Agenda item

This report informs the Committee of the results of the recent consultation concerning the proposed relocation of overnight short break services from Aut Even to Parklands and presents the associated business case.

Discussion:

The Assistant Director, Commissioning, Business and Intelligence introduced the report which set out the consultation response to the proposed relocation of overnight short break services from Aut Even to Parklands and presented the Business Case. It was reiterated that the physical environment at Aut Even was not fit for purpose and greatly restricted opportunities to extend the offer within the confines of the existing building. The Assistant Director, Commissioning, Business and Intelligence added that the split provision had also caused difficulties and that a coherent offer would be preferential. Other benefits of the relocation were highlighted including fully utilising the purpose built facility at Parklands and a reduction in budget pressures associated with running two facilities.

Referring to the consultation response, the Assistant Director, Commissioning, Business and Intelligence commented that overall, families were supportive of the relocation of Aut Even to Parklands and highlighted that 84% of respondents did not object to proposals to relocate the service. There had been two respondents that objected.

The Assistant Director, Commissioning, Business and Intelligence corrected the reference to the annual running cost at Parklands from £384k to £405k, set out in paragraphs 3.3.3 and 3.4.3 of the business case, set out at Appendix 3 to the report.

Members then raised a number of questions and comments, which included:

·         Refurbishment works – A Member commented that a lot of hard work was undertaken to obtain the funding to improve Aut Even and this Service had always been supported, but this hard work also extended to obtaining the funding for Parklands. The Member praised the Parklands facility which was built specifically as a respite home.

·         Business case – In response to a question in relation to the money which was spent on bringing Aut Even up to standard, the Director of Children and Adults Services expressed it was regrettable that this approach had been taken but the priority had been the safety of the Children, so at the time the money had to be invested to rectify the identified deficits and fulfil the Local Authority’s statutory duty.  Parklands was designed for respite services and would enable the Service to effectively maintain a safe environment and schedule care for children in a way which could be planned around groups of children whose needs were broadly similar.

·         Demand for service – In response to a comment from a Member that the service at both Aut Even and Parklands were necessary, the Director of Children and Adults Services expressed that in the context of the analysis completed, the provision at Parklands would be adequate. This was reiterated by the Assistant Director, Commissioning, Business and Intelligence who added that the environment at Aut Even was no longer fit for purpose.

·         Future use of Aut Even – When asked about the future use of Aut Even, the Assistant Director, Commissioning, Business and Intelligence explained that that the Council’s estate, including Aut Even was being considered for other purposes and a business case was being scoped. A further question was asked by a Member in relation to the proposed recommendation to proceed with option D (Move to Parklands, and use Aut Even for supported accommodation), in particular how the service would work in view of the structural issues reported. The Deputy Director, Children and Adults advised the range and quality of supported accommodation was being considered as well as a package which could be scaled up and down in relation to need, noting that caution would be required around numbers. She added that no decision had been made at present and the analysis was ongoing.

·         Timeframe – At the request of a Member the Programme Lead, Children’s Services Transformation advised following Cabinet approval, the refurbishment of Parklands could commence in two to three months. However, it would be important to carefully consider a transition period before relocating the service from Aut Even to Parklands, it was estimated this might be summer 2018.

·         Revenue generation – In response to a question from a Member in relation to the purchase of the sixth bedroom, the Assistant Director, Commissioning, Business and Intelligence clarified that this provision was included to enable greater flexibility to meet different needs of Medway families. In addition, if families expressed a preference, Medway Council purchased places from Dragons Retreat and so, to further enhance flexibility, it was foreseeable that other Local Authorities might enter into a similar arrangement.

·         Cabinet – At the request of a Member, the Assistant Director, Commissioning, Business and Intelligence confirmed this proposal would be presented for consideration and approval to Cabinet on 19 December 2017 and undertook to amend the inaccuracies in the annual running cost at Parklands carried forward in the business case set out at Appendix 3 to the report.

·         Visit Parklands – At the request of a Member, the Assistant Director, Commissioning, Business and Intelligence undertook to arrange a site visit to Parklands for Members of the Committee.

·         Service capacity – A Member raised concerns that the service would be stretched at Parklands should Cabinet approve the relocation.

Decision:

The Committee noted the outcome of the consultation on the proposed relocation of overnight Short Break services from Aut Even to Parklands, as set out in Section 4 and 6 and Appendix 1 of the report, and the business case, as set out in Appendix 3.