Issue - meetings

[Report of the interim  Assistant Director for  Economic Development  and Growth. To be introduced by the Cabinet  Member for Adults and Health.]

The report requests approval for the acquisition of the freehold interest in the former Health Centre in Canning Crescent and contains proposals for its future use.

The Cabinet Member for Adults and Health introduced this report which sought approval for the acquisition of the freehold interest in the former Health Centre in Canning Crescent and contained proposals for its future use. The Canning Crescent Health Centre, 276-292 High Road (“Property”), was a former mental health centre located in Wood Green which had been advertised for disposal by Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health National Health Service Trust. This report set out a proposal to acquire the Property and repurpose the existing building for community use relating to adults with mental health issues. The Cabinet Member commented that a large number of individuals were affected by mental illness at some point in their lives and this was a rare chance for the Council, working in partnership with the NHS, to offer a mix of provision on a single site to enable local residents with poor mental health to enjoy better outcomes.

Further to considering exempt material pertaining to the report at agenda item 23,

RESOLVED:

1. To the acquisition of the property known as Canning Crescent Health Centre, 276-292 High Road, Wood Green (as shown edged in red on the plan in Appendix 1) from the Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health National Health Service Trust for a sum of £2.4m and based on the Heads of Terms attached at Appendix 3 of this report. The property is to be acquired for general fund purposes; and

2. To give delegated authority to the Director of Housing, Regeneration and Planning after consultation with the Director of Finance and the Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, to agree the final terms of the contract.

3. That the total cost of acquisition (£2.4m plus transaction costs as set out in 6.27) and the costs for the initial development of the project of c£0.3m are met from the Strategic Acquisitions budget within the approved capital programme.

4. To note that, subject to further due diligence and development planning, officers intend to return to Cabinet in 2019 for approval of the Detailed Design and Detailed Costs (capital and revenue) and approval to procure.

Reasons for decision

The acquisition will benefit the Council by enabling the delivery of supported housing units to serve the need of residents in the Borough and by providing a new improved facility for the Council’s Clarendon Recovery College. The proposal will deliver revenue savings for the Council and release land elsewhere in Wood Green for housing delivery.

The revenue savings will be achieved by stepping existing clients down from residential care and/or supported living with a care team into purpose built supported housing on a single site. There are also positive benefits for residents of a supported living scheme within the borough, rather than having to move out of borough to receive the support they need, especially given the proposal to co-locate other provision on the same site.

This is an opportunity for joint working and a fully joined up approach with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for revenue costs and contribution  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101