A major doubt has arisen over ambitious plans for a community health and “blue light hub” in Brechin.
Some eight months after approval was given to a feasibility study for the multi-million-pound scheme, The Courier can reveal a cash crisis has put the project in jeopardy.
NHS Tayside has confirmed revenue funding for the project has not materialised and the partners involved now face the crunch decision of whether to take the idea forward.
A leading supporter of the hub plan said he would be disappointed if it could not be brought to Brechin but added it was “not a surprise” the proposal has hit problems at an early stage.
Brechin councillor Bob Myles said: “The whole point of a project like this was to save money and make things more efficient.
“Saying there is no revenue funding almost seems as if they don’t want to make it work.”
However, a senior NHS Tayside figure said project partners remain committed.
The idea of a community health, social care and emergency services hub on one Brechin site emerged at the beginning of this year.
Angus received £191,000 from the Scottish Government to carry out a study into the idea.
Council officials said they had recognised several services were operating from premises which are no longer fit for purpose.
The study has been completed and although details and costings are yet to be released, project partners have admitted there is already a short-term funding gap.
NHS Tayside director for communities Bill Nicoll has now confirmed the project partners face an important decision when the report is presented to an upcoming meeting of the Angus Community Planning Partnership.
He said: “The partners in Angus continue to retain a commitment to the development of the Brechin hub initiative to enable valuable inward public sector investment into the Brechin economy.
“A feasibility study undertaken with funding from the Scottish Government… has been completed.
“This illustrates the scope of the initiative and the associated costing for the project.
“The partners now have to consider their commitment to taking the project forward to the next stage through the national Hub Programme before a final decision can be taken.
“This will involve consideration of the options for delivering the project and development of the business case for approval.
“Regrettably, anticipated revenue funding is not immediately available and the partners are also considering alternative options for funding.
“A report will be provided to the Angus Community Planning Partnership in the near future, with proposals for the next stage,” Mr Nicoll added.
Councillor Myles said: “I’ve advocated this sort of facility for a long time. We have joint premises with the police in Kirriemuir and Monifieth which work well and this sort of idea in Brechin could bring other services together.
“What a hub would do is give people one place to go to get some sort of assistance.
“It is a bit like the council’s ACCESS line number, which prevents people being pushed from pillar to post trying to find the right department and it has proved a great success.”
He continued: “We have the Community Planning Partnership, which has been working well at quite a high level and they all say the right things at these meetings.
“But it almost seems it gets to a national level and they don’t want to relinquish their control.
“I think a hub like this would make sense to try and ensure we are making the best use of public funds.”