The police cordoned off the new skate park at Newton Farm last night and have been in attendance overnight. 

A young teenage lad was injured last night from an apparent fall with injuries to his face. Scenes of crimes officers (soco) are there today, so this is not looking good.

WARNING TO WEST MERCIA CONSTABULARY

I'm going to post on here (as it has more clout) if I do not get an answer to my email from Southside Cops. Needless to say my 'stop' left me feeling very uneasy, and I was guilt free!

I will await a response from Southsides finest before I take this any further.

I love this, first day this year of any real heat and we are being given government advice on how to protect ourselves from this unusual summer weather.

Herefordshire may experience “heatwave” conditions over the next few days, according to Met Office forecasts. The Met Office declared a Level 2 heat-health alert this morning – so there is a high chance that temperatures will be high for the next two days and overnight.

 

Top advice for being sun safe:

 

try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm

wear UV sunglasses, preferably wraparound, to reduce UV exposure to the eyes, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen of at least SPF15 with UVA protection, wear a hat and light scarf. Wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes. This should minimise the risk of sunburn.

drink lots of cool drinks and when travelling ensure you take water with you

look out for others especially vulnerable groups such as older people, young children and babies and those with serious illnesses

never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially older people, infants, young children or animals

Remember that it can get uncomfortably hot indoors too. Try to keep your bedroom and living space cool, by closing the curtains on windows that face the sun and opening your windows at cooler times of the day and overnight when you can. Turn off non-essential lights and electrical items as these generate heat.

 

While many people enjoy hot weather, high temperatures can be dangerous, especially for people who may be particularly vulnerable such as older people, young children and those with serious illnesses.

 

Everyone can enjoy the sun safely by keeping out of the heat at the hottest time of the day, avoiding sunburn and staying hydrated with plenty of cool drinks. The older people and those with long-term illnesses are particularly vulnerable to the effects of very hot weather, so it’s important to look out for them and keep indoor areas as cool as possible.

 

Please visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/heatwave for further advice on keeping cool

Anyone remember Wilson's hardware store at the Oval? I have been talking with Mr Wilson's daughter Sarah who kindly allowed me to use these wonderful photographs.

I notice that there is signage up suggesting that a new off licence store will be opening in September... 

Promotion for the Jess

http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14626006.Hereford_MP_is_new_business_minister/?ref=mr&lp=2

This is just a reminder ,thank you.

The photo of the four little hogs shows the hoglets rescued from The Oval ,Newtin Farm. Both they and Mum are doing very well .

As an aside Mrs Ubique has never ,in the 10 years she has been rescuing hedgehogs had so many hoglets weighing under 200 gms. ( now had 20 ) plus 6 adults.

See FB Hollycroft Hedgehog Rescue

Our elite 22nd SAS Regiment is marking it's 75th anniversary this weekend with celebrations at the camp including a flypast and a visit from Prince Harry.  

Thank you to all the soldiers past and present and here is to the next 75 years! 

Just seen a helicopter/plane pass over the city tonight possibly heading for Credenhill. It looked like one of these. First time I have seen this sort of aircraft in the area.

Fire at industrial unit Rotherwas Ind Est Hereford. Dampening down and cutting away in progress by the Fire Brigade 

Photo courtesy Adrian Lloyd (fire fighter)

Herefordshire voted to leave.

1916 ~ 2016

The Battle of the Somme was fought at such terrible cost that it has come to symbolise the tragic futility of the First World War. Its first day of conflict remains the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army and it was felt deeply at home.

Nice to see the football team joining in!

Noticed tonight that the large willow tree on the roundabout has been chopped down and all that remains is a pile of logs. Anyone know why? This is in a conservation area isn't it? Could the Highways Agency be making plans to alter the road layout and add more traffic lights? With the high traffic pollution in this area the tree would have been absorbing much of it and doing a lot of good.

Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet are dropping like flies, An emotional Angela Eagle led the latest exodus today, shortly after left-wingers Owen Smith, the work and pensions spokesman, and Lisa Nandy at shadow energy chucked in the towel, having failed to persuade their leader to step down.

Jim asked me if I would post the responses to his questions. 

