Agenda item

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

The report of the Head of Adults’ Services which summarised the feedback from the engagement process on the proposed development of an Extra Care Housing facility in the Seiriol area along with a final recommendation as regards the location of the facility was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Chair and Portfolio Member for Social Services reported that in October, 2015, a commitment was made to consider appropriate sites within the South of Anglesey for the development of Extra Care provision, with the Seiriol area being the preferred location. At its meeting held on 30 October, 2017, the Executive (supported by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee) determined that a period of engagement should occur locally within Seiriol regarding the proposed development of an Extra Care Housing facility in the area; regarding

 the preferred site for the development being the site of the current Ysgol Beaumaris and regarding the funding of the development through the Housing Revenue Account. The report describes the engagement process held - which included meetings with the local community councils and with Beaumaris Town Council, a public meeting held in Llangoed, on-line survey, drop-in sessions and consideration of the matter by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee - and it outlines the feedback received from the process.

The Head of Adults’ Services said that from the responses received, there was general support for the concept of Extra Care Housing locally as a model of provision, with over half of respondents in agreement that Extra Care in principle is a good idea to be moving forwards with; however there was a level of disagreement with the site proposed with the majority noting that they disagreed with the preferred site – this was particularly evident in the meetings with Llangoed Community Council and Beaumaris Town Council and also in the public meeting in Llangoed which was the final engagement event. Annex A to the report sets out the questions asked at the public meeting and the responses given by the Council. In other areas visited this was not the case – in the public meeting and survey, members of Cwm Cadnant Community Council voiced support for locating Extra Care provision in Beaumaris; likewise Llanddona Community Council accepts the need for the provision in Beaumaris and Menai Bridge Community Council makes no objection to the proposal. The Business Case for Extra Care Housing also strongly supports a build in Beaumaris – the town setting and access to facilities provides better opportunities for integration and independence; there is a greater need for housing in Beaumaris than in more rural areas such as Llangoed; the Beaumaris location is better placed to meet BREEAM standards. Having regard to the important points raised during the engagement process and public meeting , the recommendation remains consistent with the original proposal i.e. to use the site of Ysgol Beaumaris to develop an Extra Care Housing scheme in the Seiriol area for the reasons given in the report. In developing the scheme due consideration will be given to the points made during the engagement process in relation to the site and steps will be taken to ensure it is accessible for older people. The Officer said that the report acknowledges that the Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 31 January, 2018 took a different view by supporting the establishment of an Extra Care facility on the site of Haulfre, Llangoed. For the reasons given, this proposal is considered unfeasible.

The Chair referred to Local Member, Councillor Alun Roberts who could not be present at this meeting and she read out a statement on his behalf. The statement confirmed the Local Member’s support for Extra Care provision in principle and as a concept but also outlined his concerns regarding the preferred location for the establishment of such a facility in Seiriol on the site of Ysgol Beaumaris which he found problematic not least because of its geographic landscape, but also because of the nature of the town which is often busy in terms of traffic and people, and because of its narrow and potentially hazardous pavements. The Local Member was of the conclusion that the Extra Care facility should not be built on the site of Ysgol Beaumaris and at no account should it be built at the expense of the town’s school.

There were other site options in the South of Anglesey which the Executive could consider e.g. Haulfre or even the vacant Day Care Centre in Beaumaris despite this site sharing some of the disadvantages of the school site.

The Chair referred also to the Ysgol Beaumaris Consultation Response Committee which had been in contact. The committee has conducted its own survey specifically in relation to the future of the town’s primary school but which also includes views expressing dissatisfaction with the Extra Care Housing proposal. The survey has been shared with Officers and will be considered in greater detail in the context of the statutory consultation on the modernisation of primary education in the Seiriol area.

Councillor Lewis Davies made representations to the Executive as a Local Member for the Seirol ward. He referred to the gradual erosion of services in the South of Anglesey with Haulfre Residential Home and Ysgol Beaumaris also under threat of closure. Beaumaris as a town needs rejuvenating by way of social housing for families and young people – establishing an Extra Care facility in the town will reaffirm its image as a town for older people. The proposed site at Ysgol Beaumaris is unacceptable both in terms of the physical disadvantages of the location but also because it makes the closure of the school more likely. Councillor Lewis Davies emphasised the strength of feeling locally in support of keeping Haulfre Residential Home open - he pointed out the continuing need for residential provision backed up by a Welsh Government report which he quoted from - and he also highlighted the numerous views expressed in preference for locating an Extra Care Housing facility on the Haulfre site which in local opinion is a far more suitable site for the development.  He urged the Executive to take account of the views of the many in the locality against the Ysgol Beaumaris site and also the opinion of Scrutiny in favour of Haulfre as the preferred site option.

