To agree the principle of Herefordshire Council investing in a project where the council is in partnership with Wye Valley Trust to enable the development of an Education Centre at Hereford County Hospital, and to authorise the Director of Resources and Assurance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Growth to sign heads of Terms for both parties to agree the principles and to further explore options around a strategic investment partnership and bring a business case back to cabinet for approval in the Autumn of 2023.

Cabinet members considered a report to agree the principle of Herefordshire Council investing in a project where the council is in partnership with Wye Valley Trust. The Leader welcomed the Associate Director of Education / OD and Workforce Transformation, Wye Valley Trust who was in attendance at the meeting.

The Cabinet Member Economy and Growth introduced the report, the principal points were raised.

• One of Herefordshire Council’s priorities as set out in the County Plan 2020-2024 is to strengthen partnership working across Herefordshire and to become an enabler for economic growth by considering different ways of working with businesses/partners in Herefordshire. The proposed provision would provide an exemplar facility which would facilitate partnership working across patient and service user groups, charities, the voluntary sector, public service and the education sector. It would provide opportunities to partner with other organisations to create a vibrant learning space in Herefordshire.
• The cost of the overall project was in the region of £10.5m and there was a funding gap of approximately £6m. The Trust have approached the council to see if a strategic investment partnership could be looked at to enable the project to progress onto a capital build.
• The community would be able to use the centre with training and development on offer to Herefordshire residents, helping retain higher level skills within the County thus growing the economy.

Cabinet members discussed the report and it was noted that:

·       The heads of terms would be agreed on the basis that there are no revenue budget pressures on the council and the investment model would be prepared as part of that business case.

·       The arrangement would be revenue neutral and no risks had been identified at this early stage, as the proposal develops the risks would be assessed and addressed in the business case.

Group leaders generally welcomed the report, positivity was drawn to the reduction in patients needing to travel out of the County to specialist hospitals for treatment and skills development and investment in the Health Service.

 In response to queries it was noted that;

·       it was not known if any other hospitals in adjoining authorities had similar facilities but this would be researched.

·       a full business case would be conducted which would set out options for funding the project and include environmental impact assessments.

·       the cabinet were encouraged to take on board lessons learned from previous shared accommodation with health partners.

It was unanimously resolved that;

a)    authority is delegated to the Director of Resources and Assurance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Growth to sign Heads of Terms between Herefordshire Council and Wye Valley Trust for a partnership to enable development of an Education Centre at Hereford County Hospital;

b)    Cabinet authorises the development of an options appraisal to inform a full business case of an investment model most appropriate to allow the project to progress and bring that back to cabinet for further authorisation in autumn 2023; and

c)    authority is delegated to the Director of Resources and Assurance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Growth to take all operational decisions relating to the above recommendations.