Please see below a copy of a letter and map sent to all residents of Harp Lane, St Andrews Close and Valley View regarding the impending traffic speed survey.
Vicky Hancock
Have your say: Council launches 2021/22 budget consultation
Consultation will hear views on the proposed budget, Council Tax and supporting vulnerable residents
Herefordshire Council is consulting on its budget, Council Tax and savings plan for 2021/22.
The council is consulting on three areas:
The council budget and savings programme
Council Tax rates and the Social Care precept
Support for vulnerable residents
Council budget and savings programme
Herefordshire Council is predicting a worst case scenario budget gap of up to £16 million in the next financial year. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused uncertainty which has made it difficult to anticipate how much funding the council will receive from central government, Council Tax and Business Rates in future years.
The council must prepare to make savings in some services so that a balanced budget can be delivered for 2021/2022.
Council Tax rates and the Social Care precept
The budget assumes a total Council Tax increase of 4.99%. This would be made from an increase of 1.99% to core Council Tax which would contribute £2.2 million towards council services. A social care precept of 3% would contribute a further £3.2 million to be used on social care services.
Support for vulnerable residents
The council is consulting on two ideas to support vulnerable residents. Firstly, whether residents would be willing to pay more Council Tax if the increase helped residents on low incomes. Secondly, whether residents would support the introduction of a voluntary Community Contribution Scheme to provide additional funding to support vulnerable residents.
Councillor Liz Harvey, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services said:
“The Covid-19 pandemic has shown just how important council services are to our communities, but it has also had a significant impact on how we balance our budget. We have had to make sensible assumptions for next year’s proposed budget because decisions about the level of central government funding have been delayed.
“We are committed to balancing our budget while continuing to efficiently deliver the services that our communities need and rely on. This is why it is more important than ever to share your views on our proposed budget. We want you to tell us how to get value for every pound we spend, and how we can continue to support all residents and the vulnerable in our community as we plan for the future.”
This is your chance to comment on the council’s priorities, Council Tax and proposals to support vulnerable residents. Have your say by midnight Friday 8 January 2021. The received feedback will be considered by full Council on 12 February 2021.
Cabinet identifies its preferred approach for travel and transport in Hereford
Following discussion on future options for travel and transport in Hereford at a meeting on Thursday 3 December, Cabinet members have decided that their preferred approach includes the introduction of measures that provide an alternative to car use including improved facilities for walkers and cyclists and enhanced bus services, along with an additional river crossing to the east of the City.
Cabinet has also decided to recommend to full council that the Hereford western bypass and Southern link road projects are stopped.
The recommendations follow the outcome of a detailed review of the transport strategy for Hereford. The Hereford Transport Strategy Review, which was launched in January 2020, set out to better understand existing and future transport conditions in the City, and to assess alternative options particularly in light of the declared climate emergency and changes to national transport policy.
Cabinet decided its preferred approach for Hereford would include:
- Active travel measures: Walking and cycling, safer routes to school, low traffic neighbourhoods, behavioural change campaign, transport sharing schemes and mobility hubs
- Bus improvements: electrification of the urban bus fleet, school bus services, demand responsive bus services and bus priority measures
- Car park management proposals
- Eastern link river crossing from Rotherwas to Ledbury Road
Further reports are due to be considered by cabinet and full council in January 2021.
The Cabinet meeting papers are available on the council website: http://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk
County moves step closer to new affordable housing
Herefordshire Council has taken a major step towards delivering more affordable housing in the County following a decision by Cabinet (Thursday 26 November 2020).
Addressing the shortage of affordable housing in the County is a key priority in the council’s County Plan 2020–24, with the ambition to provide 1,000 affordable housing units over the next four years.
Compared to neighbouring counties Herefordshire has relatively low availability of housing that is genuinely affordable to both rent and buy given local earnings. In a developer-led market the focus is on building the most profitable housing types on the most profitable sites, leading to fewer smaller and affordable new homes. This is placing additional pressure on house prices and the impact is that many residents, especially younger people, are unable to remain living in their local communities. There is also a shortage of homes suitable for Herefordshire’s vulnerable residents and growing population of older people.
Cllr Ange Tyler, Cabinet Member housing, regulatory services, and community safety explains: “It is a key priority for this Cabinet in addressing the imbalance of providing genuinely affordable homes for local people to stay connected with families and to remain in Herefordshire. Building high quality homes and supporting residents to afford living in their homes to meet their needs will inevitably create healthy and integrated communities.
“By influencing delivery of affordable housing the council can control what is ultimately built. This means we can ensure we develop the types of housing we need in the county that also meet the highest environmental standards in line with our climate change aspirations.”
Cabinet today agreed that the housing will be delivered through a process whereby the council build and retain the affordable units initially under the General Fund and then establish a Housing Revenue Account at a later date. This will allow the council to retain full control over what is developed and when and how the units are managed and maintained.
Cllr Tyler added: “While our decision today is an important early step in realising our ambitions for affordable housing in the county we still have some way to go, with further decisions to be made around the types of development and funding. These details will be developed, discussed and agreed over the coming months.”
