Agenda item

To consider the report of the Interim Chief Executive, Leeds City Council which provides an update on the current position regarding proposals for new hospital provision in the city. The report highlights the strategic importance of delivering a new hospital programme in Leeds together with the wide-ranging benefits that would be realised as a result. Finally, the report seeks the Board’s support on this matter and on the proposed approach to Government.

The Interim Chief Executive of Leeds City Council submitted a report which provided an update on the current position regarding the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s (LTHT) proposals for new hospital provision in the city as part of the Government’s New Hospitals Programme. This would see existing hospital facilities on the Leeds General Infirmary site being replaced with new state of the art buildings and equipment. It was also noted that proposals included the creation of a Leeds Innovation Village as part of a wider Innovation Arc. The report reconfirmed the support which had been provided by a range of city partners and sought the Board’s endorsement of the proposed approach to Government for the swift delivery of the programme in Leeds.

The Executive Member introduced the report, highlighting that the Government’s New Hospitals Programme had been the subject of significant delays since its establishment in 2019 and that the current Secretary of State had commissioned a review of the programme in order put it on a sustainable footing. In advance of the Chancellor’s upcoming Budget statement, the Executive Member highlighted that the purpose of the report was to call on the Government, in partnership with colleagues from LTHT to accelerate funding to deliver the new hospital programme for Leeds. Thanks was extended to Councillor Lamb for his support, and also for the work being undertaken to facilitate a cross-party letter to Government on such matters. 

The Board welcomed Professor Phil Wood, Chief Executive, LTHT, and Jenny Ehrhardt, Director of Finance, LTHT, who were in attendance for the consideration of this item.

Professor Wood highlighted the readiness in Leeds to proceed with the programme, provided an update on the preparatory progress made to date and emphasised how this facility would not only be key to delivering state of the art health care for Leeds residents, but would have critical importance for the region and the north of England generally. Also noted was how the proposals were consistent with both local and national policy. Emphasis was placed upon the fact that LTHT’s estate backlog remained challenging and would continue to accelerate whilst the new facility was awaited. It was noted that the proposals for Leeds were part of an ambitious regeneration development that included the Innovation Village, which would have a significant impact in terms of inward economic investment and job creation. An update on the progress made to date on the first phase of that initiative was provided.

The Leader thanked all involved from within the Council and from the LTHT and all other partner organisations for their continued efforts in this process, their collaborative approach and for providing a clear message of support. The significant healthcare benefits that would be realised as a result of the proposals were reiterated, as were the wider economic benefits from the development of the Innovation Arc.

In considering this matter, Councillor Lamb welcomed the report, reiterated the cross-party and ‘Team Leeds’ approach being taken and highlighted the importance of ensuring that the support of Leeds MPs was also gained on this matter.

Councillor Lamb moved several proposed amendments to the recommendations in the submitted report, Specifically that:

·  Recommendations (a) and (b) remain unchanged;

·  Recommendation (c) becomes recommendation (d), and that a new recommendation (c) be added as follows, ‘The Executive Board is asked to note that four years of delays have so far cost the NHS Trust £300 million and further delays owing to the latest Government review of the NHS New Hospital Programme (NHP) will cost the NHS considerably more’; and

·  The original recommendation (d) becomes recommendation (e), and that be amended to read as follows, ‘The Executive Board requests that, given the Department for Health and Social Care/Treasury review of the new hospitals programme, Executive Board make a submission to the Treasury before the Budget on 30 October, clearly stating the importance of modernised hospital provision in Leeds and requesting that the Leeds scheme be permitted to go ahead without delay. The Leader and Executive Member for Equality and Health and Wellbeing have sought cross-party support for a letter in support of the Council’s submission’.

Those proposed amendments were then seconded by Councillor Venner, and with the Board’s agreement, it was -

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the strategic importance to Leeds of replacing existing hospital facilities on the Leeds General Infirmary site with new state of the art buildings and equipment, be noted, with the progress made so far by LTHT and partners of the Leeds Innovation Partnership including the Council, University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University, also being noted;

(b)  That it be noted that the new hospital programme will deliver a boost to the health of children and adults, act to regenerate the existing and surrounding site and promote innovation and research across Leeds;

(c)  That it be noted that four years of delays have so far cost the NHS Trust £300 million and that further delays owing to the latest Government review of the NHS New Hospital Programme (NHP) will cost the NHS considerably more;

(d)  That the call to Government, as outlined within the submitted report, to approve and to subsequently accelerate the new hospital programme in Leeds, serving as critical regional health infrastructure, be supported;

(e)  That, given the Department for Health and Social Care/Treasury review of the new hospitals programme, agreement be given for Executive Board to make a submission to the Treasury before the Budget on 30 October 2024, clearly stating the importance of modernised hospital provision in Leeds and requesting that the Leeds scheme be permitted to go ahead without delay. That it also be noted that the Leader and Executive Member for Equality and Health and Wellbeing have sought cross-party support for a letter in support of the Council’s submission.