Cllr Kenyon Contract Management queries

1.Strategic partnering board "who sits on it"? No cllrs

This detail is in the contract data

Director EEC (Geoff Hughes)

Assistant Director PBC (Richard Ball)

The Service Manager (Clive Hall)

No Cllrs sit on the board, as the management of the contract is not a political function.

2.Need site of the annual plan for this year

A presentation to members is planned, also a report to Cabinet member / director re internal governance

There is no annual plan for this year (2013-14); due to the contract starting part-way through the year. The plan is being developed for the future in accordance with the contract.

3.Clause 31 ten year extension seems stacked in BB favour who sets the performance acceptability and can that be adjusted during the length of the contract.

These clauses allow for a ‘rolling extension’ to be awarded in return for continued acceptable performance. They are designed to keep the provider incentivised throughout the contract term, as opposed to ‘winning all extension in one chunk’. The term can be reduced in performance not maintained. The Employer also has options to reward more, and might do so to:

• Give time to re-procure;
• In return for an investment (fleet, roads);
• Some other reason that is not foreseen at this time.

4.So far have there been any dispute's with BB and if so how many and what cost.

No disputes, but early warning and compensation events have/are being processed.

To date 16 Early Warnings and 22 Compensation Events have been raised by both parties.

Of these, 11 Early Warnings have been closed, or are in the process of closure at a value of £40,163, which is made up of increased costs for commissioned design and build works, and 5 remain live.

Of the 22 Compensation Events, 3 have been cancelled, 10 have been accepted and closed, at a valuie of £182,480 and 9 remain live.

5.Direct fee % is 9.83% Sub-contracted fee is 9.83% unless open book 25% less or less £10,000 or less spent in one year net of vat (my info) Management agent  fee 2.60% (my info)

The fee is 9.83% the application of this through the various payment mechanisms should be understood. The payment mechanisms are, lump sum (a tendered price, adjusted for the following years, in each year’s annual plan), target cost (pain/gain share, this incentivises improvement), Cost reimbursable (the cost +fee). With Lump sum the risk transfers to the Provider, but the Employer will pay for the risk in the lump sum. With target cost the risk is shared, this is a healthy partnership approach. In cost reimbursable the risk is retained by the Employer, this works well for ‘events’ that are difficult to quantify prior to them happening, such as the response to severe weather.

6.What is enhanced third party margin 0% up to £25,000 then  50%

A way of HC benefiting in enhanced third party work (work for other clients) and the way that this will spread their business overheads.

7."Good industry practice" how do we bench mark against who?

There are various benchmarks, nationally, regionally and locally. Some to be developed further, for example with other BBLP contracts.

8.Performance Indicators "Need to See" agreed list (seen)

Note strategic and operational indicators, purpose of each and the fact that these are not the only measures used in the delivery of service.

Strategic measures are used to help determine future contract extension. First measurement period 2014/15 – 2015/16.

Operational measures are used to determine payment of 25% of their fee percentage each month.

Other performance measures are being developed by BBLP using their asset management system (Confirm) which is accessible to the Contract Management Team.

9.Recognised sub-contractors where is the list and how do local business's get on that list.

Sub-contractors used by the previous provider formed the basis of the BBLP list; further suppliers have been added to the list since the 1st September. BBLP have consulted the Hereford and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce on the potential of the local supply chain and will also be holding a supplier open day in March. 

Subcontractors are required to go through a stringent vetting process before they can be engaged on the Herefordshire Contract and BBLP are actively providing assistance to some of the smaller subcontractors to get through this process. The Councils Contract management have full visibility of BBLP approved sub-contractor list.

10.With new and existing  staff what responsibility would Herefordshire council have regarding pensions etc

TUPE applies to transferring employees, see schedule 7 for detail . This is a complex area. BBLP have admitted body status, but broadly comparable pension schemes can be provided. Note pension fund shortfalls on termination fall to the Employer; this is equitable way of dealing with this risk.

David Cameron has resigned as Prime minister

Long Shot!

We found a dog today on Barton Road - he is now safe - contact me for help.

Had a red collar with an 01443 contact telephone number.