The Chair responding to a request by Cwm Cadnant Community Council, read out a letter by the Community Council setting out its views on the proposed Extra Care Housing scheme earmarked for the Seiriol area. In summary, the Community Council fully supports the scheme but feels that another site in Beaumaris would be beneficial. Nevertheless, the Community Council is in agreement that Beaumaris would better suit individual residents in such units given all the amenities available to them within a short walking distance. The Community Council also believes that locating an Extra Care Housing facility on the Haulfre site is not an ideal solution due to its remoteness. The Community Council wants what is best for the ward and to move with the times and with the 21st Century; for the Extra Care scheme to be successful it has to be located in Beaumaris.

Councillor Carwyn Jones, Portfolio Member for Major Projects and Economic Development and also a Local Member for the Seiriol Ward said that whilst he was supportive of the Extra Care Housing scheme he also recognised the continuing need for residential provision to fill the gap between Extra Care which is a relatively new concept to Anglesey, and nursing care. In the Seiriol area, Haulfre Residential Home meets this need and is in an ideal location, and consequently he was urging the Council to secure the future of Haulfre for the next 10 years. He recognised that there are differing views in the locality regarding the location of the proposed Extra Care facility with Llangoed and Beaumaris supporting the location of the scheme on the Haulfre site and Llandefgan, Llansadwrn and Llanddona favouring Beaumaris. He said that he could the see the benefits of Haulfre and also of Beaumaris which offers opportunities for inclusion, interaction and a range of amenities. With the latter however, there are concerns over the footway into town and with the width of footways within the town. Llandefgan is the largest settlement in the ward and is also limited in terms of downsize accommodation and bungalows for older people. He referred to the changing demographics of the Seiriol ward and the predominance of people over 65, to the loss of industry and jobs with the disappearance of Leirds and to the need for investment and social housing in the area. The building of the extra care supported living flats could lead to the release of family houses as older tenants decide that extra care would better suit their needs. As a Local Member for the whole ward he respected and wished to convey the range of opinions across the ward. He supported the notion of extra care investment in the Seiriol area funded through the HRA and he could see the merits of establishing extra care housing provision in either Beaumaris or Llangoed. However, in acknowledgement of the differing viewpoints as to the location of the proposed scheme he would be abstaining from voting.

In response to questions by the Portfolio Member above regarding whether the extra care housing provision could offer some of the service lost by the closure of the day care centre on the same site, the Head of Adults’ Services said that the service is endeavouring to provide support for individuals through their local communities via community hubs. The aim in the Seiriol area as for Llangefni in the case of Hafan Cefni, will be to work with the local community hubs/activities to provide support for occupants of the extra care housing. The

service is also working with the Amlwch area where the local community is commissioning care within the hubs. Therefore, the expectation would be that more dependent individuals would be able to attend the site and receive support during the day. In response to concerns about the access from the Ysgol Beaumaris site to and from the town, the Officer confirmed that as noted in the recommendation, improvements to footways and also to community and public transport would be sought as part of any scheme/planning application.

The Executive in considering the information presented and the representations made, noted the following –

•  The Executive noted that there was a general acceptance of Extra Care Housing as an idea, and as an alternative and additional way of providing care, but no consensus in the Seiriol ward as to the preferred location of an Extra Care Housing facility in the area. The Executive noted the difference of opinion within the communities in the Seiriol ward and the basis for it.

•  The Executive noted that the Authority has a responsibility to ensure that the care and accommodation needs of older people are met in a way that assures their dignity and well-being. As part of this responsibility, and as one of the aims of the Corporate Plan, the Authority is keen to enable older people to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. To this end alternative forms of provision such as Extra Care Housing are being developed.

•  The Executive noted therefore, that in the Seiriol area, the independence of older people within an Extra Care housing setting would be best served if the facility were to be located in Beaumaris because of the ready availability within the town of a range of amenities and also because of the greater opportunities for social integration and interaction. The Beaumaris school site with the proposed improvements to footways as noted, meets this need because of its proximity to the town giving residents the option of walking into town.

•  The Executive noted also that in being funded through the Housing Revenue Account, the business case for the development needs to be robust.The Authority therefore needs to ensure maximum occupation of the extra care housing units. This is more feasible were the development to be located in a town rather than a village setting.

It was resolved –

•  That the Beaumaris School site is used to develop an Extra Care Housing scheme within the Seiriol area.

•  That the development be funded through the Housing Revenue Account.

•  That dependent on the results of the consultation regarding the future of Beaumaris School, the development should be built either behind the school as part of an integrated development with the school remaining open, or should be built utilising parts of the school building should a decision be made to close the school.

•  That the development process for the scheme should consider the points made during the engagement process regarding the site, and ensure that these are considered and steps taken to ensure the site is accessible for older people. For example, as the development is on hill, build in opportunities for additional paths and community transport to the town. Also ensuring that the development acts as a base for community events to ensure good integration with the town and more widely the communities across the South of the Island.

(Councillor Carwyn Jones abstained from voting)