Issue - meetings

[Report of the interim Assistant Director for Economic Development and Growth. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources and Insourcing.]

Proposal  to lease the ground floor of 54 Muswell Hill for use as a health Centre.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Insourcing introduced this report which concerned the relocation of 3 current GP practices in the Muswell Hill area to a single new site, 54 Muswell Hill for use as a Health Centre.

This site was owned by the Council and the details of this ownership were contained in the report. Essentially, the 3 GPs wanted to relocate and to set up at this site and the Council were supporting this objective as it met the overall Council view of providing better integrated care in the borough.

Cabinet noted that there existed some access issues with the proposed location, due to it being on a hill. However, these access issues also existed with the current location of the 3 GP practices and the Council were seeking to identify and address these issues.

Instead of sub-contracting the site to an international property company who would likely further sublet this site for a profit, the report proposed the Council retaining the site in ownership and leasing this to the GPs whilst also fitting out the site. This was considered value for money and met the objective of considering direct delivery of services where possible and feasible and prudent. The Council would use capital funding to complete the fit out of the Centre and would be able to obtain a rental stream when leasing the site to the GP’s

In response to Councillor Hearn’s question the following information was provided.

• It was confirmed that the location was felt suitable by the GP’s as it was better than their existing locations. Noted that this centre would be accessible and step free. The issue was with its location on a hill and the Council would take a view on this from the access officer report. Noted that there would be three parking spaces at the site and one would be allocated to patients with a blue badge. Assurance was provided that officers would review the assessment and make sure that the steepness of the hill was not the barrier to the GP’s locating there.

RESOLVED

a)    To agree to the grant of a lease of the whole of the ground floor (outlined red in the plan in Appendix A) of the 54 Muswell Hill to the GPs (The Muswell Hill Practice with and on behalf of Rutland House Surgery, The Queens Avenue Surgery) or such other entity as shall be agreed between GPs and the Council subject to draft terms set out in Appendix B (in draft) and subject to confirmation by the District Valuer of rent to be paid by the GPs.

b)    That the Council should allocate a sum as set out in Part B of this report the approved Capital Programme contingency for the fit out of the ground floor of 54 Muswell Hill as a GP hub to a specification set out in Appendix C, with authority to procure contractors and a facilities management operator to be procured or drawn from available framework panels.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104