HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
ADULT CARE AND HEALTHCABINET PANEL
THURSDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2008 AT 10.00AM
ADULT CARE SERVICES PROPERTY PRIORITIES
Report of the Corporate Director (People and Property)
[Authors: Jackie Aldridge, Programme Manager, Property Business Services Tel: 07917 594574
Eileen Ziemer, Asset Manager (Strategy)
Tel: 07850 737359]
Executive Member: Sally Newton (Adult Care and Health)
1. Purpose of report
1.1To provide an overview of service property issues and a preliminary list of property priorities and desired projects, their characteristics and initial broad estimates of cost, where available.
1.2To invite the Panel to review and make comments on the listed priorities for service property projects.
1.3To note that the priority order of property projects will be set by the ACS Board on 17 September, when capital bids will be considered. There are likely to be very few bids for direct funding by HCC as most of ACS schemes are funded via other sources (e.g. partnership arrangements)
2. Summary
2.1The areas under review are the service property priorities and actions.Priorities by property are set out in the Priorities and Actions section of Appendix 1- Service Property Priorities (SPP) spreadsheets.
3. Recommendation
3.1The Panel is invited to comment on the SPP priorities and projects as set out inAppendix A, and to note that the ACS Board’s priorities will be circulated to members of the Panel by e-mail for further comment, prior to all services priorities for capital bids being reported to the Performance and Resources Panel.
4. Background
4.1Members of the panel received the service Annual Accommodation Statement (AAS) on 12 March 2008. The AAS providedan overview of service direction and objectivesand relevant propertyissues, taking into consideration emerging needs together with the fitness for purpose and ability to sustain service delivery in existing property used by the service.
4.2The AAS links to the Service Property Priorities (SPP) and capital programme processes. The SPPs enhance transparency and the potential for making properly-informed decisions.
4.3The Service Property Priorities (SPP) provide focused and targeted information which they can easily assimilate to appreciate the current property-related issues which face HCC’s various service departments.
4.4It enables cross-service comparison by using shared processes, definitions and understanding across the organization. It seeks to be as objective and comparable as possible to support better prioritisation to inform investment and disposal decisions across all services and demonstrate the link between our use of resources and our asset management systems.
4.5Specific property-related actions must demonstrate links to the AAS and overall service and corporate objectives.
4.6 HCC’s Corporate Property Objective 1 is “to ensure that our property is appropriate for its intended use in terms of suitability, sufficiency, condition, cost and environmental impact”, with the target of 95% to be fit for purpose by 2020.
4.7Data in relation to each property used by an HCC service is collected under various headings:-
- condition
- suitability
- sufficiency (in relation to both capacity and utilization)
- environmental impact – CO2 emissions & water use
- costs
The data is measured and given a grading. The results are brought together in a spreadsheet format and colour coded into red, amber and green. If any element of assessment is red, or if the property has been identified as unable to sustain service delivery and/or has to relocate or be re-provided within seven years, the property is flagged overall as Red.
4.8The SPP enables Members to home in, at a glance, on properties where the colour red appears, and to review on a single sheet/section the Priorities & Potential Actions to discuss.
5. All premises used by the service
5.1Members are asked to note that the first part of the SPP which lists the performance of all premises used to deliver services shows an increase in the number of red properties, from 11 last year to 25 this year.
5.2The increase in reds has been mainly caused by reviews of the elderly persons’ homes and day service modernisation, as well as decisions relating to TWWW, coming to conclusion. New models of care and higher standards make some properties, which may be currently fit for purpose, unable to sustain service delivery in the future and they are projected to need to be relocated or re-provided within seven years. Properties in these circumstances are flagged as red, and project work to re-provide is initiated toallow for long lead times for possible major building works, purchases or disposals, which are lengthy processes.
5.3It should also be noted that there is an element of under-reporting on the condition of properties, due to a transition to a more comprehensive method of assessment which will be able to take whole life costing into consideration.
6.Service Priorities
Not in priority order
Elderly:
- increase supply and use of extra care housing
- the suitability of 17 homes are being reviewed over time, plans being developed with partners-these include, Ashwood, Beane River View, Bulwer Lytton House, Fourfields, Freeman House, Hyde Valley House, Jane Campbell House, Margaret House, Minsden, Nevetts, Newhaven, Richard Cox House, and Fairway, Belmont,
- provide additional capacity
- increase intermediate care provision (with Health partners)
- review day services
Learning Disability Residential:
- develop housing and support places, including shared ownership
- progress day service modernisation
- grow 60 plus places per year
- remodel two unsuitable hostels, Jupiter Drive in Hemel Hempstead, due for completion September 2008 and Little Bushey Lane in Bushey (Amendments to planning application are being finalised).
- Ensure that existing accommodation meets ‘decent homes standards’
Mental Health:
- review of housing provision and day services in progress
Physical Disability /Sensory Loss:
- review of residential care and accommodation. St Michaels, Welwyn Garden City is under review.
- role of resource centres in local communities to assess need and access services
Day Services:
- Learning disabilities - 8 day services are part of the modernisation programme: Balmoral Watford (nearing completion), Hornbeams Welwyn Garden City (Briars Pavilion is now operational and planning consent has been obtained at the existing Welwyn Garden City site), Leydon House Stevenage (hub bases have been identified), Geddings Hoddesdon (liaising with partners at identified sites), Butterwick St Albans (Hub bases identified category A costs obtained). Jarmans Hemel Hempstead, Baldock and Shepherds Rickmansworth (sites are being identified against individual service provision projections).
- Elderly and physical disability - Kennedy Gardens Letchworth is under review and,due to corporate initiatives, action is required at Greenhills Hemel Hempstead.
- Multi purpose day services- will be reviewed in next 2 years
Gypsies and Travellers:
- Working with district and borough councils to address accommodation needs
- Aim to maximise current opportunities for matched funding to ensure that sites are well maintained and conditions improved.
- Subject to approval improve amenity blocks at Long Marston site and enhance site security at sites to be identified to ensure current assets are protected.
- As part of corporate initiatives Halfhyde Lane Gypsy site, Cheshunt may relocate due to a commercial opportunity.
Carers:
- Provide access to respite services
7. Background Papers
2008 Service Annual Accommodation Statement
Appendix 1:Service Property Priorities spreadsheet
1
080911 AC&H Cabinet Panel
Item 4 – ACS Service Property Priorities