To approve the approach to council-owned property and land disposals in support of the development of a university for Herefordshire.

THAT:

(a)         approval is given for one or more of the sites identified in this report, to be sold  or leased to the Herefordshire Tertiary Education Trust (HTET) subject to achieving market value;

(b)         authority is delegated to the director of economy, communities and corporate, to take all operational decisions necessary, following consultation with the section 151 officer and relevant Cabinet members, to implement the above recommendation, and,

(c)         authority be delegated to the cabinet member contracts and assets, following consultation with relevant cabinet members, to determine disposal to HTET of any additional sites on similar terms.

To continue to respond to the resolution passed by Council in 2014 to support the creation of a university in the county and the subsequent cabinet member decision to negotiate with HTET on options on land and buildings owned by the council and the Homes and Communities Agency.

The council could choose not to support the development of the university. This option is not recommended because of the economic and social benefits expected to accrue from the establishment of a university in the county.