Issue - meetings

Response to Petition Received in relation to The Haven

In accordance with Committee Standing Orders the Chair reported back  to the meeting the response to the petition received and noted at the February Cabinet meeting.

The Leader expressed understanding of the strength of feeling surrounding the proposals to close The Haven day centre and acknowledged the views of service users, and their carers, and the value they placed on this service. 

However, the cuts imposed upon the Council meant it must look to use its more limited resources in ways which continued to support as many people as possible, as fairly and well as possible.  Investment in buildings, rather than in people and communities, did not meet this test.  The Haven served a very limited number of people and to prioritise scarce resources to maintain that service at the expense of others was inequitable.  Currently, The Haven day service provided day opportunities to 48 Haringey Residents. The development of community options and social enterprise models will give more people more choice locally.

The Council’s statutory obligation to meet the assessed needs of vulnerable adults had not changed, and  the Council  would continue to ensure that residents assessed as needing adult social care continue to receive high quality services.  The proposals were about changing the way that services were delivered, reducing the number of buildings based services and delivering more community based models.  Cabinet noted that  Neighbourhood Connects is one model and for those who are assessed as having needs that cannot be met by a Neighbourhoods Connect model, the Council will ensure support is provided through other means.

A number of people currently receive personal budgets/direct payments, which gives them control over how day activities are spent. I recognise that there is work to be done in terms of developing the market so that there are increased opportunities for choice. This is work that our commissioning team are currently developing.

It was also important to note that the closure of the Haven will be subject to further consultation.

Deputation  - in relation to item 23, Review of Libraries and Improving Face to Face Customer Services

The Leader invited Fiona Stone to address the meeting and put forward issues regarding the proposals for Marcus Garvey Library. Ms. Stone expressed concerns regarding rumours that had developed concerning the transfer of Haringey Customer Service staff into Marcus Garvey Library, following the closure of Apex House. Ms. Stone expressed concern that no concrete proposals had been released and that so far there had been a distinct lack of consultation with the community on this issue. Ms. Stone noted that a transfer of staff would lead to a reduction in space at the library and a reduction in the number of staff.

Ms. Stone was concerned that the proposed £3m refurbishment of Marcus Garvey would be mostly used to facilitate the integration of Customer Services staff into the building. Ms. Stone also commented that the library was the only non-privatised space in the area for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 836