Issue - meetings

To receive a verbal update on the current position with the Knutsford Health and Social Care Development project

The Committee considered a report updating on progress with the Knutsford Health and Social Care Development.   The report had been considered at Cabinet on 9 January who had resolved as below:

“That a Memorandum of Understanding be entered into by the Chief Executive to enable initial options appraisal work for this project to be undertaken, and to report back to Cabinet at any key points of decision making”.

Andy Bacon, Project Manager outlined the current position with the project.  The consultants, Durrow, had now produced a report that had looked at three areas:

      There would be an affordable option for a health centre in Knutsford;

      The site of the existing Community Hospital, including the neighbouring Stanley Centre site, was the only commercially viable site;

      The project could be completed in 1 – 2 years depending on funding options.

There was ongoing engagement processes taking place with fortnightly bulletins widely issued, the Knutsford Town Planning Group had been briefed and the local MP.  There was also consideration being given to more interactive communication methods being introduced. 

Plans had been issued for illustrative purposes only.

The Chairman allowed a further period of public speaking at this point in the meeting due to a request from a member of the public who had a number of queries about the Knutsford project and Mr Bacon was not in attendance at the meeting at the beginning when the Public Speaking Time item occurred.

Mabel Taylor addressed the Committee with queries in relation to possible delays to the project arising from a petition submitted to Council on 15 December; sought clarification as to how members of the public could receive information as the GPs seemed to suggest the PCT Cluster whereas the Cluster referred people back to the GP; and on the relationship of the project to Macclesfield Hospital.  In response, Mr Bacon explained that any delays in the progress of the project would prove costly because any private financiers would not be willing to take risks with their capital; information could be found in the fortnightly bulletins and although the Clinical Commissioning Group was being formed it did not exist as a legal entity; Macclesfield Hospital was happy with the direction of travel of the project.

RESOLVED:  That the current position be noted.