Purpose

To confirm the Public Realm Services Annual
Plan for 2026/27.

Decision

Recommendation(s)

(a)  
the Public Realm Services Annual Plan is approved as the basis for
service delivery to 31 May 2026 by Balfour Beatty Living Places,
within the capital and revenue budgets as detailed in Tables 1 and
2 and;

(b)  
the fees and charges as set out in Appendix A of this report are
approved and effective from 1 April 2026 and;

(c)  
the Major Contracts Programme Director is authorised to agree,
through the new Public Realm Contract governance arrangements, the
Annual Plan as the basis for service delivery from 1 June 2026,
within the capital and revenue budgets as detailed in Tables 1 and
2 and;

(d)  
the Major Contracts Programme Director is authorised to spend the
Department for Transport Highway Maintenance Block (Baseline) and
Highway Maintenance Block (Incentive) Local Highways Maintenance
Funding Allocations for 2026/27 of £23.697m in accordance
with the Highway Asset Management Plan and Highway Maintenance Plan
and;

(e)  
the Major Contracts Programme Director be authorised to spend the
Highways Infrastructure Investment, Resurfacing Herefordshire
Highways, Public Rights of Way, Ash Die Back and Play Area
Investment Council capital budget of £13.985m as detailed in
Table 1 and;

(f)   
the Major Contracts Programme Director be authorised to agree,
through the Public Realm Contract governance arrangements, final
adjustments to the entire 2026/27 programme, as set out in Appendix
B, and budget allocation and any in-year adjustments to the plans,
within the overall budget; including the Council capital budget
and;

(g)  
the Major Contracts Programme Director be authorised to spend up to
£945,000 from ear marked reserves to support the delivery of
the Parish Lengthsman Scheme, Parish Public Rights of Way Scheme
and Parish Drainage Scheme as detailed in paragraphs 14 and 15
and;

(h)  
the Major Contracts Programme Director be authorised to spend up to
£290,678 from the commuted sum reserve to fund the
maintenance of public realm assets as detailed in paragraph 17.

Alternative options considered

1.    
Not to approve the programme and delivery arrangements. This is not
recommended as operating without approved delivery arrangements may
put the management of budgets, performance and contract management
arrangements at risk.

2.    
If in-year changes to the service as detailed in this annual plan
are required, then these can be best managed from the baseline
position established in the annual plan, through the change
management processes that are in the Public Realm Services
contracts and managed through the council’s Highways
team.

3.    
To approve alternative delivery arrangements for 2026/27; this
option is not recommended as the development of the delivery plans
have gone through a robust process with Balfour Beatty Living
Places and the council’s client team to ensure effective
prioritisation and asset management have been applied within the
overall budgets available.