Issue - items at meetings - Developments at Craven Vale

Report of the Director of Adult Social Services (copy attached).

 (1)      That approval be given to the development of Craven Vale to create an additional 20 bedrooms and to a formal collaboration agreement between the Council and Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group in relation to the development to enable both parties to fulfil their statutory functions.

(2)               That approval be given to delegate power to the Director of Adult Social Services to sign the collaboration agreement on behalf of the Council; subject to satisfactory terms being agreed.

 (3)      That it is noted that the Policy & Resources Committee agreed to note that the development will be delivered by Property and Design using the Council’s existing Strategic Construction Partnership. 

(4)       That it is noted that the Policy & Resources Committee agreed that delegated power is given to the Director of Adult Social Services and the Director of Finance to enter into a building contract with an estimated value of £2.2million.

(5)       That it is noted that the Policy & Resources Committee agreed that the Craven Vale Development be added to the Capital Programme and the capital project be approved at a total cost of £2.883m (£1.442m in 2013/14 and £1.441 in 2014/15) to be funded as detailed in paragraph 5.2 of the report.

41.1    The Committee considered a report of the Director of Adult Social Services which explained that Craven Vale, a Brighton & Hove City Council owned Resource Centre, currently had 24 community short term service beds, 7 crisis care/planned breaks beds; a total of 31 beds.  The report outlined the proposal and recommendation for an additional 20 bedrooms to give a total of 51 bedrooms at Craven Vale.  44 of these would be Community Short Term beds.   The report had been approved at Policy & Resources Committee on 24^th January 2013 and the Clinical Commissioning Group Board on 15^th January 2013.  

41.2    Councillor Meadows expressed concern that that ward councillors had not been included in the community engagement and consultation process.  She requested that as a common courtesy, ward councillors should be informed of what was happening in their area.  The Director apologised that ward councillors had not been consulted on this occasion.

41.3    Councillor Barnett asked what would happen to the residents whilst the work was being carried out.  The Joint Commissioner Older People explained that a key part of the Project Manager role was to minimise disruption to residents.      

41.4    Councillor Norman stated that the proposal was part of a process started when he was lead member a few years ago.  He asked if officers had spoken to planners regarding the development and whether any difficulties were envisaged with the development on the site.  Councillor Norman thought that the process could only improve the service Adult Care & Health provided and would upgrade the building at the same time.  He welcomed the report.

41.5    The Joint Commissioner Older People explained that officers had held negotiations with the Project & Design Team.  There had been no indication of any issues with planning permission.

41.6    Councillor Mears stated that she hoped that a structural survey would be carried out on Craven Vale.  She wanted to be reassured that the building could take the extra floors.   Councillor Mears referred to paragraph 3.3.2 in relation to joint funding of the Community Short term beds and jointed provided services under the Section 75 agreement.  She asked to see the detail regarding this funding.  Councillor Mears referred to paragraph 3.6.2 and asked for it to be minuted that on 15^th January 2013 the CCG Board agreed to the revenue expenditure commitment.  Councillor Mears referred to paragraph 3.7.3 with regard to capital costs.  She asked if the freehold would remain with the council.  She stressed that as there were capital costs, the committee needed regular updates on funding and the project.  Councillor Mears also asked for the committee to see the design of the development. 

41.7    The Director of Adult Social Services explained that the CCG approved the proposals in terms of the ongoing  revenue expenditure.  In terms of capital costs, Craven Vale would remain a council asset. 

41.8    The Joint Commissioner Older People stated that she would check to ensure that a structural survey had taken place but stressed that officers from the council’s Project & Design Team had been working on the plans. 

41.9    Councillor Mears stated that the committee needed to be reassured that the building was structurally sound and suitable for development. 

4.10    RESOLVED -  (1)     That approval be given to the development of Craven Vale to create an additional 20 bedrooms and to a formal collaboration agreement between the Council and Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group in relation to the development to enable both parties to fulfil their statutory functions.

(2)               That approval be given to delegate power to the Director of Adult Social Services to sign the collaboration agreement on behalf of the Council; subject to satisfactory terms being agreed.

(3)       That it is noted that the Policy & Resources Committee agreed to note that the development will be delivered by Property and Design using the Council’s existing Strategic Construction Partnership. 

(4)       That it is noted that the Policy & Resources Committee agreed that delegated power is given to the Director of Adult Social Services and the Director of Finance to enter into a building contract with an estimated value of £2.2million.

(5)       That it is noted that the Policy & Resources Committee agreed that the Craven Vale Development be added to the Capital Programme and the capital project be approved at a total cost of £2.883m (£1.442m in 2013/14 and £1.441 in 2014/15) to be funded as detailed in paragraph 5.2 of the report.

Note:  Councillors Meadows, Barnett, Marsh, Mears and Robins abstained from voting on this item on grounds of lack of financial information and no information given to reassure members that a structural survey had been carried out.    

Report of the Director of Adult Social Services (copy attached).

(1)               That it be noted that the development would be delivered by Property & Design using the Council’s existing Strategic Construction Partnership;

(2)               That delegated power be given to the Director of Adult Social Services and the Director of Finance to enter into a building contract with an estimated value of £2.2million; and

(3)               That the Craven Vale Development be added to the Capital Programme and the Capital Project be approved at a total cost of £2.883m (£1.442m in 2013/14 and £1.441m in 2014/15) to be funded as proposed in paragraph 5.2 of the report.

127.1    The Director of Adult Social Services introduced the report which detailed a proposal to expand the number of bedrooms at Craven Vale from 20 to 51, with 44 being set aside for community short-term beds.  She noted that this was in line with recommendations of the short-term strategic review and would enable the council to reduce its sites down to two and thereby help to reduce time spent travelling between sites and increase the time spent on service user care.  The Director stated that Craven Vale was underdeveloped and therefore provided an opportunity to improve usage and efficiency.  She also noted that there was a need to amend recommendation 2.5 slightly, in order to comply with financial regulations and referred to the amendment that had been circulated.

127.2    The Chair welcomed the report and noted that the development would reduce bed-blocking and therefore should have an on-going benefit for the community care budget.

127.3    Councillor A. Norman welcomed the report and stated that Craven vale was a highly regarded facility and the expansion should only enhance its reputation.

127.4    Councillor Mitchell welcomed the report and noted that attendance had dwindled recently and therefore sought assurance that services would not be withheld.

127.5    Councillor Hamilton also queried whether there would be sufficient number of beds to enable patients to move out of hospital.

127.6    The Director of Adult Social Services stated that the local authority was working with Private Nursing Homes to ensure that there was capacity to meet hospital discharges and was also working with the CCG to look at the use of other facilities to maintain re-enablement effectively.

127.7    The Chair noted the comments and put the recommendations as amended to the vote.

127.8    RESOLVED:

(1)         That it be noted that the development would be delivered by Property & Design using the Council’s existing Strategic Construction Partnership;

(2)         That delegated power be given to the Director of Adult Social Services and the Director of Finance to enter into a building contract with an estimated value of £2.2million; and

(3)         That the Craven Vale Development be added to the Capital Programme and the Capital Project be approved at a total cost of £2.883m (£1.442m in 2013/14 and £1.441m in 2014/15) to be funded as proposed in paragraph 5.2 of the report.