, create a feel more strongly a part of their able to deliver on our ambition by
thriving local economy and protect local community too. working together effectively.
and enhance our environment to
ensure Herefordshire remains We want all children and young The council must have financial
a great place to live, visit, work, people in this county to have a resilience to enable us to
learn and do business. The plan great start in life and be healthy, continue to serve the people of
guides the work of the council and safe and inspired to be the best Herefordshire, to invest prudently
our relationship with individuals, they can be. Our young people in the county and to continue
families, communities and should be proud to grow up here to deliver the services that our
partners over the next four years. in Herefordshire and we also residents need. This will continue
Underpinning this plan are the want them to feel able to build to remain at the forefront of our
themes of connectivity, wellbeing their lives here. This requires us thinking.
and sustainability, which sit at the to deliver good learning facilities,
core of our policy making, planning great job opportunities and homes Our ambition is for Herefordshire
and design for the future. that young people can afford to to be an exemplar of 21st century
buy or rent. We recognise that for rural living where market towns
We know that in the future some children and young people and rural communities are
transport systems must, and will, life can be particularly tough, and properly valued and recognised
change, so we need to rethink we are determined to address for the contributions they make
our investment now in transport the inequalities which put these to the success of the county. We
infrastructure to tackle the 21st children and young people at a will achieve this by recognising
century challenges of climate disadvantage. and building upon the strengths
emergency and to support the of our people, our places and our
wellbeing of our population. This We place arts and culture at past while embracing the future
will be central to the review of the the centre of our plans for by taking proven concepts and
Hereford bypass and southern Herefordshire. We do this to systems developed in modern
link road schemes and the urgent recognise the value heritage cities and adapting them for rural
update of our Core Strategy and and creativity bring through Herefordshire so that we create a
planning policies. generating income from our county which is better connected
fantastic exhibitions and events in every way.
Being better connected is not just and by nurturing people’s overall
about the physical infrastructure. wellbeing. There is growing Herefordshire is a great place to
We all need a bit of help from time evidence of the social value that live with a beautiful and unique
to time. During such tough times, cultural services provide in our natural environment - we will work
we believe it is really important communities, particularly in in partnership with our farming
that the council supports people combatting social isolation. and business community to protect
and finds ways to help them to and enhance this wonderful asset
connect to the rich tapestry We are committed to working for future generations while
of services provided by the more closely in partnership ensuring that we balance this
voluntary sector and to their with town and parish councils, sensitively with playing an active
own community. The council will community partners, private part in the modern world.
5
Herefordshire
Situated in the south west of the popular destination for visitors Unemployment in the county
West Midlands region bordering and for those who commute to is low, but average earnings
Wales, Herefordshire has employment out of the county. in the county are significantly
beautiful unspoilt countryside below both the regional and
with remote valleys and rivers Herefordshire has the fourth national averages. Average
and a distinctive heritage. The lowest population density in house prices are high compared
River Wye winds through the England, with a land area of with elsewhere in the region. In
county, flowing east from the 2,180km² but a population of 2016, Herefordshire’s affordable
Welsh border through Hereford only 192,100 (2018). Most of the housing ratio was the worst in the
city before turning south to flow county (95%) is rural and 53% of West Midlands, with houses at the
through the Wye Valley Area the population live in rural areas. lower end of the market, costing
of Outstanding Natural Beauty around 8.6 times the annual wage
(AONB). The Malvern Hills border While life expectancy for both of the lowest earners.
the east of county, while the south males and females is higher and
west is dominated by the western mortality rates are lower here Herefordshire is generally a low
reaches of the Black Mountains. than the national average, there crime rate area and partners work
are pockets of deprivation in together to ensure that it
The Wye Valley is a designated the county. There are notable continues to be a safe place to live,
Area of Outstanding Natural differences in life expectancy work and visit.
