Could the Portfolio Holder give an update on the current long-term future of Age UK Chatham at their Hopewell Drive site?
Minutes:
Could the Portfolio Holder give an update on the current long-term future of Age UK Chatham at their Hopewell Drive site?
Councillor Brake stated that Medway Council had supported Age Concern Chatham for many years – both with direct funding and with assistance when they moved from their previous poor quality accommodation to their lovely new home in Hopewell Drive, Chatham. He stated he had visited their centre both as Mayor and as Portfolio Holder and had seen first hand the value of this service to the local community.
Sadly, the Trustees and the senior management appeared not to have future-proofed the organisation and there was financial pressure. The Trustees and senior management could have pursued a proactive fundraising programme, could have merged with another local charity to minimise costs and administration or could have made modest increases to their charges. They had now turned to Medway Council to seek a bail out.
Recognising the need for such a service in Chatham and committed to supporting older people and their family carers, Medway Council had offered to underwrite liabilities and funding for Age Concern Chatham to the tune of £69,000 and had put this offer in writing.
It had been hoped that the Trustees of Age Concern Chatham would have accepted the Council’s generous offer of assistance and that the service under their banner would have continued for many years to come. Sadly, in a letter received by officers and himself today, the Trustees had declined the offer made by Medway Council and had gone for closure. He stated he was personally extremely disappointed by this decision and he had therefore instructed officers to seek alternative provision for the elderly of Chatham to ensure that the commitment made to them and their family carers be honoured. He stressed that the Council remained open to discussions should Age Concern Chatham wish to speak further. He stated that he would keep Members briefed on this matter.
Following discussion, Councillor Brake stated that references to Age UK, Age Concern, Hopewell Centre, related to the Hopewell Centre, Age Concern Chatham, Units 4 and 5, Park House, 92-95 Hopewell Drive, Chatham.
Councillor Murray, in accepting that the Trustees had found it difficult, asked the Portfolio Holder whether he could say whether the Council gave the Trustees any support for running the centre before things became, in their eyes, insurmountable especially given that it was Government policy at the moment to try and get voluntary organisations in running vital services?
Councillor Brake stated that the Council had not been sitting back waiting for this organisation to go to the wall. He assured Members that the support given by Medway Council to this organisation had been tremendous. Not only had it been by way of financial support and the provision of various contracts that they could use for the benefit of their users but the Council had made contributions by way of administrative and indeed support of a practical nature to help them put together business plans to see if other opportunities that may exist.
He stated that he believed that the Council had probably exhausted anything and everything that could be done for this group of people. Sadly, it was in the hands of the Trustees and the senior management who did not seem to be coming back very positively in the support that was being given. The Council would continue to offer support and hold further discussions should Age Concern Chatham wish to speak further. He would keep Members briefed.