Issue - items at meetings - Review of Learning Disability Day Services

Report of the Director of Adult Social Care & Housing (copy attached)

The report was deferred.

64.1         The Cabinet Member made an opening statement to the effect that she was aware of erroneous information circulating about the purpose of the report. The Cabinet Member was aware that persons unknown had been issuing statements in her name giving incorrect information about Day Centres.

64.2         The Cabinet Member stated that suggestions that three Day Centres were to close were untrue. She noted that approaches had been made in this respect to users of those centres and to their families and staff, the Cabinet Member felt this was inappropriate and unhelpful.

64.3         The Cabinet Member was minded to defer the report to afford time for those with genuine queries to make them known. The Cabinet Member offered anyone present at the meeting to ask questions in relation to the report.

64.4         The Opposition Spokesperson asked if any day centres were to be closed.

64.5         The Cabinet Member explained that new services were being developed in recognition of the requests of service users. The deployment of these new services might mean that some services no longer needed to be provided at day centres. This did not mean that those centres would necessarily close. The future use of buildings might be reconsidered once it was clear what the consequences of the delivery of the new services were.

64.6         The Cabinet Member invited Councillor Fryer to speak.

64.7         Councillor Fryer supported the principles of the report but was concerned about funding; in particular that budgets for individuals were spent in their best interests and that support was offered to those who required it in managing their budget. She also asked if persons living in residential care would be able to attend day services.

64.8         The Cabinet Member explained that the move to personal budgets would be supported by the transition to ‘Day Options’. The move away from services delivered from buildings to personalised services demanded sophisticated support for persons trying to manage their own budget.

64.9         The Opposition Spokesperson asked about the long-term future of 80 Buckingham Road.

64.10    The Cabinet Member explained that the building was not suitable for all of its users. The future of the building and the services provided therein would be managed much like the situation with Pioneer House. This building had been deemed unfit for purpose; better and more appropriate services had been re-provided at the Westbourne Centre.

64.11    The Opposition Spokesperson requested that trade unions be made aware of the report.

64.12    The Cabinet Member explained that the trade unions had been consulted in the compilation of the report and were fully aware of its implications.

64.13    The Cabinet Member deferred the report until a future meeting in order to allow additional time for any other representations to be made direct to her.

64.14    RESOLVED – That the report be deferred.