Agenda item

The Director for Care Services and Commissioning (Adult Social Care) submits a report that provides the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission with an overview of the progress towards developing two 50 – 70 bed, Extra Care Housing Schemes in the city.

The commission is asked to note the recommendations set out in Section 2 of the report.

The Director for Care Services and Commissioning (Adult Social Care) submitted a report to provide the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission an overview of progress towards developing two 50 – 70 bed, Extra Care Housing schemes in the city in partnership with Registered Social Landlords, via a procurement exercise. The report was presented by the Assistant Mayor for Adult Social Care. The Scrutiny Commission Members were asked to note the recommendations in the report.

Details for the two schemes, and the sale of discounted land by the Council were outlined in the report. Discussions had taken place with six Registered Social Landlords in the city, who had confirmed the schemes would be possible within the financial envelope.

Members were informed Scheme 1 would make use of £1.25 million of Capital monies allocated to Adult Social Care for 2014/15 and Scheme 2 would use Housing ‘Right to Buy’ Capital Receipts. Leicester City Council would contribute to the overall cost of each scheme, and would be in excess of £7 million. An options appraisal to determine the suitability of available Council land/sites across the city was detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, and had highlighted that the former Queensmead School site in Braunstone and Tilling Road / Butterwick Drive in Beaumont Leys were the preferred options.

In response to questions, the Director for Care Services and Commissioning (Adult Social Care) provided the following information:

• Wolsey have 63 units, and Danbury Gardens have 58. Abbey Mills will have 50 units, where the Council will have nomination rights and will cater for a range of vulnerable adults.
• There are two different models of delivery, with Danbury Gardens having an on-site care provider, with separate care packages for each person and facilities. It offers shared ownership flats or people can rent. Wolsey has self-contained flats, no food provision is offered, there are no on-site care providers, but individuals have access to domiciliary care support as needed. The facility has shared facilities for example a large lounge to enable people to arrange activities.
• The Council has rights to nominate who it believes needs to be housed in these facilities, though people have to be on the housing’s Choice Based Lettings system. Those with the highest need will be offered a place.
• The affordable rent would be lower than residential care, with a charge towards concierge and security services.

The Lead Commissioner for Supported and Independent Living said the two new schemes would be communicated to the media in the near future, and Members were invited to go and visit the existing schemes to see the freedom and support that people had.

Members asked if the land at the former Queensmead school could have been sold at a higher price. The Adult Social Care Business Transitions Manager explained that if the ex-school land had been released for general purpose the monies from the sale of the land would have been paid back to the Government. By using the land as a long-term lease, the Council gained the benefit of using the land and not paying a fine to the Government.

RESOLVED:

that the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission note:

1.    the release of the Adult Social Care Policy Provision of £1.25 million for the development of Extra Care Housing.

2.    the use of Housing Capital receipts for the development of a second Extra Care Housing scheme; and

3.    the sale of land at the former Queensmead School site (Braunstone) and at Tilling Road (Beaumont Leys), at a discounted price for the purposes of Extra Care Housing, with detailed terms to be submitted to the Executive for formal approval in due course.