Issue - meetings

The Select Committee has called in the decision relating to the change of route to market for two Extra Care Housing sites.

Witnesses:

Mark Hak-Sanders, Strategic Finance Business Partner (Corporate)

Peter Hopkins, Assistant Director of Commercial Property

Wil House, Strategic Finance Business Partner (Adult Social Care and Public Health)

Jonathan Lillistone, Assistant Director of Commissioning (Adult Social Care)

Sinead Mooney, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health

Simon White, Executive Director of Adult Social Care

Rachel Wigley, Director of Financial Insight

Key points raised during the discussion:

1. The Chairman of the Select Committee informed Members and witnesses that she had taken action to address the late submission of the Cabinet Extra Care report to the Select Committee for the 14 July 2020 meeting, so this issue should not be included in the discussion at this Call-In meeting.
2. Moreover, the Chairman was aware that the Select Committee had operational questions about the Accommodation with Care and Support programme, and these would be addressed with a deep dive by the Select Committee.
3. The Chairman then outlined the decision in question: the route to market for Extra Care Housing across two sites (Pinehurst and Brockhurst). On 21 July 2020, Cabinet had taken the decision to approve the proposed route to market. This decision had been called in by Cllrs Nick Darby, Fiona White and Angela Goodwin. Since the Call-In had been initiated, Cllr Darby had had meetings with relevant officers on the subject and the Select Committee had received the relevant reports with more information on the proposed route to market for the two Extra Care Housing sites.
4. The Members who had brought about the Call-In explained that the Select Committee was not against the principle of Extra Care Housing and that Members believed Extra Care Housing could be beneficial both in terms of outcomes for residents and financially for the Council; nor did Members object to the ambition of creating 725 Extra Care homes by 2028. The reason behind the Call-In was that Members did not feel they had been involved in the decision-making process early enough or presented with sufficient information, which had not allowed them to fulfil the Select Committee’s role of providing genuine scrutiny, protecting tax payers’ money and acting as a critical friend. Members desired formal confirmation in this meeting that that had been acknowledged by officers and Cabinet Members.
5. The Cabinet Member for Adults and Health emphasised the necessity of building more affordable housing in Surrey, the urgency of the Extra Care Housing scheme and the importance of supporting those most vulnerable. She detailed a case study of successful outcomes for a woman living in supported housing and emphasised its quality and safety.
6. Furthermore, the Cabinet Member emphasised that becoming a social landlord would not be in the Council’s best interest, as it was a costly, lengthy process and most applicants were not accepted, meaning this application could add delay to the Extra Care Housing programme, which should be urgently implemented.
7. The Assistant Director of Commissioning (ASC) agreed with the Cabinet Member’s statements and expressed a desire to deliver Surrey’s ambition while facilitating scrutiny.
8. A Member asked for clarification on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29