Decisions

Many customers choose to use credit or debit cards in our car parks. We require a third party to process these transactions for us, taking a small fee for every transaction. We intend to undertake a full procurement for a card payment merchant services in 2026. In the meantime we are entering into a short term framework for a maximum of 12 months to continue providing this service whilst we prepare a procurement process.

Option 2 has been discounted. A mini competition was undertaken in the Summer of 2025 indicating very few providers in the market for this service. We need to ensure customers are still able to use credit/ debit cards for payments in the short term. Entering into a temporary framework agreement enables us to start the procurement process whilst still having a service in place. We expect to be able to complete this in late 2026.
Option 3 has been discounted as we have an incumbent provider with no agreement in place. This puts us at risk of uncontrolled increases in transactions fees or withdrawal of service.

At its meeting of 14th May 2025, Council allocated £141,828 of UKSPF/RPF resources for business support and infrastructure projects. At the same meeting, Council delegated decisions on the use of these resources to the Director for Communities (having since assumed the responsibilities of the former Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy for economic development), acting in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Growth.
A series of projects funded from the allocation for business support and infrastructure projects are now being supported based on consultation with partners.
These projects all meet the criteria of the funder and the aims of the economic development team of supporting businesses and enhancing the visitor economy.

To allocate UKSPF/RPF funding for business support and infrastructure projects as follows:
•£12,500 for the arts trail in Hertford and Ware bench painting project, consisting of:
• £5,500 to Jade Richardson for project management, works and materials
• £1,000 to Becky Harley for works
• £1,000 to Donna Reeves for works
• £1,000 to Livia Vilnite for works
• £1,000 to Miranda Jennings for works
• £1,000 to Rebekah Whitehead for works
• £1,000 to Victoria Palastanga for works
• £1,000 to be allocated.
•£7,500 to Meredith Marketing for creating visitor economy content
•£7,478.40 to BEAM for hosting the Generation Hertford careers fair
•£5,000 to support community group, Buntingford Men’s Shed, establish the men’s shed in the town
•£4,440 to Herts & Essex School for hosting the Generation Bishop’s Stortford careers fair
•£12,500 for the arts trail in Hertford and Ware bench painting project, consisting of:
•£5,500 to Jade Richardson for project management, works and materials
•£1,000 to Becky Harley for works
•£1,000 to Donna Reeves for works
•£1,000 to Livia Vilnite for works
•£1,000 to Miranda Jennings for works
•£1,000 to Rebekah Whitehead for works
•£1,000 to Victoria Palastanga for works
•£1,000 to be allocated.