Issue - meetings

This report presents the results of consultation on future options for the Council’s elderly persons’ homes and proposes some first steps towards implementing the vision for three new facilities in the City, as supported by the responses to the consultation.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the results of the consultation, and the strong desire amongst consultees for the development of new homes and a village concept, as outlined in Options D and E, be recognised.

                        (ii)        That approval be given to carry out a further six-week period of consultation on the proposal to close two existing homes, Fordlands and Oliver House, and on the possible overall development programme contained in the report.

                        (iii)       That a further report on the outcome of this additional consultation be received at the Cabinet meeting on 10 January 2012 before a final decision is made.

                        (iv)       That a further, more detailed proposal on the Lowfields Village be received at the Cabinet meeting in February 2012.

                        (v)        That approval be given to officially progress a commissioning programme to expand existing day activities in the community and establish new ones.

REASON:      In order to respond to the need for changes to the current provision highlighted by the review and to take steps to implement the vision for new facilities in the City that has been supported overwhelmingly by the responses to the consultation.

Members considered a report which presented the results of consultation on future options for the Council’s Elderly Persons’ Homes (EPHs) and proposed some first steps towards implementing the preferred option. 

At their meeting on 19 July 2011, Cabinet had agreed that consultation be carried out on five alternative options for the future of EPHs in York.  Consultation had taken place by means of a survey posted to 2,480 people on relevant mailing lists and to 873 EPH residents and staff.  A further 1,450 self-completion surveys had been made available at public meetings and in public buildings across the City.  In total, 1,163 responses had been received.  Of these, 86% supported Option D as detailed in the original report, involving the Council funding, building and operating three new EPHs.  49.4% of respondents positively supported Option E – a partnership approach with a developer / operator to fund, build and operate three new homes.  There was strong support for the focus of these facilities to be on meeting the needs of those with dementia and high dependency and the provision of lifetime care.

In order to embark on the programme of modernisation endorsed by these responses, it was necessary to propose the early closure of two existing EPHs – Fordlands and Oliver House.  Current residents of these homes would be offered a choice of vacancies in Oakhaven, Willow, Wolnough and Grove House pending the demolition and rebuild of two homes at Fordlands and Haxby Hall.  Approval was sought to carry out further consultation on this proposal and on the overall development programme set out in the report.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the results of the consultation, and the strong desire amongst consultees for the development of new homes and a village concept, as outlined in Options D and E, be recognised.

                        (ii)        That approval be given to carry out a further six-week period of consultation on the proposal to close two existing homes, Fordlands and Oliver House, and on the possible overall development programme contained in the report.¹

                        (iii)       That a further report on the outcome of this additional consultation be received at the Cabinet meeting on 10 January 2012 before a final decision is made. ²

                        (iv)       That a further, more detailed proposal on the Lowfields Village be received at the Cabinet meeting in February 2012. ³

                        (v)        That approval be given to officially progress a commissioning programme to expand existing day activities in the community and establish new ones. ⁴

REASON:      In order to respond to the need for changes to the current provision highlighted by the review and to take steps to implement the vision for new facilities in the City that has been supported overwhelmingly by the responses to the consultation.