The purpose of this report is to approve the recommended option for now taking this forward and deliver Super Hubs in Herefordshire

That:

a) The recommended option to deliver Super Hubs in Herefordshire is agreed as set

out in the key considerations section of the report and supported by appendix 1

b) Authority is delegated to the Corporate Director of Community Wellbeing to take all

operational and budgetary decisions to implement the recommended option,

including but not limited to approval of the grant award criteria and the capital bid

process and procedure to be applied utilising the approved budget following

consultation with the Cabinet member for Health and Adult Wellbeing.

1. Continue with the original scope as outlined in the business case that was developed in 2019 and agreed at full council in February 2020. Due to the pandemic and other driving factors, the landscape has changed since the original business case was written and some of the priorities and focus for the project have moved on. The impacts of Covid-19 and other economic factors also now need to be considered in defining the vision and drivers for Super Hubs in Herefordshire. Our partnership with health colleagues, particularly around the Integrated Care System (ICS); and with the community and voluntary sector has also grown considerably over the last two years resulting in greater opportunities for collaboration. Therefore, it was identified that the original business case needed to be reviewed and an options and feasibility study undertaken to identify the best option for delivering Super Hubs in Herefordshire. This report outlines the options that have been identified and reviewed and sets out the recommended option for delivery.

2. Option 1 - Do nothing – this is not recommended because the delivery of Super Hubs will support the council’s county plan ambitions by strengthening communities to ensure everyone lives well and safely together, it will help to ensure all children are healthy, safe and inspired to achieve and will protect and improve the lives of vulnerable people. It will do this by continuing to develop approaches through Talk Community that build on people’s strengths and the many resources they have in their local communities, such as our exceptionally strong voluntary sector.

3. Option 2 - Super Hubs delivered and run by the Council - This option would involve the Council leading and would primarily focus on the current Council owned and available assets in communities and explore how we could utilise them more effectively to integrate our own and partner services to bring them closer to our most vulnerable families and residents. This option is not recommended because this is not a true collaborative approach, community organisations could feel disengaged by this approach and communities are less likely to engage if this is council led.

4. Option 3 – Enhanced Talk Community hubs/ Super Hubs delivered and run by the

community - This is the option that is recommended as it would ensure that Hubs are

community led and driven; and would focus on individual community need and demand, allowing communities to design, own and deliver an enhanced Talk Community hub/ Super Hub which expands on the county’s current hub infrastructure and is appropriate and proportionate for their community. Capital funding would be allocated to communities based on a robust application and appraisal process. The Council’s role would be as an enabler and facilitator for the community and to support the development of placed based partnerships across the system. The development of a robust application process supports a platform for community led decision making.