Mike Williamson, Chairman of Alderley Edge Parish Council, reported at last night's meeting that there have been some developments in regards to the Festival Hall.
He said "We've got an outline agreement with the Primary Care Trust (PCT) for them to occupy the space at the front of the redeveloped Festival Hall. They are looking for a smaller area than previously discussed but we have agreed a rent which is based on the figure given by the District Valuer. That rent would cover the cost of the required work."
The redevelopment of the Festival Hall will be across three floors at the front of the building, with the new medical centre occupying the first two floors and the third floor being rented commercially. The Parish Councillors feel that the GP's will want to expand and take over the top floor at a later date.
Plans also include redeveloping the middle of the hall to create a multifunctional space aimed at "local, corporate and social users" and refurbishing the rear of the building to house Parish Council facilities.
Councillor Williamson said "It is critical that the Primary Care Trust have until 31st March 2013 to get the deal done and the doctors moved in before they (the PCT) disappear."
Councillor Keegan added "It was always going to be a financial deal, unfortunately in the hands of the PCT who are constrained by their problems, not least the fact that they're disappearing.
"This is the last publicly owned site in Alderley Edge so if this doesn't happen then the doctors don't have another option. Once done this should be a terrific facility, very important for the community."
The Parish Council agreed that the next step would be for Councillor Paul Tomlinson to go back to the shortlist of two builders to request revised designs and costings. A Part 2 meeting was then held, without a press presence, to discuss the financial aspects of the deal in view of their confidential nature. I left at this point but followed up last night's meeting by enquiring about the predicted costs of the redevelopment plan and where this money will come from.
Frank Keegan said "The money is sitting in balances. The actual hall has made a surplus of £1,600 for the year to date, so in that sense it has been a big success.
"The financial data is commercially sensitive given that the Parish Council has still to negotiate with the parties involved, but we are satisfied that the funding can be put in place to make the hall happen. When we have concluded the negotiations the electorate of Alderley Edge will be consulted about the deal."
Alderley Edge Parish Council took over management of the Festival Hall last year following a review, carried out by consultants on behalf of Macclesfield Borough Council in 2005, concluded that the hall was underused, losing money and out of touch with the modern community.
With the Festival Hall under threat from being demolished and sold to developers for affordable housing, the Parish Councillors fought to save the hall, which was built for the annual Alderley Edge Festival in the 1930's, as a community facility.
Plans to relocate the George Street surgery have been in the pipeline since at least 2006 but discussions reached a stalemate last year because the Parish Council refused to commit to building the new centre until the PCT committed to renting the building, whilst the PCT wouldn't commit until they knew how much it would cost to build the centre and the rent they would be expected to pay.
Councillor Tomlinson then provided an update regarding the Family History Society, who have been paying £1600 per annum in rent to have their research centre based at the hall. This financial year the Parish Council increased the rent to £10,000 per annum but the discussions reached a stalemate. As reported in July they had declined to comment on the legal documents they have been sent but instead they had sent cheques covering the rent up until the end of the year at the old rate.
Councillor Tomlinson said "A deal is on the table for them to move. Frank Keegan has found them space at Macclesfield Museum so it is on the table for them to agree to. They are going to see the facilities on Wednesday."
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The account above could be read as saying that the money to redevelop Festival Hall is in Parish balances. The question put to me was that the Hall had incurred a big increase last year in the precept, and my reply was that we had levied a precept on the basis that we might need to do the roof. since we are going ahead with the Medical Centre, that money for the roof is still in balances.
Councillor Keegan said; "The precept could not cover the cost of development, the Cheshire East portion of Council Tax is £1,213. The Alderley Edge would need to be similar, and therefore it could never be.
"The money from the PCT will cover a mortgage type operation. When the hall is up and running, we expect the hall to be self funding, ie the costs of the annual running will be met by the income generated and will not be a burden of the council taxpayer.
"Think of a self build house, you gather up the costs, and when the project is finished you get a mortgage to pay off the builders. In our case, the annual income will pay off the mortgage."
Nicola Kent told me "We are working towards a solution. We have agreed with the Parish Council the amount of space we'd rent but the actual rent has not been agreed."
"We have to make things neutral in cost. If we can reach a deal where that occurs then we will be able to go ahead."
"The doctors have agreed the plans and we have reduced the space, which leaves a small area which the Parish Council could rent to a third party, but the actual rental of the medical part isn't agreed."
"We are taking a slightly backward approach. We are going to put a figure to the Parish Council which we believe is affordable. They'll either accept it or not and more negotiations will take place."