Agenda item

To receive a briefing on developments around this initiative.

Noting with interest the ongoing developments regarding the new Tees Valley Care and Health Innovation Zone, the Committee received a briefing on this initiative following a request to senior SBC officers in February 2024.  Led by the SBC Head of Policy, Development and Public Affairs, and supported by the SBC Director of Adults, Health and Wellbeing, a presentation was given which covered the following:

·       Health and Social Care Sector

·       Initial Vision Statement

·       The Vision

·       The Zone

·       Four Building Blocks

·       Programme Governance

·       Workstream 1: Integrated Clinical Facilities / Capital Delivery

·       Workstream 2: Education, Skills & Workforce

·       Workstream 3: Innovation / R&D

·       Workstream 4: Commercial / Business Growth

·       Workstream 5: Masterplanning & Infrastructure

The importance of the health and social care sector within the Tees Valley footprint was emphasised from the outset, with benefits in relation to employment, innovation, research and development, and its vital role in addressing inequalities highlighted.  However, there were significant issues across the sector too, particularly around skills and recruitment, and the condition of estates.  The Care and Health Innovation Zone had the potential to help address these challenges, with a projected 9,000 additional jobs located directly on-site and an annual Gross Value Added (GVA) worth of £470 million to the Tees Valley economy (if the vision was fully realised).

An initial vision statement was produced (a link to the published document was included within the covering report for this agenda item) which outlined the key objectives: to breathe considerable new life into Teesdale Business Park (fully utilising all 50 hectares); to bring forward the holistic regeneration of Tees Marshalling Yards (60 hectares) in terms of employment, housing and other ancillary uses; to grow all aspects of the health, public health and social care sector (including supply chains) and make the area a recognised UK cluster; to link the Zone with Stockton Town Centre, boosting connectivity through transport and active travel links.  With regards transportation, existing infrastructure (Thornaby Train Station, A19 / A66 roads) was noted.

Four key building blocks had been identified to drive forward the initiative – integrated clinical facilities (‘system’-wide), skills pathways, research and development / business incubation, and healthy place making.  Dedicated resources (funding and staff) had been assigned as part of this joint project with the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), with governance structures consisting of a Board (involving senior representation from SBC, TVCA, local acute and mental health NHS Trusts, Teesside University, and the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB)) and five workstreams.

The presentation concluded with an overview of the current activity being undertaken by the five workstreams.  For the ‘Integrated Clinical Facilities / Capital Delivery’ strand, a collective look at the facility requirements would culminate in a finalised list by the end of summer 2024, whilst the ‘Education, Skills and Workforce’ group was focused on getting local people into local jobs and removing barriers.  Linking academia with business and identifying the Zone’s unique selling point was a key feature of the ‘Innovation / Research and Development’ workstream, and the ‘Commercial / Business Growth’ arm was planning an awareness-raising event with businesses (existing and potentially new) and utilising the Employment Hub to engage with organisations (not just those within the health and care sector) around this initiative.

Responding to the information provided, the Committee began by asking if there was a timescale for cleaning up the Marshalling Yards, a brownfield site – SBC officers stated that details would be provided after this meeting.  It was subsequently confirmed that the far end of the Marshalling Yards sat within the Middlesbrough boundary, but most of the Zone footprint was in Stockton-on-Tees.

Members expressed enthusiasm at the overarching concept which was a pertinent development given the ongoing growth that the Borough was experiencing.  It was felt that the reference to the TVCA was particularly important since it would be the engine for this to become reality, and the potential for the site to include a new hospital was also noted.  The Committee did, however, voice concern at the lack of Member engagement around the initiative (despite the frequent mentions of community / stakeholder involvement), resulting in missed opportunities by the Council and its partners for the voice of residents to be relayed.  SBC officers acknowledged the importance of communication with Councillors and gave assurance that, moving forward, Members would be fully engaged (including being linked-in with workstream leads) and that views were welcome at any point in time.  Future updates would be provided to the Committee as plans progress.

Returning to a more positive theme, the Committee highlighted the exciting opportunity for local people residing within the Ward where the Zone was planned, as well as the existing connectivity that would help with this development.  It was also encouraging to have buy-in from senior personnel from the organisations referenced, and other benefits (e.g. retail, aiding recruitment (social care as well as health professionals)) were anticipated for a venture which would be situated at the heart of the Tees Valley.

Reflecting on the presentation and subsequent discussion, Members asked if the development of this initiative was a done deal.  SBC officers stated that the Zone was still very much a vision at present, and that tangible change would depend on what emerged from the workstreams and would happen over a significant period of time.  Ultimately, stakeholders would need to commit to financial investment, but there was a growing feeling that plans could turn into reality, with national media interest adding to the sense of anticipation.  The Committee emphasised the need to sell the concept to the public, ensuring links to care as well as health were robustly communicated.

AGREED that:

1)    the Care and Health Innovation Zone information be noted.

2)    further detail be provided regarding the timescale for cleaning up the Marshalling Yards.