Issue - meetings

 Report by Maggie Rae, Corporate Director

Cllr Jonathon Seed presented the report which sought Members’ agreement to provide funding to support the remodelling of a sheltered scheme in Tisbury for the provision of accessible, fit for purpose accommodation for older people in the community and to ensure the building can accommodate the provision of an extra care service that could offer an alternative to residential care.

It was confirmed, following a question raised by Cllr Tonge, that as there was a community facility as part of the housing development, the development would be exempt from the Right to Buy scheme.

Resolved

To delegate authority to the Associate Director for Adult Care Commissioning and Housing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing (excluding strategic housing), Libraries, Leisure and Flooding to authorise the commitment of Housing Revenue Account capital funding of £745,397 to support the delivery of the project, and to enter into any necessary contracts to enable the project to be delivered.

Reason for Decision:

The Tisbury scheme will provide good quality, fit for purpose, accessible accommodation for older people with an assessed care need, thus ensuring that they are able to live independently for as long as possible.  The scheme will offer an alternative to residential care and will be able to deliver the extra care services outlined in the Older People’s Accommodation Development Strategy. 

Through the development of the site, the Council would benefit from the

provision of remodelled housing to meet the needs of the growing older population in Tisbury.  Additionally, this development would improve choice and control for older people with an assessed care need and provide a vital wider community resource, through the planned refurbished communal areas.  Work is being undertaken to determine how these communal areas can be used to offer services to residents and local people in the future.

This development will protect some of the most vulnerable older people by reducing the likelihood of falls and hospital admissions whilst ensuring independence is maintained and also meets a number of the outcomes in the Business Plan.