Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Sarah Marsh (Parent Governor Co-optee).

Under the Council’s Constitution – Part 4 Section B paragraph 17 – no other business shall be considered.

There were no urgent items.

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgment of the public interest and if this interest affects their financial position or the financial position of a person or body as described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct and/or if it relates to the determining of any approval, consent, licence, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

Councillor David Winskill declared a personal interest as he was a Council Leaseholder.

Councillor Gideon Bull declared a personal interest as he was a White Hart Lane Ward Councillor.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, Section B, paragraph 29 of the Council’s constitution.

There were no such items.

To consider the report on the review of Supported Housing and to provide any comments and recommendations to the Cabinet.

The Committee received the report updating on the progress of the Supported Housing Review affecting the Council’s sheltered housing schemes at Protheroe House, Larkspur Close and Stokley Court, introduced by Nick Powell, Head of Housing Strategy, Development and Partnerships.  The Committee was asked to note that proposals for Larkspur Close and Stokley Court would be presented to the Committee in future and Haringey’s multi-agency Older People’s Housing strategy was currently being consulted on. The Committee was also invited to provide feedback and recommendations to the Cabinet on the recommendations for Protheroe Housing and the Extra Care Supported Housing model.

A discussion took place and the following responses to Committee Members’ questions were noted:

The charging system under the new Extra Care scheme would remain the same as current schemes; residents paid rent plus a supporting people charge (for support staff) but additional services such as cleaning were paid for separately by tenants.

The Extra Care model enabled significant financial savings for the social care provider and tenants but provided the same access to support as in residential housing.

The age profile of ethnic minorities had been previously predicted as younger than the white population but there was in fact more of a demand for services related to advanced old age in ethnic minority communities, which presented difficulties in providing a viable service.

Initially Protheroe House tenants had not wanted change but through the different stages of consultation since May 2009 including, individual and group discussions, to find out what tenants wanted in future provision, they were now looking forward to moving.

Officers recognised the Committee’s recommendation during previous discussions that an Extra Care scheme in Haringey should be owned by the Council and advised that future reports will state that, financially,  this was not a feasible option.  Opportunities were being explored to work with partners and the Cabinet would be presented with options including the cost of developing an Extra Care scheme in partnership with local government and housing associations and the possibility for negotiating the Council’s placement allocation which would be financially beneficial.

Extra Care provision would provide a more appropriate setting for dementia care than current supported housing schemes although it would not provide for all types of dementia.

Committee Members expressed concern at the impact of the deferral of a decision on the future of Larkspur Close on Tenants.

RESOLVED

i.          That the progress of the Supported Housing Review be noted.

ii.         That any future reports on redevelopment proposals for Protheroe House as an Extra Care scheme should confirm that the Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Mental Health Trust (MHT) have been consulted.

iii.        That officers be asked to provide definite dates for the proposals for Lakspur Close and Stokley Court and note that the deferral of decisions caused anxiety for the tenants.

The meeting ended at 18:45hrs