Decision details

The Committee welcomed Dean Patterson, Head of Property and Facilities Management at Community Health Partnerships for the item. 

At the request of the Chairman, Councillor Kate Salinger, who had brought a Members’ Item to the Committee in December 2013 on these issues, advised the Committee that she was pleased that the benches had been reinstated on a trial basis.

In relation to the public transport issue, Mr Patterson advised the Committee that he had been in attendance at meetings where the FMH bus service issue had been discussed.  He advised the Committee that as the head leaseholder, he would commission a survey into this issue to gauge demand and then report the findings back to his peers at the Lift Co.  It was noted that Transport for London (TfL) had made it clear that they were not prepared to divert any existing routes on to the site on the basis of cost.  A Member commented that this was a TfL issue and not an estates issue.  It was highlighted that NHS premises should be served by public transport and a collective solution was required.  In relation to the comment made by Community Health Partnerships in their written submission that FMH has never been served by a bus, a Member highlighted that the new hospital was much larger now than prior to the redevelopment. 

The Committee questioned whether all of the requirements of the Travel Plan (a constituent part of the planning permission for the hospital redevelopment) had been implemented.  Mr Patterson reported that the Hospital had sought advice at the planning application stage and there had been no requirement to include a bus route in the Travel Plan.  He added that all planning conditions had been met and signed-off. 

In response to a question from a Member, Mr Patterson reported that Community Health Partnerships managed 301 sites which had been transferred from the Lift Co.  The other 3,600 sites which had previously been under the control of Primary Care Trusts had been transferred to NHS Property Services.  Both NHS Property Services and Community Health Partnerships were wholly owned subsidiaries of the NHS.  It was noted that NHS Property Services tended to be responsible for operational management, while the Lift Co. was responsible for design and build. 

RESOLVED that:

1.         The update on site issues at Finchley Memorial Hospital as set out in the report and above be noted.

2.         Community Health Partnerships be requested to report back to a future meeting of the Committee on any progress made in securing an on-site bus service at Finchley Memorial Hospital.