Agenda item - Chair's Communications

103.1    The Chair gave the following communication:

              I’d like to inform those present that this meeting will be webcast live and will be capable of repeated viewing.

              Homes for Brighton & Hove (Joint Venture) - Whitehawk Hill Site:

              A number of complexities have come up with the Whitehawk Hill urban fringe site, including technical issues that impact on the financial viability of the proposed development.  In view of these issues it is my intention to ask the Homes for Brighton & Hove board to consider removing the development of the Whitehawk Hill site from its proposals.  Any final decision on this site will come back to a future PRG Committee.  

              GP Surgery at 62/63 Old Steine and 3 Palace Place

              At the request of the Brighton & Hove CCG, the council and health partners have been working together over the past three years on the provision of a new health facility at the vacant council building at 62/63 Old Steine and 3 Palace Place for the relocation of the Ardingly surgery.  The GP practice and the CCG obtained grant funding from the NHS England’s Estates, Technology and Transformation (ETTF) Fund as this practice was identified as the highest priority for the City and most in need of investment due to its growing practice size list, additional pressures arising from new housing and practice closures and sub-standard accommodation with no opportunity to expand in its existing location.

              We have been working with the practice and the CCG on these proposals that were agreed by PRG in July 2017 and continuing to progress the project overcoming challenges and ensuring that we met the grant funding timings. The Council received a final commitment to sign the lease by SCFT in December 2018.

              Unfortunately, on the 8^th January 2019 the CCG met with Council Officers to inform us that they and SCFT were withdrawing from the project for 3 reasons:

-      Patient demand in this central cluster has changed in the last 3 months

-      Business model of the GP practice ‘does not work

-      SCFT’s requirement for space has changed and they no longer require any additional capacity in the building.

              Following this withdrawal from the project, meetings have been held between the Chief Executive and Health partners and it was agreed that the council would send the CCG a breakdown of the costs incurred along with a timeline showing the key stages and milestones which has been done.

              The council continues to work with the CCG and Health partners on other projects in the City to deliver a health hub at Preston Barracks and the disposal of Oxford Street Car Park to provide the combined St Peters and North Laine surgery.   

              I have asked that officers bring a report to a future committee providing a further update on this as well options for the future of the council building.