Agenda item - Tower House

Report of the Executive Director for Adult Social Care (copy attached) together with an extract from the proceedings of the Health & Wellbeing Board meeting held on 19 April 2016 (copy to follow).

RESOLVED:

1)     That the Committee should read and consider the consultation outcome and the equalities impact assessment to inform its decision making.

2)     That the Committee should endorse the recommendation from the Health & Wellbeing Board.

3)     That the Committee delegate to the Executive Director, Adult Services the re-provision of services.

4)     That the Committee delegate to the Assistant Director; Property & Design the arrangements regarding the transfer or disposal of the lease for Tower House, ensuring best value for money, and for the community.

163.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Adult’s Services in relation to Tower House; the Chair also noted that the report had been considered at the Health & Wellbeing Board on 19 April 2016 as set out in the extract from the proceedings of that meeting in the addendum. The report provided the results of the consultation that was agreed at the special meeting of the Committee on 4 November 2015, and it asked the Committee to make recommendations regarding the future of the service.

163.2    Councillor Yates addressed the Committee at the Chair’s discretion in his capacity as the Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board. He stated that the Council had undertaken a thorough consultation, and he recognised that Tower House was well valued day centre with a reputation for delivering exceptional care. The duties of the Care Act entitled service users to personal budgets and the number of those that attended the day centre that needed the complex high quality service was only thirteen. He noted that despite the excellent service at Tower House this method of service delivery was ‘out of step’ with how people accessed care and changes in legislation. There was a wide of range of services offered in the city that service users could be supported to access, and there was the possibility that some community use could be established at the site.

163.3    In response to Councillor Wealls it was explained that an event had been held to showcase some of the other services on offer both in the public and private sector, and friendships groups could be supported to undertake activities together. In relation to the supporting letters from GPs included in the Part Two consultation appendices it was clarified that Officers had responded to all letters they had received. Councillor Wealls also queried if some of the financial assumptions should be in the public domain; however, Officers explained that these were indicative and, as such, not appropriate for disclosure.

163.4    The Executive Director for Adults’ Services explained that all the feedback had been considered and the managers working on this were very experienced.

163.5    It was confirmed for Councillor Janio that the additional recommendation from the Health & Wellbeing Board, would form part of the proposed resolution that the Committee would vote on.

163.6    Councillor Mac Cafferty stated his view that the option of maintaining the status quo had not been properly explored, and that the overwhelming majority of those that had responded wished to continue to access their services from Tower House. Comments in relation to the decline in the number of service users at the centre were considered to be misleading as people were no longer being referred there. In response Officers stated that it was important to consider delivering services in a different way as the authority had a duty to offer personal care budgets and the numbers attending Tower House had reduced since their introduction. It was highlighted that services were not being taken away, but the need for efficiency savings meant that the services did not have to be delivered at Tower House in the historic manner.

163.7    Councillor A. Norman thanked Officers for the thorough presentation; whilst it was disappointing that the Council were proposing to terminate the service the reasons for this were understood; were the recommendations in the report approved then it would be preferable to see some community service still offered from the site. Friendship groups were very important to the service users, and the service at Tower House was very well regarded. In response Officers explained that other potential uses of the building were difficult due to the complexities of the lease; however, a commitment to explore these was given in assurance.

163.8    Councillor Yates also added that the consultation reflected what had been agreed at the Special meeting of the Committee in November 2015, and it was right that representations from health professionals should form of it.

163.9    The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote; these were carried on a vote of 8 to 2.

163.10  RESOLVED:

1)     That the Committee should read and consider the consultation outcome and the equalities impact assessment to inform its decision making.

2)     That the Committee should endorse the recommendation from the Health & Wellbeing Board.

3)     That the Committee delegate to the Executive Director, Adult Services the re-provision of services.

4)     That the Committee delegate to the Assistant Director; Property & Design the arrangements regarding the transfer or disposal of the lease for Tower House, ensuring best value for money, and for the community.

5)     That the Council should write to the Freeholder of the Tower House site inviting them to retain it for community use.