To agree an increase in value offered as an investment to Wye Valley Trust to enable the development of an Education Centre at Hereford County Hospital. To further explore options around a strategic investment partnership and bring a business case back to cabinet for approval in Autumn 2024. Wye Valley Trust produced a cost plan in July 2023 which has been uplifted to reflect an estimate of price increases applicable to the scheme in order to arrive at a realistic assessment of total costs. Based on these costs at this point in the process WVT have anticipated they would require a loan of £15million from Herefordshire Council.

That:

a)     Cabinet to note progress on the development of the business case to enable the development of an Education Centre at Hereford County Hospital and the potential increase of the capital investment up to £15million subject to final approval of business case and funding.

a)

1. Do nothing option (Business As Usual) – If Herefordshire Council decide not to loan Wye Valley Trust the funds required to build the Education Centre it would delay the project considerably whilst the Trust sourced other funding opportunities.