Beauty and recognised as one and mortality in these areas,
of the nation’s most treasured much of which is attributable to
landscapes. Inside the Wye Valley lifestyle-related conditions such as
AONB, the market town of Ross- circulatory or respiratory diseases
on-Wye is steeped in culture and or cancers.
history, and is regarded as being
the birthplace of British tourism. Herefordshire is an
When the Reverend William entrepreneurial county, with
Gilpin visited 250 years ago, he 20% of the population being
documented his trip with the UK’s self-employed. Defence and
first ‘tourist guide’ of the cruises technology business
up and down the picturesque sectors are well-
River Wye. This brought more and represented across
more visitors who dined at specific the county, which is
locations, took walks to particular home to the Special
viewpoints and visited romantic Air Service (SAS)
ruins, making the ‘Wye Tour’ the and a short distance
first ‘package’ holiday. from Gloucester–
based Government
In addition to Hereford city, the Communication
county is served by five beautiful Headquarters (GCHQ).
and distinctive market towns:
Bromyard, Kington, Ledbury,
Leominster and Ross-on-Wye.
Understandably, the county is a
7
Using our resources wisely
Using our resources wisely is Herefordshire is a rural county We shall also build new
one of our core principles so we with a higher than average number community facilities and bring
are always on the look out for of people aged over 65 living in forward new employment
new ways to provide efficiencies the county. Herefordshire Council sites throughout the county.
in service delivery. We work has faced significant financial In making these investments
continuously to maximise our challenges over recent years we will continue to balance
purchasing power, deliver value as annual central government environmental, economic and
for money, and direct all that we funding has been reduced from community returns and will carry
do to the benefit of Herefordshire £60.1m in 2011/12 to £0.6m in forward measures which further
residents and local business. 2019/20. During this same period manage demand for our services.
both service delivery costs and
We employ nearly 1,300 staff demand for those same services The council will continue to look
and support many more jobs in have increased, particularly for for opportunities to share our
the local economy through our adult social care and children in accommodation and service
contracts with local businesses. care of the council. delivery with partners. We will
further rationalise our property
The council has an annual budget The council has risen to this holdings to deliver efficiencies as
in 2020 of £380m which we use to financial challenge by: well as new income streams to 8
deliver services to over 187,000 support our services.
residents. These services include • Delivering substantial savings
the maintenance of over 2,000 of £90m in annual operating The council recognises, celebrates
miles of roads, over 2,000 miles of costs and values the central role our
public rights of way, over 700 employees play in delivering this
highway bridges and over 11,000 • Keeping services going by plan and our many statutory
streetlights, collection of waste delivering them differently duties. We shall continue to
and recycled materials from over invest in activities that ensure
85,000 residential properties, • Changing how we make best we recruit people with the
safeguarding around 1,000 use of publicly owned assets skills and attributes to meet the
children and providing care and changing demands of the council’s
support to 2,500 vulnerable • Consistently delivering services. We will also continue
adults. balanced budgets the investment we are making in
developing our people, rewarding
Receipts from the sale of publicly them appropriately and providing
owned assets will be reinvested support to ensure their continued
in projects which replenish and wellbeing.
enhance the tangible assets of the
council. We will use these assets
to generate new and sustainable
income streams to help fund
future services and address the
pressing needs of the county's
residents which are not being met
by market forces.
9
Where the money comes from
Where the money goes
The council spends
£1m a day on
delivering services to
residents
11What we heard Our plan
The 2020-24 County plan The following section sets out People with disabilities:
has been developed following what we aim to achieve over the “We want to be counted
consultation and engagement next four years. Our key areas of in the community and we
events with the public and key focus will be the Environment, want to be listened to”
stakeholders across the county. our Communities and the local
Economy. Recognising that we
We heard from over 2,000 people, don’t live and work in silos these
including seldom heard from will be developed against three
groups that included younger key themes of Sustainability,
people through the sixth form Connectivity and Wellbeing
college, a young farmers event, which will guide our planning,
people with long-term illness and design and policy making over the
their carers and ethnic minority coming years.
groups.
