New contract approved to deliver public realm services in Herefordshire

[Hereford Voice]

Herefordshire Council has approved a new contract and selected a preferred provider to deliver public realm services across the county, to replace the current arrangement with Balfour Beatty.

The services include the maintenance of roads, roadsides, green areas and public spaces, street cleansing, highway drainage, street lighting and winter gritting.

The selected provider can be named in January after a mandatory legal standstill period comes to an end, with the new contract set to begin in June next year (2026).

This will see the council take back day-to-day control of public realm services with the contractor being paid pre-agreed rates for each item of work, focussing on high quality, value for money services. 

Councillor Dan Hurcomb, Cabinet Member for, Local Engagement and Community Resilience, said: “Public realm services are a big part of everyday life, from safe, well-maintained roads and clean streets to green spaces we can all enjoy. 

“I’m delighted that Cabinet has agreed the new contract, this approach gives the council more control over how money is spent and focuses on delivering real improvements that people will notice. 

“It’s about making things simpler, more transparent, and ensuring we get the best value for Herefordshire.”

The selected provider will also deliver ‘social value commitments’ as part of the contract. These include local employment and supply chain development, helping to strengthen Herefordshire’s economy.

Town and parish councils will also have the chance to commission extra services if they want to, giving communities more say in what matters most to them.

The council will sign the contract after the legal standstill period in January (2026) then start getting everything ready for the handover. 

Until then, the council and Balfour Beatty Living Places will continue to work together to deliver public realm services under the current contract and are committed to supporting a seamless transition.

For more details you can read the full cabinet paper here.