This latest news in from the council. Ed
The Isle of Wight Council has successfully secured £50,000 from the government to help develop a bid for up to £500,000 from the government’s One Public Estate programme which is designed to help public sector organisations make better use of their land and properties to help make savings, generate income and create new jobs and homes.
The council is leading the bid, working closely with the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the Homes and Communities Agency, which owns several areas of land on the Isle of Wight.
Develop a detailed bid
The funds will be used to develop a detailed bid over the next month which will focus on two new health and community hubs linked to the My Life A Full Life new care model (a joint initiative from Isle of Wight Council, Isle of Wight NHS Trust, Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group and One Wight Health – a GP membership organisation) and the development and regeneration of the former Camp Hill prison site and adjacent land.
The aim of the bid is to deliver shared public assets and resources through joint working – enabling public sector organisations to co-locate for the benefit of the wider community. If further funding is secured, full feasibility studies will be drawn up for each project.
Funding will provide real impetus
Councillor Ian Stephens, Executive member for regeneration, economic sustainability and development at the Isle of Wight Council, said:
“This is great news and the offer of funding and government support will provide real impetus to both making more efficient use of our public land and buildings as well a driving forward income generation, economic growth and our regeneration ambitions, a key priority for the council.
“We will work with our partners over the coming weeks to develop our bid, which if secured, will enable us to progress plans for these important projects which will help public sector organisations to save money and improve services and facilities for residents.”
Shift of care from hospitals into the community
Karen Baker, chief executive of the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said:
“The recently published Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) will see a shift of care from hospitals into the community and individuals’ homes.
“Increased joint working with the My Life a Full Life partners will help us to achieve the reduction in the public sector estate and release savings needed to fund care.”
Image: Images Money under CC BY 2.0
