Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director Commissioning seeking Permission to consult on proposals for Meals on Wheels

The Leader noted the report, which sought approval to enter into consultation around a proposal to end the subsidy for meals on wheels.

Cllr Connor noted that the report set out that one proposal was around providing service users with kitchen appliances, frozen meals and accompanying home care, if required. Cllr Connor suggested that this could involve a significant initial outlay and enquired whether there was any expectation that that would happen. In response, officers advised that there were a number of options set out in the report and that these would be evaluated as part of the consultation process.

RESOLVED

I.        To approve consultation with service users, carers and other stakeholders the proposalto end the subsidy for meals on wheels.

II.        To agree that a report on the findings of the consultation and the proposed recommendation be brought back to Cabinet for a decision.

Reasons for decision

In delivering the Corporate Plan, the Council aims to enable all adults to lead healthy, long and fulfilling lives through a strong emphasis on promoting independence, personalisation and choice and control. The current arrangements for meals on wheels, in which a subsidy is paid by the Council for each meal delivered through a contract with an external supplier, are taken up by approximately 110 users each month. The proposals set out in this paper would offer greater choice to residents in need of support to access a daily hot meal, whilst enabling the Council to make savings and to build a more sustainable community offer to more residents.

There has been no increase in client contributions to the service since 2012/13 and the contribution has only increased by 20p from £3.20 to £3.40 since 2010. Costs of the meal overall have increased, however, with a standard meal now costing £7.60 and the Council pays at least £4 towards every meal, costing over £140,000 each year. In addition, the number of users accessing the service has reduced from over 300 in 2011 to only around 110 users now. The Council is keen to hear from stakeholders directly, through consultation, their views of the current service, of the proposed new offer and of the implications of removal of subsidy for them.

 Alternative options considered

Significant work has been undertaken to explore an alternative offer to replace the current arrangements and this is set out in more detail in Section 6. Continuing with the current arrangements has been considered but rejected as the payment of the subsidy is not sustainable and only a limited number of users benefit from a hot meal. Given that neither the Care Act nor preceding legislation require meals to be subsidised or the cost of food to be met by the Council, consideration was given to withdrawing the subsidy whilst not building community based alternatives. This, however, was rejected as the development of a strong, community offer supports independence and meets the wider Council aspirations to build a stronger community in the borough.

Over 50% of London boroughs have ended their meals on wheels services. Haringey Council is the only borough in North Central London which still offers a subsidised Meals on Wheels service. Islington, Camden and Enfield ended their direct provision of Meals on Wheels services in 2011 and Barnet in 2015.