Issue - items at meetings - Connaught Day Service

Report of Executive Director of Adult Care & Health (copy attached).

(1)       That the decision to consult users of the Connaught Day Service on the proposed new site at Patcham House School made by the Executive Director of Adult Social Services in consultation with the Committee Chair Cllr Jarrett, be noted.

(2)       That it be approved that the Executive Director of Adult Social Services use her Constitutional Delegated Powers to make a decision concerning the proposed move of the Day Service from the Connaught Building to Patcham House School informed by the consultation process, EIA and related Decision of the extraordinary meeting of the Children and Young People's Committee proposed for 9 September 2013.

13.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Services which reported that in October 2012 the Children’s and Young Person’s Committee received a report which recommended the expansion of West Hove Infants School to enable the council to provide the increased number of primary school places required in the Hove area.   To facilitate this expansion the relocation of the Connaught Day Service for adults with learning disabilities would be required.  The report was presented by the General Manager, Integrated Learning Disability Services.

13.2    Councillor Meadows referred to recommendation 2.2 and asked for an explanation of the process.  She further referred to paragraph 4, Engagement & Consultation.  Councillor Meadows had heard that ward councillors had not been contacted.  Ward councillors were being contacted by many parents who were concerned about the proposals.  

13.3    The Senior Lawyer explained that within the Council’s constitution the Executive Director of Adult Social Services had delegated powers to make the decision concerning the proposed move of the Day Service from the Connaught Building to Patcham House School.  However, if the Committee were unhappy with this recommendation they could approve recommendation 2.3 which would involve the reconvening of an extraordinary meeting of the Adult Care & Health Committee to take place shortly after the proposed extraordinary meeting of the Children and Young People’s Committee on 9 September 2013. She explained that the timescales reflected that Children’s Services in relation to Education matters are dictated by statutory guidelines with regard to consultation in addition to the need to build in sufficient time for adaptations to be undertaken to the buildings involved. 

13.4    The Head of Commissioning & Partnerships explained that there had been a meeting with a councillor from the Downs Park School area before the Children and Young Person’s Committee.  Children’s Services were leading on the proposals and she understood that ward councillors had been consulted      

13.5    The Chair asked for this matter should be followed up. The Executive Director assured him that that the matter had already been referred to Children’s Services. 

13.6    Councillor Meadows stated that she would like to have a special meeting of Adult Care & Health Committee as members did not know what would happen as a result of the consultation.

13.7    RESOLVED - (1)      That the decision to consult users of the Connaught Day Service on the proposed new site at Patcham House School made by the Executive Director of Adult Social Services in consultation with the Committee Chair Cllr Jarrett, be noted.

(2)       That the proposal of the Executive Director of Adult Social Services to use her Constitutional Delegated Powers to make a decision concerning the proposed move of the Day Service from the Connaught Building to Patcham House School informed by the consultation process, EIA and related Decision of the extraordinary meeting of the Children and Young People's Committee proposed for 9 September 2013, be approved.

NOTE: Councillors Meadows, Mears and Summers asked for their names to be recorded as having voted against recommendation (2) above.