Aylestone Voice

Good grief!! Was Paul Walker actually in Hereford?

https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents/s50117176/231703 - THREE COUNTIES HOTEL BELMONT HEREFORD HEREFORDSHIRE HR2 7BP.pdf

Can anybody throw any light on how Fire Precaution and Risk Assessment works in Council car parks require a budget of over £500000?

The report refers to a list of works but that does not seem to be available

https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents/s50115056/Decision to award contract and approve the expenditure of up to 526113.50 for Fire Precaution and.pdf

Well Bridgen is a bit of a bore. But it is not just YouTube or the government that is controlling what we choose to say online

If you post comments on Hereford Voice Facebook page which not in line with the owners views then you will get banned. But I guess that if I was running a business page I would quite happily ban someone who posted views I did not agree with

So Bridgen, just like I have, should suck it up and move on.

The Council have secured a total of some £25m from various sources but they need someone to deliver it. So this is what they do:-

"To award a contract to AECOM Limited to provide professional services support for the design and delivery of the LUF programme at a forecast cost of £765,539 and to assign £154,000 of the LUF Programme Contingency and Risk allowance to this contract."

Link - https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents/s50112338/Professional Services Support for the Hereford Levelling Up Funding LUF Programme.pdf

"Localised remodelling of office accommodation"

https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=9619

Whatever that means?

Just remove the photograph which nobody should want to see

This is what OFSTED concluded in their letter:-

Headline findings

Since the last inspection, when services were judged to be inadequate, leaders have recognised the scale of improvement and are in the process of implementing a wideranging improvement plan. Practice is starting to improve and positive progress is being made with some families. However, the quality and effectiveness of practice with children in need and those subject to a protection plan remain variable. The achievement of more consistently effective practice is hampered by several issues. These include continued high turnover of social workers, a legacy of some families with chronic long-term needs who have experienced poor practice over several years, closure of children’s cases to social care before sustained change has been achieved, leading to increased re-referrals, and management support which is not yet consistently effective. 

So is Daryyl going to comment on the last phrase?

Beggars belief!

Harrington is spending £1m+ in Widemarsh Street to get rid of low kerbs (imo not at all necessary) but this rubbish in St Owens Street has created almost identical low kerbs (although not of such a quality material) and he has no intention of fixing it. 

Hopefully May will bring change - but I am not holding my breath!

Utter waste of money. The existing design compiles with all the relevant guidance. Harrington just trying to pander with a few people and win a few votes

The last time I had unwanted knives I put them as advised by an Officer in a box in the reception at the Police Station?

Why are Halo not dealing with this?

https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents/s50105190/The future use and refurbishment of Shirehall.pdf

1 hour ago, twowheelsgood said:

This would be unbelievable, but under the present administration is par for the course. How does a short section of kerb amount to 690m2? And £1.3 million? That's £1884m2 - that's a new build house rate. It's all utter madness, and with our money. 

It seems that they propose raising the whole length of the carriageway from Cosy Club to High Town to the current level of the pavement

And 16 weeks of disruption to the businesses

OK it is using some grant cash but this could surely be better value used elsewhere?

I'm not sure if I should add the decision to increase costs in St Owens Street - but hey ho!

https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents/s50105171/Commissioning works to progress the St Owen Street cycle contraflow as part of the Hereford City Cen.pdf

Boom! £1,173,934.70

As I read the report below in 4) the existing arrangement complies with best practice.

The Council's solution is to spend £1.3 to solve an issue encountered by "some members of the public"

https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=9167

Just as bad as the above in my opinion are the useless two crossing points in St Owens Street. Who on earth is going to go out of their way to use them rather than just crossing the road where they want to.

But as TWG says the Council just carry on with just bland dismissals of the objections raised in the consultation.

Perhaps the Police should have a strong talk with the Council.  

The lack of maintenance along footpaths in the City is frankly shocking. You only have to look at the photo above - overhanging trees (which may well meet the green council's agenda) but which at night make the path even darker and unsafe. 

Elsewhere paths have significant overgrown vegetation (e.g. Union Walk) and where there are lights many of these are obscured by vegetation (e.g. Great Western Way just south of Sainsburys). 

All of this gives those people who want to cause harm places to hide and then prey on the vulnerable. It also encourages people not to use these paths due to fear.

But the Council, if even they offer warm words about this, don't care. As with the police statement we will get some oft repeated  crap that "we are working with our partners (the most overused wet excuse from public bodies) to ... etc" 

None of this is meant to excuse in any way those who carry out these crimes.

Are the Police requiring the Council to do something urgently about the state of paths in the City. The lighting is very poor and many paths have significant overgrown vegetation (I guess this bit meets the Council's green agenda)

For example Union Walk for one

How can people feel safe walking or cycling when the paths are dark and dingy with so many places where potential aggressors can hide

6 hours ago, twowheelsgood said:

After decades of neglect, I doubt £25k is going to make any dent at all, especially at BBLP's rates (and standards of work).

You missed this bit - An analysis is currently being commissioned to determine the best course of action to deal with this problem 

The consultants will probably take most if not all of the £25K

Just picked up this

https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=8860

So the Council may be planning some improvement

https://consultations.herefordshire.gov.uk/consultations/article/77/st-owen-street-cycle-contraflow-traffic-regulation-order-consultation-2022

It seems that money is not a problem for the Council

£54,000. for a room and desk booking system. This will be on top of the costs of the project team attending demonstrations.

Can nobody get a grip of this spending

https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/documents/s50099879/Award of contract for room and desk booking solution.pdf

https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200142/planning_services/planning_application_search/details?id=220524&search-term=registered in the last 7 days&search-service=recent&search-source=items&search-item=registered in the last 7 days

So that is a few grand to pay for a transport study which will confirm what the Council want to do anyway

When are the next elections?

Fantastic