People told us that we should How we will Environment
be prioritising investment in the "Tackling the climate
following areas: measure success emergency should be
ambitious but achievable
• More affordable housing In each of the following sections with ambition”
we have indicated the high level
• Maintenance of our existing outcomes that we expect to
highways network and public achieve. The detailed targets for
spaces each ambition will be published
each year in the annual delivery
• Specialist care home facilities plan. This ensures we can
and accommodation for monitor and evidence that we are
vulnerable people of all ages delivering the outcomes we have
committed to on an annual basis.
• Improved public transport Public transport:
across the county “Public transport can be
amazing e.g.. in London,
• Action to tackle the climate therefore there should be
emergency (this was the top scope to make it better here in
priority for young people) Herefordshire.”Our ambition for Herefordshire
Environment Community Economy
Protect and enhance our Strengthen communities to ensure Support an economy which builds
environment and keep everyone lives well and safely on the county’s strengths and
Herefordshire a great place to live together resources
ILL ILL ILL
WE W WE W WE W
Minimise waste and increase reuse, Ensure all children are healthy, safe Develop environmentally sound
repair and recycling and inspired to achieve infrastructure that attracts
investment
Improve and extend active travel Ensure that children in care, and 13
options throughout the county moving on from care, are well Use council land to create
supported and make good life economic opportunities and bring
Build understanding and support choices higher paid jobs to the county
for sustainable living
Build publicly owned sustainable Invest in education and the skills
Invest in low carbon projects and affordable houses and bring needed by employers
empty properties back into use
Identify climate change action in all Enhance digital connectivity for
aspects of council operation Protect and improve the lives of communities and business
vulnerable people
Seek strong stewardship of the Protect and promote our heritage,
county’s natural resources Use technology to support home culture and natural beauty to
care and extend independent living enhance quality of life and support
Protect and enhance the county’s tourism
biodiversity, value nature and Support communities to help
uphold environmental standards each other through a network of Spend public money in the local
community hubs economy wherever possible
Our principles
Partnership We collaborate to maximise our strengths and resources
Resilience We use resources wisely so Herefordshire is fit for future generations
Integrity We make decisions based on evidence and work with respect, openness and accountability
Democracy We strengthen local democracy, decision making and service delivery and involve more
young people
Engagement We listen to and learn from our communities and help people connect through culture,
creativity and care15
Ambition:
ENVIRONMENT
Protect and enhance our environment and
keep Herefordshire a great place to live
Herefordshire has a rich, beautiful In March 2019, Herefordshire the Rivers Wye and Lugg which
and varied natural environment Council unanimously declared a benefit from European protection
which cleans our air, channels our Climate Emergency and formally as ‘Special Areas of Conservation’
water, supports wildlife in all its adopted commitments to lead a because of their unique and
many forms, lifts our spirits and local response, aspiring for the invaluable biodiversity.
keep us well. county to become carbon neutral
by 2030. We are proud of our rich rural
The council recognises that heritage and will work in
healthy, connected and vibrant The council will consider the partnership with our farming
ecosystems strongly support the impact of climate change and the community and land managers to
local economy, improve health and opportunity for carbon reduction promote sustainable stewardship
wellbeing and make the county in every aspect of our operation. of the County’s farmland, soils and
an attractive place to live and to woods.
visit. It is vital that we protect In addition we will continue to
and enhance this environment invest in low carbon projects such We are committed to creating
while stewarding it for future as renewable energy systems, greater public awareness of
generations. using energy efficiency measures the part each of us can play in
and electric vehicles to further supporting nature and biodiversity
One of the effects of climate reduce our carbon footprint in the county.
change will be that our weather and our daily running costs. We
becomes more unpredictable, with will support this commitment
longer periods of both dry and wet by ensuring that tree planting
weather, where each of these may and habitat enhancement is
also be more severe and intense. prioritised.