Herefordshire will enter Tier 2: High Alert from 00.01am on Wednesday 2 December
Herefordshire Council is urging residents to continue to follow public health advice and stay safe after the government announced the return of three-tier regional measures in December.
From 00.01am on Wednesday 2 December 2020, lockdown restrictions in England will be replaced with a three-tier system. Across all tiers, everyone:
- must wear a face covering in most indoor public settings, unless they have an exemption
- should follow the rules on meeting others safely
- should attend school or college as normal, unless they are self-isolating. Schools, universities, colleges and early years settings remain open in all tiers
- should walk or cycle where possible, plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes when travelling
There are 3 tiers for local restrictions:
- Tier 1: Medium alert
- Tier 2: High alert
- Tier 3: Very High alert
Herefordshire has been placed into Tier 2: High Alert as it has been identified as an area with a higher or rapidly rising level of infection. The following Tier 2 restrictions will be in place:
- you must not socialise with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place
- you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 people outside, including in a garden or a public space – this is called the ‘rule of 6’
- businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubs
- pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals with last orders at 10pm
- public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
- places of worship remain open but you must not socialise with people from outside of your household or support bubble while you are indoors there, unless a legal exemption applies
- weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies
- organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue
- organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes will only be permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with). There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place with larger groups mixing
- you can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible
Karen Wright, Herefordshire’s Director of Public Health said:
“I want to say thank you to our residents and businesses who have continued to follow national guidance so we can limit virus transmission in our communities. As we leave lockdown, it is vital that we continue to follow the Tier 2: High Alert guidance for Herefordshire.
“Every social interaction is an opportunity for the virus to spread. We must continue to wash our hands, wear a face covering in indoor settings and limit the number of people we meet outside of our household and support bubble. By doing this, we can protect our friends, families and communities.”
Visit the Herefordshire Council website for the latest Covid-19 advice and information.
Census 2021
The Office for National Statistics is looking for people to help deliver the 2021 Census.
Households across Herefordshire will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021.
The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941.
It will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets.
“A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed,” Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics, said.
“This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, schools and new transport routes. That’s why it is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them.”
Census day will be on March 21, but households across the country will receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March.
The office for National Statistics are looking for local people to work on the census so check out the jobs available now at www.censusjobs.co.uk
Covid-19 test centre opens in Leominster
Better access to covid testing in north Herefordshire
A mobile Covid-19 testing centre for north Herefordshire is now operating on the Broad Street Car Park in Leominster.
This is the second mobile testing centre to be set up in county within the past three weeks – taking the total number of sites countywide to three. The other two sites are in Hereford and Ross-on-Wye.
This latest unit makes it more convenient for residents from north Herefordshire to get a covid test close to home. The unit opened today (Nov 13) and will offer tests from 10.30am until 3.30pm each day and will be in place for the foreseeable future. It is being provided for Herefordshire Council by the regional NHS test and trace team.
Herefordshire Council’s Director of Public Health Karen Wright said: “It has always been our aim to set up more testing sites in Herefordshire to make it easier for our residents to get tested close to home.
“We are delighted to see this plan becoming a reality and are confident it will help us to carry out local testing, tracking and tracing to help control the spread of the virus.
“We cannot do this alone. The successful control of Covid-19 here depends on the actions of everyone in Herefordshire. Cases of Covid-19 in the county are rising significantly and could overwhelm our community, including local health and care services.
“Nobody in Herefordshire can afford to relax. It is essential people get tested if they have symptoms and also that they self-isolate immediately.”
Anyone experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 – a high temperature, persistent cough, loss or change in sense of taste or smell – should immediately book a test by ringing NHS 119 or visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. They should self-isolate (not leave their home) while waiting for their test and until they have the result. Anyone who cannot get to a test centre can order a home test kit.
Hands, Face, Space. We would like to remind people to wash their hands regularly, use a face covering (when visiting enclosed spaces like shops and businesses) and keep their distance (at least 2 metres) to help protect themselves and others.
Stay Safe Herefordshire
‘Love Local’ during lockdown
Herefordshire Council has launched an interactive map to promote local businesses offering delivery or click and collect services during lockdown.
All non-essential retailers have closed until 2 December in line with national lockdown measures. Now shoppers can use the map to find local retailers which provide a delivery or ‘click and collect’ service. The map also shows the location of local food banks.
Local businesses and community groups can add their information to the map free of charge.
Councillor Ellie Chowns, Cabinet Member for Environment, Economy and Skills said:
“As we head towards Christmas, our first thought when gift shopping should be to shop local and make sure the money we spend stays in the local economy. The ‘Love Local’ interactive map is a great way to shop safely by using delivery or click and collect service from local business. I urge everyone in Herefordshire to support our local retailers, businesses and community groups through lockdown so the high street can thrive into the future.”
Search the ‘Love Local’ map on the Herefordshire Council website at herefordshire.gov.uk/lovelocal