Agenda item

To submit a report by the Head of Adults’ Services.

The report of the Head of Adults’ Services seeking the Executive’s approval to engage with the community of Seiriol over a period from November to December 2017 on matters relating to the development of extra care provision within the area was presented.

The Leader and Portfolio Member for Social Services reported that the report sets out the general reasons for developing extra care as a model of provision; in the South of Anglesey the Seiriol area was noted as the preferred location when the commitment was made in October, 2015 to consider site options within the South of Anglesey. The matter has been considered and scrutinised by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee which supports the engagement proposal.

The Head of Adults’ Services said that the Executive in December, 2013 determined as part of the corporate plan that future investment should be targeted at the development of extra care provision whilst at the same time maintaining the availability of choice within residential establishment. The extra care housing model is a key element of the Transformation Programme for Adults as the service seeks to move away from more traditional residential care provision. The report presented also includes a site options survey and it lists the factors that have influenced the assessment which has resulted in the designation of the current Ysgol Beaumaris site as the preferred option.

Councillors Lewis Davies and Alun Roberts spoke as Local Members and whilst they both supported the development of extra care housing provision in principle, neither favoured the site proposed to locate the provision in this area firstly for site specific reasons it being situated on a hill, out of town and at a greater distance from essential facilities than was ideal and secondly, for reasons that it would reinforce the impression of Beaumaris as a town for older people whereas what the town requires is investment in social housing to retain and draw a younger population not least to sustain its core tourism industry. Both were concerned about the implications of this development for Heulfre residential home and for Ysgol Beaumaris whose future was already under consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Major Projects and Economic Development who was also a Local Member echoed the sentiments above and added that further work needs to be done in the engagement process to educate people about the extra care concept and what it means; also consideration should be given to alternative sites should such options emerge as a result of engagement. The Portfolio Member said that South Anglesey is a large area and queried whether the views of the communities of Llanfair and Brynsiencyn for example should be canvassed.

The Head of Adults’ Service said that the commitment made in 2015 was to look at the Seiriol area; suitable sites for the development within Seiriol are limited but having applied the factors listed in the report and through working with the local community it is considered that the school site can work well and become part of the community especially as part of a wider age well hub. The Seiriol area is favoured because it presents an opportunity to proceed within a reasonable timeframe and to progress a model of provision that the service wants to develop thereby offering an alternative option for independent living for older people. The engagement period will allow individuals to see extra care housing and to speak to people about their experiences of extra care as regards being able to maintain their independence whilst still living in an environment that provides access to support.

It was resolved that a period of engagement should take place locally within the Seiriol area during November and December, 2017 with regard to the following matters:

•  Developing extra care housing provision in the Seiriol area to provide a minimum of 39 self-contained flats in accordance with nationally approved models of provision.

•  That the preferred site for this development is the site of the current Ysgol Beaumaris either co-located with an adapted school or as the prime use for this land.

•  That the Council pursue options to fund the development through the Housing Revenue Account so that the development becomes additional council housing stock within the county providing vital accommodation for older people.

(Councillor Carwyn Jones abstained from voting)