Significant areas of Herefordshire
are low-lying and liable to Herefordshire has excellent
flooding: climate change further biodiversity and natural assets and
increases the risk and severity its natural environment supports
of that flooding (including flash a wide range of habitats. The
flooding) throughout the county. richness of biodiversity within
Herefordshire is reflected in the
number of nature conservation
sites within the county, includingThe county’s geology and soils throw things away. The council
shape a highly fertile landscape for will use its community initiatives,
Key Facts
quality food and drink production, partnerships and our waste
particularly on low-lying land. contracts to make it easier for
This landscape is a key economic businesses and residents to share,
asset creating not only an repair, reuse and recycle.
attractive place to live and work 17
but also making Herefordshire
an important tourist destination; Success
something which is a key economic ENVIRONMENT
strength of the county. measures
• Target of carbon neutrality by
We want Herefordshire to be a • Increase flood resilience and 2030
destination of choice for walking reduce levels of phosphate
and cycling tourism and to pollution in the county’s river • 43% carbon reduction
increase significantly the use of between 2008/09 and
these active means of travel by • Reduce the council’s carbon 2018/19 for the council’s
local residents. emissions own operations
We will enable more healthy low • Work in partnership with • 9% of the county designated
carbon travel options, including others to reduce county carbon for nature conservation
walking, public transport and emissions
cycling, to reduce congestion, • Over 6,000 listed buildings
improve local air quality and • Improve the air quality within
enhance health and wellbeing. Herefordshire • 64 conservation areas across
our city, towns and villages
We all consume material • Improve residents’ access to
resources to generate economic green space in Herefordshire
growth and to meet our basic
human needs. But our overall • Improve energy efficiency of
use of these resources has homes and build standards for
become unsustainable. We use new housing
too much and are too quick toAmbition:
COMMUNITY
Strengthen communities to ensure that
everyone lives well and safely together
Our ambition is to make wellbeing support systems through effective on people’s strengths and the
inevitable here in Herefordshire information and signposting. many resources they have in their
by putting physical and mental local communities, such as our
health at the heart of everything In larger hubs, this will include exceptionally strong voluntary
we do. 'Talk Community' is the key offering a range of services that sector and family carers. We
council initiative by which we aim enable people to gain new skills, aim to recognise and support
to progress this objective. get help and advice, access a the role that these important
culture and arts offer and receive people play in enriching the lives
Talk Community is an approach health and care services. of many vulnerable people in
which focusses on the people our community. By taking this
within our communities, the place We recognise that communities community centred approach we
and space in which they live and across Herefordshire differ intend that formal care services
the economy in which people tremendously. Consequently, the will be targeted to those most in
work. The initiative sets out to location of these hubs, and what need so that the growing demand
help people use their and their exactly they comprise will be down on adult and children’s social care
community’s strengths to help to each community to decide. services can continue to be met.
one another to live well, stay safe
and maximise their independence. We will develop further Where vulnerable people of all
Talk Community looks at how preventative family-centred ages need formal care it is really
people can best be supported and approaches with partners. This important to us that it is of high
can support each other to achieve will include building up our early quality and that it enables people
this, and how communities and help approach by making best use to reach their goals. We will
businesses can develop to meet of community spaces which might continue to improve outcomes for
the local needs of each community. include Talk Community hubs and children in care, and moving on
children’s centres. from care, and support them to
The programme has a number of make good life choices.
strands including development When people need support, we
of a network of Talk Community know that this support comes Demand for adult and children’s
hubs throughout the county. The in a variety of ways and has the social care services is increasing
aim of these hubs is to concentrate greatest impact when it comes both in terms of the number of
investment and support to from genuine connections and people and also in the cost of
connect people more effectively friendships. We shall continue delivering care. Social care will
to their community and to local to develop approaches that build also consider other things besidescare services, such as community We will also intend to use our residents’ everyday lives, whether
support and the use of new planning and licensing functions, by engaging with our many
technology which can contribute our contracting power and fantastic exhibitions and events;
to meeting any desired outcomes. partnerships to influence and supporting the health and
Some of Herefordshire’s most create healthy physical and wellbeing agenda by recognising
vulnerable residents have very cultural environments that the significant social value that
complex needs which can be support wellbeing. can come from cultural services 19
very challenging and costly to such as libraries and arts; or by
meet. We intend to invest in We are committed to supporting increasing inclusivity by providing
new models of care, housing and our NHS partners across all our residents with more
accommodation to maximise the Herefordshire to deliver their opportunities to benefit from our
levels of personal independence long-term ambitions within varied cultural activities. We are
these vulnerable people are our communities. We will work committed to working with the
able to attain while remaining in with them as the lead partner Herefordshire Cultural
their communities. This might on prevention and wellbeing Partnership to ensure that
include new care homes, care initiatives. Herefordshire continues to build
villages, technology or specialist on our many strengths and
accommodation for vulnerable This council recognises that arts successes.
