Decision details

Councillor Gerald Vincent, the Lead Member of the Living and Working Select Committee, introduced the report on the in-depth review on Supported Housing for Older People in the Borough.

He referred to the amendments made to the wording of recommendation eight and explained that at the Executive on 16 March 2010, Councillor Rush pointed out that the original wording of the recommendation was ambiguous with regard to Gascoigne Road. In light of her comments the recommendation had been re-worded and circulated to the Assembly.

He offered his thanks to the Members and Officers who contributed to the review and hoped that the recommendations in the report would complement the new Older People Strategy and help achieve the vision of a ‘fair and respectful’ and ‘healthy’ Borough.

The Assembly therefore agreed the following recommendations, including the amendment made to recommendation eight:

1. That a detailed demographic and needs analysis for older people be undertaken so that a single set of data is produced. This data source should be freely available for use by any services and agencies in the Borough involved in older people’s provision.

2. That the maintenance priorities for sheltered and extra care schemes are addressed, following a detailed stock options appraisal of the portfolio. 

3. That plans are drawn up (including consultation, reports, Executive agreement) to deal with the following six schemes as follows:

1)  Church Elm Lane (re-designation)

2)  Fews Lodge (re-development for extra care sheltered housing)

3)  Limbourne Avenue (re-designation)

4)  Lovelace Gardens (re-designation)

5)  Maud Gardens (re-designation)

6)  Rectory Road (re-designation)

Each site would be subject to a detailed analysis outlining the preferred re-development options in line with (predicted) future need and demand requirements.  Where re-designation is not the best option the Committee recommends disposal of that site.  However, should any site need to be disposed of, it is recommended that any receipts generated are ring-fenced for the re-provision of sheltered, extra-care and/or affordable housing.

The remainder of the sheltered stock will then be subjected to a stock options review in 2010 as part of the development of the Housing Strategy for Older People.  The review will undertake a holistic assessment including the options for significant modernisation and re-modelling into mixed use core and cluster models against predicted future needs.  The review will consider how LBBD can continue to support the growing population of older people through new models of supported housing (mixed core and cluster developments, telecare, floating support etc).

4. That the Council completes the implementation of a choice-based lettings system for sheltered accommodation applicants.

5. That the future older people’s accommodation is designed with the wider community in mind and communal space is used creatively and, where appropriate, allocates space for the Primary Care Trust and third sector.

6. That extra care housing is subjected to a stock options review in 2010 as part of the development of the Housing Strategy for Older People.  As with sheltered housing, the review will undertake a holistic assessment including the options for significant modernization and re-modeling against predicted future needs.

7. That the Council provides a specific extra care dementia scheme.  A feasibility study should be undertaken in 2010 to establish detailed options.

8. That vulnerable people and those with learning difficulties are placed in the most appropriate type of accommodation. People with learning difficulties should be given the chance to live independently with support in the home and residential placements should only be considered as a last resort. The Select Committee commends the work done so far to de-commission residential placements for people with learning difficulties. Gascoigne Road should come under review in order to see whether a more personalized approach can be used to provide the same level of support at this site.

9. That Barking and Dagenham conducts a survey to assess the impact of telecare both in terms of cost savings and to the ability of service users to remain living independently in their own home.  The research should also aim to find out the opinion users have of telecare and their satisfaction levels with the service.  It is hoped the results of this study will help to build an evidence base to support the development of the service in the future.