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 a full business case would be prepared for the Shirehall and that this would be compared with the existing Maylord Orchards option. The Leader of the Council highlighted that the Shirehall is a listed building and confirmed that decarbonisation would be considered and opportunities to develop green space in the vicinity of the Shirehall would be investigated.

Concluding the discussion, the Leader of the Council noted the comments made, but restated the Cabinet’s preference of the Shirehall as the preferred option subject to a full business case being undertaken which demonstrates that the funding is in place and that other areas of concern are addressed.

It was unanimously resolved that:

a)    Cabinet agree that following the strategic review conducted the preferred new location of the Library and Learning Centre is the Shirehall;

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;

c)    A full business case for the Shirehall development to be progressed (to include the library works and all enabling works) and reported back to Cabinet in October 2023 where these will be considered against existing plans for Maylord Orchards; and

d)    Delegated authority is given to the Corporate Director for Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Services and Assets to take all operational decisions (within a to c above) and as is necessary to develop the Full Business Case, and to submit the Project Adjustment Request to the Hereford Towns Board and the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC), if required.