children and young people. and culture plays a huge part in
our plans. We want culture and Technology is another key
There are key public health creativity to be part of our component for promoting and
challenges for the county that supporting wellbeing, particularly
we want to address including for those with high levels of
poor oral health, obesity and need. Technology can be very
cold homes. We will work with liberating and empowering where
partners to address these issues it can improve independence
through an oral health action plan, without relying on formal and
physical activity strategy and often intrusive levels of care. This
measures to tackle fuel poverty. includes such things as prompts to
take medication, voice-activated
response services when crisis
occurs (such as a fall), health and
wellbeing apps etc. Over thecoming years, we will continue to support for disadvantaged with landlords and local people
develop our technology strategies children is fundamental to to speed up the rate at which
and make further investments achieving this. empty properties are brought
in this important, exciting and back into active use and to
fast moving area of service Herefordshire needs more support community land trusts
transformation. genuinely affordable homes and community-owned housing
delivered through carefully projects to succeed.
Our schools enable our young planned policies for growth.
people to achieve and excel We will use our Herefordshire
intellectually, physically and Area Plan, communities’ own
socially, and prepare them to do Neighbourhood Development
well once they move on to college, Plans, and an updated Core
training or work. We continue to Strategy to make sure we deliver
invest in education by sustainable development which
redeveloping, and building new meets the needs of local people
schools to ensure that we have the while respecting our heritage and
right facilities in the right location, our natural environment.
to meet emerging and future
demand. We will continue to work Investing in improved community
with schools and communities to infrastructure is an important
improve and maximise children’s factor in delivering community
attainment; our targeting of extra resilience as the county's
population grows.
We will work with housing
associations and developers to
enable them to build more homes
for sale and for long-term rent. To
drive the delivery of affordable
housing, the council will look to
develop its own housing stock
to provide over 1,000 additional
genuinely affordable homes for
local people in Herefordshire.
Increasing the number of
private properties to rent is
also important, so we will workSuccess
measures
• Improve Herefordshire’s • Improve community resilience
Key Facts
house affordability ratio, in Herefordshire
making accommodation more
affordable to local people • Reduce the number of people
admitted to hospital for COMMUNITY
• Increase the proportion of unplanned events
adults requiring formal care • Herefordshire has the longest
services who are supported in • Improve the mental wellbeing healthy life expectation 21
their own homes of Herefordshire residents across the West Midlands for
both men and women
• Improve the life chances of • Reduce the number of people
disadvantaged children in in Herefordshire identified as • 500,000 visits to a library a
Herefordshire, meaning that homeless year
they have a better chance of
doing well at school, getting • Reduce the number of • Herefordshire has one of
good jobs and secure housing households living in fuel the lowest rates of violent
(measured by the social mobility poverty crime in the West Midlands
index) and over 20% less than the
national average
• Reduce the number of children
living with poverty, tooth decay • Herefordshire is currently
or obesity ranked as a “cold spot”
nationally for social mobility
• Reduce the number of children
requiring formal social care
interventions (measured by the
number of children in need)
• Increase the number of children
that are assessed as 'ready for
school'; for both children with
and without free school meal
statusAmbition:
ECONOMY
Support an economy which builds on the
county’s strengths and resources
A thriving and prosperous to return and to encourage others Alongside supporting our bedrock
economy is vital if we are to to move here to live. businesses and attracting exciting
provide sustainable, well-paid new ones we are determined
and rewarding job opportunities For those who do choose to live to work with all sectors of the
to local people. A vibrant local here, the county offers a very good business community to implement
economy improves quality of life quality of life. The majority of our a community wealth building
for everyone and also generates schools are assessed as ‘Good’ or initiative. This involves four key
the income through Council Tax ‘Outstanding’ and Herefordshire’s principles:
and business rates that we need as natural assets, cultural offer and
a council to support local services. strong sense of community make • Spend more locally – Work with
the county a highly attractive large local employers (anchor
Herefordshire faces a number of place to live, learn, visit and to organisations) to build strong
