Agenda item - Extra Care Housing Strategy & Accommodation with support programme

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Environmental Health, Housing Community Safety and Regulatory Service and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care.

Exempt Appendix 4 associated with this report is set out below at item 19 in the agenda.

(a) Cabinet agreed to adopt the Extra Care Housing Strategic Statement and Appendices as Dorset Council’s publicly stated strategic direction as part of the suite of Adult Social Care Commissioning Strategies.

(b) That, in principle, the use of Dorset Council land assets to deliver these development projects be approved, with the inclusion of specific sites to be agreed by the Executive Lead for the Place Directorate, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Assets and Regeneration.

(c) That public procurement for a Strategic Development Partner as the preferred delivery mechanism be agreed, and the commencement of this procurement process, be approved.

(d) That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for People (Adults) and the Executive Director for Corporate Development, acting jointly:

a. To agree the terms for the agreement with the Strategic Development Partner, and

b. To award the Strategic Partnership Agreement to the preferred bidder. The final award decision shall be made in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Environmental Health, Housing, Community Safety and Regulatory Service, and the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care.

(e) That the terms of the property related transactions (whether freehold, leasehold, or contractual dispositions) be agreed in project-specific development agreements with the selected Strategic Development Partner.

(f) That the decision to complete each development agreement be taken by the Executive Director for People (Adults and Housing), the Executive Lead for the Place Directorate and the Executive Director for Corporate Development acting jointly.

Reason for the decision

Extra Care Housing was the preferred service option for older people who need 24-hour Care and Support, but who could remain independent in a home of their own with the right support. By setting out the Dorset Council strategic priorities, Cabinet gave a clear signal to the market of the Council’s intentions and its commitment to increasing the supply of Extra Care Housing in Dorset.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Housing presented the report on the Extra Care Housing Strategy and Accommodation with Support Programme. The strategy established a vision for Extra Care Housing as an effective way to support people with multiple health and care needs whilst remaining independent in a home of their own. The approach also provided for an alternative to more institutional forms of care and a modern solution to enable people to remain more independent whilst receiving care and support.

In presenting the report, the Cabinet Member acknowledged the work carried out by the People & Health Overview Committee and their amendment to the original recommendations. However, the Cabinet Member proposed that the recommendations 1 to 6 go forward and that recommendation 7 be removed.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care spoke in support of the recommendations and seconded the motion.

In response to comments and questions from non-executive members regarding directly developing these schemes within the Council, the Cabinet Member advised that it would not be judged to be possible or desirable for the reasons set out in the report. She reminded members that the project would be expected to attract over £60 million in terms of investment into Dorset.

Decision