Plans to secure the long-term future of Higham Hall as a premier adult education centre and free up more resources for front-line county council services are published today.
Under the proposals to be discussed by Cumbria County Council's cabinet next Tuesday (3 April), Higham Hall would be sold to a charitable trust as a going concern by April 2008. If agreed by councillors at their meeting next week, more work will be done to develop this plan with a more detailed paper presented to cabinet towards the end of this year.
Last year, Cumbria County Council announced it was considering selling the former country house at the northern end of Bassenthwaite Lake which has been in local authority ownership since 1955, as part of a wide-ranging review of services.
Higham Hall needs extra investment if it is to continue providing the type of accommodation and services that adult learners increasingly expect - investment which the county council is unlikely to be in a position to provide as it prepares to meet an equal pay claim from 3,000 cooks, cleaners and care workers, which could reach £50m.
In December, the county council commissioned a report on options for the future of the Hall. The report concluded that the sale of the Hall as a going concern to a charitable trust will free up more investment for local services and provide the educational centre with a platform for future development.
Councillor Roger Bingham, cabinet member responsible for Cultural Services in Cumbria, said: "The county council has helped develop Higham Hall into one of the country's best adult education colleges.
"The time has now come for the college to be allowed to flourish on its own and for the council to concentrate more on its key services.
"This plan will release new money for front-line services and help Higham Hall to continue providing high-quality adult education for generations to come."
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