Issue - meetings

i)        Report of the Monitoring Officer (Attached 1)

ii)      Report of the Director of Adult and Housing Services (TO FOLLOW)

iii)    Appendix (For information only):

a)     Copy of the ‘call in’

b)     Draft minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 7^th June 2011 (subject to confirmation by the Cabinet)

c)      7^th June 2011 Cabinet Report – Recommended Budget Savings Decision – Adult Services Proposals in 2011 – Older Persons’ Drop-In Centres, Jacksons Lane Luncheon Club and Cypriot Elderly and Disability Project.

A decision on the above item was taken by the Cabinet on 7^th June 2011. The decision has been called in, in accordance with the provisions set out in the Constitution, by Councillors Winskill, Erskine, Gorrie, Whyte and Solomon.

RECEIVED the report of the Monitoring Officer (pages 1-5 of the agenda pack) validating the call-in request (pages 7-9) of the decision of the Cabinet of 7^th June 2011 (in relation to budget savings – Older Person’s Drop-In Centres, Jacksons Lane Luncheon Club and Cypriot Elderly and Disability Project and the report of the Director of Adult and Housing Services (pages 1-26 of the to-follow papers).

Committee Members also received various written representations from interested groups prior to the meeting including:

·          A letter on behalf of the Haringey Federation of Residents’ Associations (Vulnerable Groups) opposing the decision for the closure of drop-in centres.

·          A briefing from Willoughby Drop-in Day Centre listing the benefits of drop-in centres.

·          Details of a petition against any closure of Woodside House Drop-In Centre.

·          A letter on behalf of Age UK highlighting the importance of luncheon clubs remaining in operation.

·          A letter from Haringey Association of Voluntary Community Organisations (HAVCO) to the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services expressing concerns relating to consultation on the closures of services.

a.         Monitoring Officer’s Report

The Deputy Monitoring Officer Dorothy Simon presented the report as laid out.

b.         Introduction to the Call-in of the Cabinet decision of 7^th June 2011 relating to budget savings – Older Person’s Services by Councillor David Winskill

NOTED the introduction to the call-in by Cllr Winskill, including:

• The Call-in had been signed by Cllrs Winskill, Erskine, Gorrie, Whyte and Solomon.
• Reference to “drop-in centres” should be taken to include Jackson’s Lane Luncheon Club.
• Recognition that the drop-in services were a preventative service.
• Revenue savings could have been made elsewhere to avoid cutting such precious and valued frontline services.
• At the very least the Council should suspend the process to close the drop-in centres to enable partnership arrangements to be made or training and capacity building and enablement to voluntary and third sector organisations to allow a seamless transition of the running of drop-in centres. During that time a review of the decision should take place and include a thorough risk-analysis of long-term cost implications of closures on Council services and the NHS as well as asking whether and how much users could contribute to the running of the centres.
• Service users should be invited to make a modest contribution of £2.50 per week which could generate £60k, over 40 weeks, towards keeping the centres open
• 635 older people regularly visited these services at a low cost of £285 each per year and the closures would result in increased social isolation and would have an adverse impact on carers.  Evidence showed that socialised older people lived longer, were active and stayed healthier.
• Drop-in centre staff recognised signs of illness, harm, distress and abuse; preventing longer more expensive care. Closures of these services would increase costs to other Council services.
• The centres offered a sense of belonging, continuity of care and support and a feeling of companionship which prevented loneliness and depression.

• The Council should provide a commitment to keep the Older People’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11