Agenda item

The Cabinet considered the pre-consultation feedback regarding future provision of Council-provided day services for adults with a Learning Disability and the Connect Short-term Service. The details were set out in the report.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services moved the recommendations in the report and highlighted that the Wyre Forest area had been a leader in the provision of a variety of learning disability day services which enabled service users to have a choice of activity, however it was necessary to produce strategies for income generation or cost reduction.

SpeakEasy NOW was thanked for the time and effort they had put into the pre-consultation engagement exercise. During the engagement exercise it had become clear that services had to operate in a very changeable environment and had developed through speaking to users and carers. With any changes that came about in future, communication would be important to highlight the choices available and transport was key. District Councils would need to have an input in the provision of sporting activities. Overview and Scrutiny had made comments which had been adopted and added into the report.

In the ensuing debate, the following principal points were raised:

·       The Cabinet Member for Health and Well-being felt the pre-consultation work had been very useful and this opportunity would allow services to be expanded so they were more suitable for current needs and allow for more interaction for those using the services

·       A member from outside the Cabinet explained that some residents from his area were worried that the consultation would mean cuts. The fear and concern was so great that a petition about the Wendron Centre had been handed to him which exceeded 1100 signatures.  He felt that the petition showed the strength of feeling in Bromsgrove

·       Another member from outside the Cabinet explained that a briefing had mentioned that if the public were concerned that they could go to the Hub but that was moving to a less accessible location

·       The Member for Adult Services explained that change was looking inevitable and concerns were heard and noted but the nature of Learning Disability provision in Wyre Forest was rich. He felt that some members of the Labour group had acted in an ill-judged and reckless manner when they called in the pre-consultation engagement which was attempting to gag the Council from speaking to users. They had also stood outside the Wendron Centre and collected signatures for the petition. He felt they had raised false fears and created concerns without engaging with officers to find out about the situation

·       The Cabinet Member for Transformation and Commissioning reported that she had had to reassure people about the Wendron Centre. She paid tribute to the staff at the Wendron Centre for their fantastic work

·       Other Members of Cabinet agreed with the Member for Adult Services and felt that the pre-consultation engagement showed that the Council was listening to the public. People would continue to have a choice, the requirements of the Care Act would continue to be fulfilled and the results of the consultation would be discussed later in the year

·       The Leader said the administration did care and sought to engage with the public in a helpful manner. The Administration was committed to providing a range of services for vulnerable people but all costs needed to be measured and sustainable

·       The Member for Communities wished it to be noted that the Monday Night Group mentioned in the feedback had recently been awarded the Queen's Award for Volunteering.

RESOLVED: that

a)     the results and feedback to date from pre-consultation engagement with individuals using services, carers, staff and other stakeholders in relation to Council-provided day services for adults with a Learning Disability and the Connect Short-term Service be noted;

b)     the engagement findings in relation to the value and impact of the Connect Short-term Service for adults with lower and medium levels of need be noted, and the intention to explore options for remodelling the service, including exploring in detail the option of aligning the service with the ongoing development of the Three Conversation Model be endorsed; including options for the Wyre Forest Connect reception desk service and the Wyre Forest Connect drop-in services;

c)     the intention, in relation to the Council's four Resource Centres, for commissioners to work with the Council's Adult Social Care Provider Services to develop strategies for cost reduction and/or income generation in order to reduce the gap between the cost of the in-house services and the external sector be endorsed;

d)     the Director of Adult Services be authorised to finalise consultation documentation and commence formal consultation with people using services and carers, on the proposal to close the Wyre Forest Connect Long-term Learning Disability Day Service and the re-provision of services for the seven individuals who currently use this service; with consultation to commence in early July 2018 for a proposed period of 12 weeks;

e)     the intention, in relation to the other six Connect Learning Disability Day Services, Connect Drop-in Services and Leisure Link, for commissioners to work with the Council's Adult Social Care Provider Services to produce options to develop strategies for cost reduction and/or income generation to reduce the gap between the cost of the in-house services and the external sector be endorsed;

f)      the permanent relocation of Connect Droitwich, previously based at Kingfields in Droitwich, to the Wendron Centre, Bromsgrove be approved; 

g)     a further report/reports be brought to Cabinet by November 2018 to include the results of the work outlined in (b) above, with consequent recommendations for formal consultation as required, and the results of the formal consultation outlined in (d) above.