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05
May 2020
Harrogate Convention Centre is not being paid any rent by the NHS for its use of halls as a temporary Nightingale hospital.
Since construction began in late March, and until the end of June, rent is not payable to the convention centre or its owner, Harrogate Borough Council.
Staff from the convention centre, as well as HBC's property services, estates and ICT departments, have supported the transformation of the centre into the Nightingale hospital ready to be handed over and officially opened on April 21st. Documents due to be discussed by the council's cabinet tomorrow say:
Harrogate Convention Centre has not commented on whether its staffing, utility and other costs are being covered, or on arrangements from July onwards. Harrogate Borough Council has also declined to comment.
The Nightingale hospital is not currently in use, but is on stand-by in case existing hospitals in Yorkshire and the Humber are unable to cope with the number of Covid-19 cases.
It has 500 beds and has occupied eight of the centre's halls. Staff who were trained on site during April have since returned to their usual workplaces elsewhere in Yorkshire.
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