significant economic challenges. invest. local supply chains and increase
Although overall unemployment the amount of money which
levels are very low, our average More than 90% of our businesses stays in the local economy
wage levels are also very low. The are SMEs (small to medium
county has a greater proportion sized enterprises) or micro
of retired people than the businesses, and business start-
national average. Our retired ups in Herefordshire are more
residents make very significant successful than the national
contributions to the voluntary average. The high profile
and third sector locally, but also Hereford Enterprise Zone, known
contribute to house prices being as Skylon Park, is a council-led
high and to the lack of availability initiative within the Marches
of social housing for younger Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)
families. Limited higher education which is attracting new high-tech
opportunities in the county mean businesses to the county and
that most of the county’s younger delivering a growing number
people leave the county to study of well-paid jobs, whilst also
beyond A-level. It is important regenerating a large brownfield
that we increase the number of site to the south of the city.
better paid job opportunities that
are available so as to attract our
university educated young people• Skill-up – Encourage We want to emphasise the critical forward thinking companies and
continuous investment in our role the market towns and villages communities throughout the
local workforce and a culture play in Herefordshire’s economy county.
of lifelong learning in our and we will ensure high quality
community employment land, business space We will continue to take
and business support is made advantage of digital investments,
• Strengthen the use of our available throughout the county. made through the Fastershire 23
assets– Work with our anchor project, to support local
organisations to be more We will continue to support the companies to make the most the
creative in how we use and significant growth of education superfast and ultrafast digital fibre
share our collective assets, opportunities within the county connectivity. The wide availability
increase our local investment, to provide new opportunities for of high performance fibre
encourage the development younger people to live and learn broadband will ensure
of new businesses and explore locally. The council will promote Herefordshire is able to attract
new methods of financial a culture of lifelong learning entrepreneurs seeking digital
support throughout the county and enable connectivity and will encourage
access to tools and resources growth in the county’s already
• Speak up and out – Give the to support upskilling, reskilling strong ‘creative sector’ whose
wider community a meaningful and employability by providing workers are attracted by the
say in shaping economic plans routes to training opportunities, lifestyle and work-life balance on
and local investments. We will apprenticeships and hands-on offer here.
do this through transparent experience.
decision-making, well publicised
public consultation and by Building on existing local strengths
engaging positively with key and seizing global opportunities
stakeholders on the future we will support growth in new
plans for Herefordshire technology-enabled and digital
business sectors, such as cyber
security. We will also encourage
the use of green technologies to
support the growth of a clean,
low-carbon economy whilst
maximising the new economic
opportunities this will bring toThe council will make a positive
commitment to invest in the Success
support and development of
tourism and our valuable visitor
economy. We are convinced that
measures Key Facts
there continues to be a significant • Increase the average workplace
role for the council to play in earnings in Herefordshire
enabling growth in the number of
visitors to the county, especially • Grow jobs and keep
for those encouraged to stay for unemployment rates low in all ECONOMY
more than a day. areas of the county
• Low unemployment levels
As a council, we continue to be • Improve educational attainment 2.4%
successful in attracting grants and widen further and higher
to support the economic and education opportunities • In 2018, the total number of
community development of businesses in Herefordshire
the county. We will work with • Increase the number of short was 10,130
partners to maximise the Stronger distance trips being done by
Towns Fund grant (up to £25m) sustainable modes of travel • 90% of businesses in
awarded to Hereford and to – walking, cycling, public Herefordshire are "micro"
support investment programmes transport enterprises employing nine or
across all our market towns. An fewer employees
example of which is the significant • Increase road safety in the
town centre enhancement county and improve the overall • 24% of the population are
programme for Leominster condition of the road network aged 65 or over
following the town council’s
successful application for Heritage • Increase local wealth creation
Action Zone funding (up to £2m) (measured by the Gross Values
which is being matched with Added per head of population)
county funds.
