To consider a report by County Councillor Stephen Hayes, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care.
Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care explained that he was seeking approval to go out to consultation on the options for Day Time Activities for Older People including day centres. Whilst acknowledging the high regard in which communities held their day centres, he pointed out that currently there was not an equitable service in the county as not every community had access to a day centre.
The service would consult on three options:
The option favoured by the service was a phasing out of day centres and a move towards a locality based early intervention and prevention service. The Portfolio Holder explained that the Social Services and Wellbeing Act had placed an obligation on local authorities to focus on prevention and delaying the need for care. This model would help the authority meet the challenges of demographic change as well as the savings target set in the Medium Term Financial Strategy. The Portfolio Holder pointed to examples of good practice such as the Powys Befriending Scheme in Crickhowell and Rhayader Home Support and explained that the service was looking to work in co-operation with the third sector.
County Councillor E Michael Jones, who declared a personal non pecuniary interest as a non-remunerated director of the East Radnor Day Centre, and County Councillor Joy Jones spoke in favour in retaining their respective day centres in East Radnor and Newtown. Councillor Joy Jones questioned the funding given to Welshpool Town Council in respect of the Westwood Day Centre.
The Chair of the People Scrutiny Committee said that Scrutiny would play its part by considering the proposals. He said that the Council was not in a position to do everything and that it needed to work with volunteers and the third sector. He asked for information on the funding available in each area to be provided.
In answer to Members’ questions, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that respite care would be built into any new model.
RESOLVED |
Reason for Decision |
1. That Cabinet provide approval to go out for consultation, following the Listen and Learn exercise already completed, in order to seek the public’s view on all three options and in line with the advice and guidance of the Consultation Institute. 2. That Cabinet notes the issues outlined for each of the three options in the report and acknowledges that the financial risks will require further work to be done on the impact and implications of each option to the MTFS in order to help Cabinet form a decision on how to proceed following the public consultation process. |
1. To ensure that Cabinet receives the views of the public in relation to the 3 options in order to support them in making an informed decision. 2. That Cabinet is assured that plans to cover the identified costs are in place ready for when they make their final decision following public consultation |
County Councillor MR Harris abstained having missed part of the debate.
Supporting documents: