Issue - meetings

Report CS14143

It was agreed in February to commence consultation with staff, trade unions and other staff representatives on the decommissioning of Lubbock House as an extra care housing scheme for older people – this alongside consultation by Affinity Sutton with tenants at Lubbock House. Affinity Sutton considered Lubbock House unviable long term given its condition; a high level of voids in extra care housing also placed further pressure on the adult social care budget.

Report CS14143 set out results of the consultation and sought agreement to close Lubbock House when all existing service users had moved to alternative accommodation identified for them.

Members noted that it was not possible for officers to release the report until the afternoon of 21^st May 2015 (as soon as agreement had been reached on alternative accommodation arrangements with families of Lubbock House residents).

In order to give the matter proper consideration and to be able to reach a fair and balanced decision as quickly as possible, it was proposed that the meeting be adjourned following consideration of other agenda items and re-convened at 10 a.m. on 22^nd May 2015 to give further consideration to the item. This was agreed.

Upon the meeting being re-convened, Members received an update on the current position. Officers had worked closely with residents and families concerning alternative places. Accommodation had been identified for all service users at Lubbock House and Members were assured that residents and their families had agreed to the alternative arrangements offered. The majority of residents would move to another extra care housing scheme – three residents were being assessed to establish whether they needed to move to a care home. In all cases service users would move to an appropriate alternative which in some cases would provide improved accommodation for the service user. Packages of care would be commensurate with peoples’ current assessed needs. Extra care housing did not replicate provision in a residential care home and the packages in extra care would not be an additional financial burden for the Council. Suitable alternative employment within the Extra Care Housing services had been identified for the majority of displaced staff, subject to individual circumstances or preferences.

Should there be significant and sustained demand for extra care housing in future, officers would work with Housing Associations to identify additional housing supply. Officers had continual sight of the housing market.

The Portfolio Holder for Care Services praised officers for the sensitive and supportive manner in which the matter had been taken forward.

RESOLVED that the closure of Lubbock House at the point at which all of the existing service users have moved to the alternative accommodation identified for them be agreed.