Agenda item

The Chairman invited Karen Jones (Senior Project Manager) to give a presentation on the Older People’s Accommodation Strategy.

Karen reported the Council was seeking to modernise existing accommodation for older people to respond to anticipated future need.  It was predicted that the number of older people (aged 65 and over) in Marlborough would increase by 58.1% by 2026, and that the number of people with dementia would increase by 66% by 2025.  This compared to 55.7% and 59% respectively across Wiltshire as a whole, however more recent projections estimated 26% higher growth than originally anticipated.

The Strategy endeavoured to consider provision of services to people who were able to fund their own care, as well as those supported by the Council, and proposed that facilities be used for a wider variety of services, e.g. extra care facilities providing meals and chiropody for non-residents.

The Strategy offered an opportunity to modernise current assets, and to add new facilities to the stock.  Some of these could be provided by social housing providers and others by private developers; it was likely that the proposals would result in £220 million capital investment, mainly from partner agencies, with some land provision by the Council.  It was anticipated that this investment would save £600 million compared with the “do nothing” approach.

In the Marlborough Community Area, the following developments were proposed under the Strategy:

·         45 unit extra care scheme – each of these would be 2-bed independent apartments, but with on-site services.

·         16 bed nursing extension at Coombe End Court for people with dementia.

·         It was anticipated that the extension would be operational by 2014 and the extra care developed by 2014/15 subject to satisfactory identification of the site.

It was recommended that a working group be established to formulate and implement the Marlborough development proposals.  This group, which would report to the Area Board would consist of 3-5 community representatives, a local Councillor and the relevant Portfolio Holder.

The Chairman thanked Karen for the presentation and invited questions and comments:

• In response to a question regarding staffing costs, Karen reported that the Strategy focussed on bricks and mortar, and that there were a number of options for providing the staff to run the facilities.  Some buildings would be staffed through care providers and some would be through combined contracts to provide the buildings and services.

• The projected £600 million had been calculated by average costs for various types of care and support, and were based on savings of around £44 per person per week by keeping people in their own homes.

• It was acknowledged that by investing in better facilities, this may attract older people from outside Wiltshire to relocate here. However, there would be criteria and prioritisation for people to access Wiltshire Council facilities, including either being a Wiltshire resident or having a demonstrable link to Wiltshire.

The Area Board supported the proposal of setting up a working group and invited people to put their names forward to get involved.  Those interested should contact Dave Roberts (Dave.roberts@wiltshire.gov.uk or 01249 706380).