County Plan 2020-2024

County plan 2020-2024

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lity sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability connectivity connectivity connectivity connectivity connectivity connectivity connectivity connectivity connectivity connectivit wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing wellbeing sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainabi

    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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sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainabi 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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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

11 What 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

WE WILL WE WILL WE WILL

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 care

15 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, including The county’s geology and soils throw things away. The council shape a highly fertile landscape for will use its community initiatives, quality food and drink production, partnerships and our waste particularly on low-lying land. contracts to make it easier for Key Facts 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 to Ambition: 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 besides care 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 the coming 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 work

Success measures Key Facts • Improve Herefordshire’s • Improve community resilience 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 status

Ambition: 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 to The council will make a positive commitment to invest in the Success support and development of tourism and our valuable visitor measures Key Facts economy. We are convinced that 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

27 You 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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sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainability sustainabi 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: [email protected]

All information was correct at the time of publication: January 2020 Photographs courtesy of Hereford College of Arts students