DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting Held on Monday
11 December 2006
held at
103 Welcome
by Chairman of Council
The Chairman of the Parish Council welcomed Members of the Public to the meeting. The procedure for the meeting was explained.
104 Apologies
for Absence
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllrs M Telling, J Brooks, Mrs J Wells, A Wells and D Whiteing.
105 Declarations
of Interest
None were declared.
106 Presentations
from
The First Presentation was made by Dr Nick Cooper. It was explained how that Doctors Surgeries were added to Doctors Houses in the past. During the 1960’s purpose built surgeries were built. The present surgery had outgrown the site. There were difficulties with parking. In 2000 an extension was made and in 2005 a portacabin was placed on the site when “Leigh House” and “The Hoppit” combined. The surgery cannot remain static it has to move on. The new facilities would contain extra facilities:- Car Parking, Waiting Rooms, Consulting Rooms Dispensing Arrangements X ray, Physiotherapy, Outreach clinics, GP special interest, Day treatment unit, Blood transfusions, Access for disabled patients and expansion for the future.
The second presentation was made by Dr Somaly Lach. Parish Council was thanked for hosting the meeting. Better Community Surgery was required to contain the following: 8 GPS 2 Training Doctors. Nurse Practitioners, District Nurses, Health Visitors. Primary Health Care Team Visiting clinicians and other professionals Training Practice Approximately 30 other member of staff
The Surgery has to care for 12,000 patients and the numbers are expected to rise. Also that a large proportion of the population was over 65 years.
It is hoped that the building would contain:- Minor Surgery Family Planning Antenatal and Postnatal Care Child Health Immunisations Counselling Dispensing Smoking Cessation Specialist clinics Drug and alcohol abuse
Problems with the current facility: Too small, the car park, the disabled access and emergency access which failed the study by the last PCCT under the Disability Discrimination Act.
Changes in Primary Care Nationwide there were changes in the way healthcare was delivered. The pressure was to reduce waiting times. Now going towards primary care centres. There was a need to offer a wide range of services reducing travel to hospitals.
New Surgery The new surgery would be 2000 m2. It would be purpose built with
future proof. A large car park with
disabled and emergency access and central for community access.
The Third presentation was made by Brian Morgan the Planning Adviser for the Project. It was explained that the present facility was too small and that visits had been made to other facilities to get a visions for the building. The brief was to make a case and look for a location within the village where the medical centre could be established. The findings were to be then shown to Chelmsford Borough Council and Danbury Parish Council. There were not many locations where a building of this size could be located within the village envelope, the boundary was drawn very tight.
Five areas were located as follows:
·
Land off
· Land to west of Sports and Social Centre Car Park · Reservoir site
·
· Hitchcocks Field
Criteria were used to find the best option as follows availability, central village location, access by transport, bicycle or walking, visual containment, size, able to grow on site and level site.
The best option was Hitchcocks Field. There would have to be a lot of landscaping to reduce the visual scale. It could not be too urban it would have to take into consideration architecture. There was already a large community building adjacent to the land. It would have to be purpose built. There would have to be a compromise on the size of the building.
It was explained that at the present time that detail was not being given it was the consideration of the location for the Medical Centre.
107 Councillors
Questions
What is the timescale? The planning process and funding needed to be in place and it would be at least a year for this part. What were the proposals for the existing building? Not a great deal of thought had been put into this. Although the building might be retained. Where was the funding coming from? The initiative was within the practise. How much was the building costing. 3 million Plus the land and plus landscaping plus road changes. The remit of the planner was to report to clients with the study. Was the building to be used just for the
current patients and catchment are
Planned housing may make the patients rise. If the new Medical Centre did not take place what would happen?. Overcrowding. The Portacabin was only permitted for 2 years. Patients could be relocated elsewhere i.e. Chelmsford
108 PUBLIC
QUESTION TIME
· Problems were raised with parking in the adjacent building and wondered if some joint solution could be made using the Medical Centre Car Park when not in use.
·
Less people driving to
· If a roundabout were installed it might make drivers slow down.
· If the development were to go ahead the rest of the site should not be made available for building.
· Could the building be made single storey so that there was less visual impact? It was thought that this was possible.
· Would the Medical Centre become a Cottage Hospital? It was assured that this would not happen.
· Broad consensus of support. There would be a tight brief to meet with site plans and block plans in partnership with Chelmsford Borough Council. A full Planning application would be required which would take 13 weeks. Also Building Regulations would be required. Whole process 3 – 4 months.
· Concern was raised by a resident as her horse grazed in the field and she held a 5 year lease. This should be taken up with the owner.
· Services being offered at the clinic were raised but it was explained this was a meeting to determine a location for the building.
· Concerns were raised about building at the eastern end of the village.
· Wonder if Option 2 was a better location. There were other issues with this site. Parish Councillors declared an interest in this location.
·
Could a limit be placed on the
are
· Questions were raised regarding whether car park charges would be made. It was not planned.
·
Explained that a Travel Plan
was being instigated by
· The catchment area for the centre is guaranteed as Sandon and Little Baddow. The practise boundary may enlarge.
· What is the total cost of the project. 3 million plus land plus landscaping plus road works. Funding coming from general practise.
· A question was raised could any funding come from Parish Council? This would be put on a future Agenda for Parish Council.
· Was there to be more patients? It is possible if more houses built in Cold Norton there may be 2000 – 3000 more patients.
· It was explained that the Doctors are paid for doing clinics. The surgery has a budget but it was non profit making - any savings would go back to the patients.
· Several comments were made on how good the present practise was.
· Concerns were raised regarding traffic movements.
· A question was raised regarding whether there was an option on the land. It was explained that there was an agreement depending on the outcome of the meeting.
· It was hoped that the Medical Centre would be in operation late 2008 to early 2009.
Members of the public were overwhelming in support of Option 5 at Hitchcocks Field. Additionally concerns were raised:- a)regarding traffic access and egress from the site b) rest of the site being protected from building as within the Conservation Area
Members
of the Public left the meeting at this point.
To
determine Parish Council’s Response to the Proposals
Due to the overwhelming response of the
public for the Medical Centre on Option 5 Hitchcocks Field the following
proposal was put by Cllr Derick Hawkins and seconded by Cllr
Parish Council support Option 5 Hitchcocks
Field and note overwhelming support of the village for this Option. Parish Council has concerns regarding traffic
access and egress of the site. Parish Council requests that the rest of the
site i.e. Hitchcocks Field is protected within the Conservation Are
Cllr Allen wished for an amendment to the
proposal that additionally the following wording should be added - and the new medical centre should be subject
to being limited in size to serve the current catchment are
This was not seconded, therefore the amendment was lost.
The Original proposal was put all Members present unanimously agreed the proposal which will now become Parish Council Policy.
RESOLVED: that Parish Council Support
Option 5 Hitchcocks Field and note overwhelming support of the village for this
Option. Parish Council has concerns
regarding traffic access and egress of the site. Parish Council requests that the rest of the
site i.e Hitchocks Field is protected
within the Conservation Are
The Meeting closed at 10.10 p.m. |
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