• Extend superfast and ultrafast
We will work to enable parish broadband network
councils to act quickly to
undertake routine maintenance
work to improve and maintain
the condition of the local road
and footpath networks. We will
prioritise the maintenance of our
existing transport networks and
through our approach to locality
working we will ensure that this
local delivery complements our
countywide programme of works.How did we do against the previous Corporate plan (2016-2020)? Enable residents to live safe, healthy and independent lives • Creation of online Wellbeing Information and Signposting for Herefordshire (WISH) website providing a single point of information for residents and professionals on community groups and events. Activity continues to increase • Implementation of a new way of working to support people with adult social care needs. This focusses on client’s strengths, rather than the things they can’t do and looks to connect people with needs to their communities • Client satisfaction indicators regarding care and support services is one of the highest nationally • Delivered balanced budget for adult social care whilst many councils have struggled to managed demand in this area • Creation of new “Homefirst” service to prevent hospital admission or support hospital discharge. This new service has been rated “good” by the Care Quality Commission • Enabled people to access services online through major increase in the superfast and ultrafast broadband network, provide digital training and more council services provided digitally 25 Keep children and young people safe and give them a great start in life • Early help services have been increased since 2018; this service now works with more than 1,000 children at a point in time • Children leaving care of the council will not be required to pay council tax until they reach 25 • Schools in Herefordshire’s continue to perform well, with the majority of metrics showing performance in the top quartile nationally • Enhanced children's social worker offer to help recruit and retain our workforce in this critical area • School improvements at a number of sites throughout the county • Investment in children centres operated by the council
How did we do against the previous Corporate Plan (2016-2020)? Support the growth of our economy • 90% of premises in the county able to access a superfast and ultrafast broadband service with investment secured for this to increase and a bespoke programme to connect business with advice and training • An extra £20 million of works targeted to fix roads in the greatest need of repair and with the greatest value to our local communities. Major investment over two years (2014/15 and 2015/16) • City link road has been delivered opening up a large amount of land for development • More than 14,000 streetlights now near 100% on LED, saving money and reducing light pollution • New Cyber Security Centre now under construction (due to complete summer 2020) • Acquisition of key sites to support the development of higher educational facilities in Herefordshire • Development of Yazor Brook flood alleviation scheme to reduce flood risk and enable growth • Expansion of Hereford Enterprise Zone (Skylon Park) Secure better services, quality of life and value for money • Delivered financial savings in excess of £30 million over four year period • Continual development of the information and services available online; new council website launched in 2017 and awarded full star rating for its first two years • Making the most of council libraries as shared sites with children centres and community facilities
Useful information
Herefordshire Council
www.herefordshire.gov.uk
Facts and figures on Herefordshire
www.understanding.herefordshire.gov.uk
Wellbeing Information and Signposting for
Herefordshire
www.wisherefordshire.org
27You can contact Herefordshire Council in the following ways:
Online by visiting our mobile-friendly Write to us at:
website: Herefordshire Council, Plough Lane,
www.herefordshire.gov.uk Hereford, HR4 0LE
On social media: @hfdscouncil By calling: 01432 260000
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If you would like help to understand this document, or would like it in
another format or language, please call the Communications Team on
01432 260006 or email: communications@herefordshire.gov.uk
All information was correct at the time of publication: January 2020
Photographs courtesy of Hereford College of Arts studentsYou can also read
