To present the outcome of the Review of Potential Locations (Appendix 2) for the Library and Learning Centre and to recommend a preferred option for consideration by Cabinet.

Cabinet Members considered a report setting out the outcome of the Review of Potential Locations for the Library and Learning Centre and to recommend a preferred option.

The Cabinet Member for Community Services and Assets introduced the report and highlighted a review had been undertaken of 12 possible sites which had been shortlisted to the Shirehall and Maylord Orchards for a more extensive review.

As part of the review a range of key stakeholders and partners including the Stronger Towns Board (STB), the Cultural Partnership and Joint Action for Herefordshire Libraries had been engaged.

It was noted that the STB had said that should Cabinet agree to take the Shirehall forward as the preferred location they would be willing to consider a revised full business case proposal. The Cabinet Member acknowledged that this was not made clearer in the responses given to public questions.

Whilst the report recognises that both locations had merit, the Shirehall offered a greater potential in creating the original vision of the project to establish a cultural hub. It would bring a prominent heritage asset back into use, it complements the world class museum due to be developed on the other side of the city and would deliver a much better overall outcome for supporting the regeneration of the city centre.

Having taken into consideration the views of the Political Group Consultation (PGC) and the recommendations from the CCSC, the Cabinet Member put forward an amendment to the recommendations set out in the original report.

b)    The decision to relocate the Library and Learning Centre to the Maylord Orchards site is paused during the development of a Full Business Case for the Shirehall proposal;

Cabinet Members discussed the report and it was noted that:

·       The scrutiny recommendation was partially accepted and the wording of the proposal to be put to the Cabinet amended to pause. However the Cabinet asserted that they wished to indicate their preferred location for the new library, acknowledging that this preference is subject to the outcome of the full business case for the Shirehall. Cabinet Members accepted all other recommendations made by CCSC.

·       By ‘pausing’ rather than cancelling, the project would remain on the capital programme but no further work would be undertaken. Once the full business case for the Shirehall was completed. Cabinet could recommend the necessary change to the capital programme if they wished to proceed with the Shirehall option.

Group leaders gave the views of their groups. There was support for exploring the Shirehall as an alternative location for the library project but concerns were raised about the accessibility and acoustics of the building and whether it could be made welcoming and energy efficient. Concerns were raised about the impact of pausing the Maylord Orchards project at a late stage of development and whether the report presented to Cabinet contained the evidence base on which to make a decision to select the Shirehall as the preferred location.

In response to the points and queries raised Cabinet Members confirmed that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17

To undertake pre-decision scrutiny of the Cabinet’s proposed decision to select a preferred new location of the Hereford Library and Learning Centre.

The Chairperson advised that the purpose of this item was to undertake pre-decision scrutiny ahead of the Cabinet meeting on 20 July 2023 and drew attention to the council’s ‘Principles of decision making’.

The Cabinet Member Community Services and Assets opening comments included: officers were commended for the team effort on this matter; there was an opportunity to bring the Shirehall back into use; and there was the potential for the library and learning centre and for the museum and art gallery to become world-class facilities.

The key topics and lines of questioning are summarised below.

Consultation

1.           The consultation undertaken with the Herefordshire Cultural Partnership was discussed.  The Vice-Chairperson expressed a concern about the potential impact of the creation of a performance space at the Shirehall on the business models of existing commercial operators.  The Director of Strategy and Performance outlined the information provided to the Herefordshire Cultural Partnership and advised that stakeholders would be engaged further as part of the development of the full business case.

2.           On the perceived benefits of the Shirehall location, the Cabinet Member Community Services and Assets commented that the Shirehall was an iconic building and could provide around twice the space.  The Chairperson highlighted an inconsistency between the space figures referenced and those provided in the published report (674.3 square metres for Maylord Orchards and 861.98 square metres for the Shirehall).  The Service Director Economy and Growth explained that the disparity related to the atrium space at Maylord Orchards.

3.           In terms of the learning from the consultation with stakeholders, the Cabinet Member Community Services and Assets advised that the chairperson of the library user group had expressed a preference for the Shirehall location.  The Director of Strategy and Performance said that positive comments had been made by other stakeholders about the re-use of the historic building.

4.           The Chairperson considered it surprising that no background papers had been identified in the covering report given the apparent reliance on other information in the preparation of the papers.

Maylord Orchards

5.           Questioned on the intended plan for Maylord Orchards, the Cabinet Member Community Services and Assets commented on the ongoing use of a unit by the Department for Work and Pensions and on the demand for retail and commercial space.  The Chairperson questioned the statement that ‘Our appointed agents inform us however, that we are performing very well against the national picture’ (paragraph 11, agenda page 32) given the number of units that were currently vacant.  The Cabinet Member Community Services and Assets commented on expressions of interest received in recent months.  The Cabinet Member Economy and Growth accepted that the council needed to do better in terms of managing the commercial space.  The Service Director Economy and Growth commented that the retail sector had been more resilient than projections had indicated, and the strategic review had identified that the bringing the Shirehall back into use would generate an increase in footfall.

6.           In response to a question, the Cabinet Member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7