Council leaders argue over funding priorities for Melton GP services
The possibility that more developer contributions could be used to help fund extra GP services in Melton has been highlighted during a public spat between council leaders.
When plans for a second doctors’ surgery in the town were paused recently due to funding shortages, Melton Borough Council’s leader, Pip Allnatt, voiced disappointment that most of the Section 106 payments provided by housebuilders goes to Leicestershire County Council for roads and education.
County council leader, Dan Harrison, pushed back on those comments and pointed out that the borough council had prioritised a large proportion of these payments to help pay for the ongoing Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (MMDR).
He is unhappy that Councillor Allnatt is continuing to blame county councillors and officers for restricting the extent to which developer contributions can be used to support extra GP services and suggests the borough council is able to change how this Section 106 money is spent in favour of health services.
Councillor Harrison, who fronts the Reform UK-led administration at County Hall points out that the borough council signed a ‘Supplementary Planning Document’ back in 2021 to support using Section 106 money for the MMDR.
And although this was before Councillor Allnatt became leader, Councillor Harrison cited a cabinet meeting in September 2023 in which he said the borough council leader gave his council’s backing to prioritising roads and schools.
In a statement published last week on the county council’s website and social media channels, Councillor Harrison said: “Whilst the county council recognises the concerns in Melton Mowbray about current GP provision, it hopes Councillor Allnatt will now want to take responsibility for his own council’s responsibilities and decisions.
“If Councillor Allnatt wants to amend the borough council’s ‘Supplementary Planning Document’ and its commitments, it’s a matter for the borough council if they want to consult on doing so.”
In response, Councillor Allnatt, a Labour representative, dismissed this latest statement as a ‘silly attack on me’ and accused the county leader of mis-quoting what he had said in that 2023 cabinet meeting.
He told the Melton Times: “I am very disappointed that the Leader of Leicestershire County Council, Dan Harrison, has deliberately launched a personal campaign against me on the Council’s Facebook page.
"I entirely agree with the members of the public who think this is inappropriate and unhelpful.
“His comments in another media release actually prove my point because he mis-quotes my words on September 13, 2023.
"But I am grateful to him for confirming that we are free to change our policies to support more funding for GP services in Melton.”
He also thanked county councillor Michael Squires – cabinet member for Health & Public Health and chairman of the Health & Wellbeing Board at County Hall – for getting in touch on the issue.
Councillor Allnatt said Councillor Squires had pledged to liaise with him over the potential for more developer contributions being spent on health.
“I immediately agreed and I look forward to hearing his ideas to provide more cash for GP and other NHS services for Melton,” the borough council leader added.