Agenda item

The Director of Health, Housing & Adult Social Care to present a report which proposes that the plot earmarked for a Care Home on the Lowfield Green site instead be made available for the development of Extra Care accommodation, in line with the council’s aims for independent living and the results of consultation with York residents.

Resolved:  (i)      That it be noted that the procurement of a developer and operator for a care home on the Lowfield Green site has been terminated.

                   (ii)      That approval be given to procure a developer/operator to construct and operate an Extra Care Housing development on the Lowfield Green site (instead of a residential and nursing care home) and that authority to award a contract be delegated to the Corporate Director of Health, Housing & Adult Social Care.

                   (iii)     That approval be given to dispose of the site of the proposed Extra Care development to its developer by way of a long lease (125 years), in return for payment of a premium/capital sum.

                   (iv)    That an obligation be imposed within the lease to construct and Extra Care accommodation scheme on the land within a specified period and thereafter to operate that scheme for a specified minimum period.

                   (v)     That a covenant be imposed within the lease that the land can only be used for extra care accommodation (and not for any other purpose or use) for a specified period.

                   (vi)    That it be noted that these proposals reflect the views of residents about where and how they want to live in their later years, gathered through a consultation and engagement exercise.

Reason:     To enable the development of independent living accommodation with care in response to what residents have said that they want and to work torwards the Council Plan ambitions for residents’ good health and wellbeing.

Members considered a report of the Director of Health, Housing & Adult Social Care which set out proposals to make the plot on the Lowfield Green development site that had been earmarked for a Care Home available instead for the development of Extra Care accommodation.

It was reported that, of the two bidders that had expressed an interest in developing, constructing and operating a care home on the site, only one had been invited to tender and they had withdrawn from the procurement prior to the submission deadline.  The procurement had therefore been terminated.  Consultation had since been carried out with York residents on their priorities and preferences for accommodation in later life.

The following options were now available:

Option A – to undertake a procurement exercise to secure a developer and operator of extra care accommodation.    This was the recommended option, as it was in line with the results of consultation with residents and supported by the Health & Adult Social Care Policy & Scrutiny Committee and by local community representatives.

Option B – to repeat the exercise to procure a care home developer and operator.  Not recommended as it did not deliver independent living accommodation and was unlikely to generate viable bids.

Option C – to appropriate the plot into the Housing Revenue account and the council itself to develop extra care accommodation within the housing delivery programme. Not recommended as the council was already committed financially to the delivery of homes on the site.

The comments of the Executive Member for Health & Adult Social Care, endorsing the recommendations, were reported at the meeting. Having also noted the comments of the Labour Group on this item, it was

Resolved:  (i)      That it be noted that the procurement of a developer and operator for a care home on the Lowfield Green site has been terminated.

                   (ii)      That approval be given to procure a developer/operator to construct and operate an Extra Care Housing development on the Lowfield Green site (instead of a residential and nursing care home) and that authority to award a contract be delegated to the Corporate Director of Health, Housing & Adult Social Care.

                   (iii)     That approval be given to dispose of the site of the proposed Extra Care development to its developer by way of a long lease (125 years), in return for payment of a premium/capital sum.

                   (iv)    That an obligation be imposed within the lease to construct and Extra Care accommodation scheme on the land within a specified period and thereafter to operate that scheme for a specified minimum period.

                   (v)     That a covenant be imposed within the lease that the land can only be used for extra care accommodation (and not for any other purpose or use) for a specified period.

                   (vi)    That it be noted that these proposals reflect the views of residents about where and how they want to live in their later years, gathered through a consultation and engagement exercise.

Reason:     To enable the development of independent living accommodation with care in response to what residents have said that they want and to work towards the Council Plan ambitions for residents’ good health and wellbeing.