Cabinet Member: Finance & Property

Forward Plan Ref:  2011/059

Contact: Sue Ryde, Principal Strategy Officer Tel: (01865) 862529; Nigel Holmes, Programme Manager, ECH Tel: (01865) 323684

Report by Director for Social & Community Services (CA16).

In accordance with Regulation 16 of the The Local Authorities (Executive

Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000 (as amended), the Chairman of the Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny Committee (since this is a finance related item) has agreed that the need to take the decision is urgent and cannot reasonably be deferred.

The County Council has been planning for the development Extra Care Housing (ECH) on its site at Shotover View, Oxford with its partners in the Oxfordshire Care Partnership (OCP).  The ECH development is one of the Councils main strategies for the development of services for older people that meet the needs for support and care and also move away from the reliance on residential care.

The development of the Shotover ECH scheme requires grant subsidy from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).  The proposed allocation will not be sufficient for the scheme to be viable without further support.

This report proposes that this is from the County's Capital Programme allocation for the development of ECH. The sum required is £1.16million.

Note: As set out under Rule 18(a) of the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, this decision is exempt from Call-In as the Council’s call-in procedure should not apply where the  decision being taken is urgent in the view of the decision maker. The decision maker considers that this decision is urgent in that any delay any delay would be detrimental to the Council’s financial interest and to the strategy for the development of services for older people. In accordance with Rule 18(a) the agreement of the  Chairman of the Council is being sought  that in all the circumstances the decision should be treated as a matter of urgency.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval of the payment of £1.2m grant to help secure the viability of a new, purpose built Extra Care Housing Scheme to provide a development of 55 one and two bedroom flats plus a full suite of communal facilities plus accommodation for care staff.

Note: As set out under Rule 18(a) of the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, this decision is exempt from Call-In in that any delay would be detrimental to the Council’s financial interest and to the strategy for the development of services for older people.

Note: In accordance with Regulation 16 of The Local Authorities (Executive

Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000 (as amended), the Chairman of the Strategy & Partnerships Scrutiny Committee (since this is a finance related item) has agreed that the need to take the decision is urgent and cannot reasonably be deferred. The Chairman of the meeting agreed that the item be deemed a matter of urgency in view of the need to secure the viability of the scheme.

Cabinet was advised that the grant agreement would be with Oxfordshire Care Partnership and not Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association as set out in the report.

Cabinet Members noted that it would be the last meeting attended by Nick Welch before his retirement and they thanked him for his efforts for the Council and wished him well in his retirement.

RESOLVED:             to approve the payment of grant to Oxfordshire Care Partnership  in order to help secure the viability of a new, purpose built Extra Care Housing Scheme.