The Medical Centre project has missed another deadline, however the extension of the deadline for a £500,000 grant has meant that the pressure is off, for now.
NHS England has confirmed that the £500,000 it agreed to provide as advanced rent can now be paid up until the end of March 2016, provided the new medical centre is completed by then.
This money was previously coming from the NHSE's 2014-15 budget, which meant that the building had to be pretty much complete and ready for occupation by 31st March 2015.
AEPC were hoping to have a lease signed by the first week in June but have missed this deadline for a number of reasons, one of which is making sure that the £500,000 is not lost should a last minute 'act of God' prevent completion of the new medical centre within the timescale.
Speaking at the Parish Council meeting on Monday, 9th June, Cllr Mike Williamson said "We want to make sure that if the building is almost complete and some disaster happens that we still get the money from NHS England, so that is still one of the outstanding clauses that still has to be followed up."
Cllr Frank Keegan added "If the building is severely damaged in November 2015 say, their insurance will cover reinstatement but what happens to the half a million - they were on course to deliver but last minute something happens."
Mike Williamson continued "We have to find some way of transferring money from NHS England to a Escrow account, or something like that, so we can move the money into an Escrow account which NHS England cannot get back."
He added "Moving on I'd say we may have a lease by early July but I'm not optimistic I think it might be later than that, we just have to keep plugging away."
The Medical Centre project started in 2006 and has faced serious delays and obstacles. Planning permission to build the new Medical Centre at the front of the Festival Hall was approved in August 2012 but work cannot start until a lease has been agreed with the doctors and NHS England, and contracts have been signed with the project managers, builders (Emersons) etc.
Comments
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I do however agree that a new medical centre is desirable (who can argue with that ?), but don't know the cost-benefit details.
You write that it will be rent free. Not so as NHSEngland will pay rent to the owners of the new practice buildings i.e. the Parish Council i.e. you.
Neil. You write that the people involved (by which you mean the Parish Council?) are not capable. That's why we have employed solicitors and why we have appointed a professional business to 'run' our part of the building procedures.
You write about 'Emersons getting the contract to build the medical centre: back in the day when all this started, it was put out to tender and in the end, 'Emersons' were the least expensive.
You write about the 9 members of the Parish Council being appointed rather than elected. At the last election, the incumbents stood for election and as no-one else came forward, the incumbents were declared to be re-elected.
If anyone wishes to 'have a go' at the Parish Council, feel free to 'get stuck in' but please be accurate.
You can always stand for election?
The Medical Centre project did not start in 2006 - I put it in my election leaflet in 2006, that it would be a good idea for AEPC to take control of the Festival Hall and use that as a base for a Medical Centre.
However, the Festival Hall was not returned to AEPC until 2008, and as you say, planning permission was not granted until August 2012.
And, just to confuse matters, the PCT - who submitted the planning application - was wound up in March 2013. NHS England, who took over from the PCT, demanded a new specification for the building, and so, to be at this point less than 2 years after planning permission was voted is rather good. There is a clear distinction between the planning meeting which votes in favour, and the actual issue of a Decision Notice which was much later, so 2 years after the planning meeting is something of an achievement, given the restrictions which were put in the Decision Notice.
Given the reality, it seems quite unnecessary to say that “a deadline was missed” because of the £500k.
The truth is that until NHS E resolves the issue of the £500k, there can be no deal, because it is vital for the rent.
The Alderley Edge Medical Centre was supported by NHS, at a time when the proposed centre in Knutsford was abandoned, simply because it was recognised that the Alderley Edge project would be completed.