Agenda item

The report of the Leader of the Council was submitted setting out the details of the business undertaken by the Executive.

 

The Leader and the Cabinet made statements and responded to Questions.

 

The following questions were then submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1

 

1.  Woodside Lodge – Potential closure

 

Question from Councillor White to Councillor Shields

 

Woodside Lodge is being considered for closure therefore what consideration has the Cabinet Member given to the long term use of the other two dementia homes?

 

Answer:

 

Woodside Lodge is not being considered for closure. The only decision Cabinet is being asked to consider on 15th July is to authorise consultation on the re-provision of services at Woodside residential care home, Kentish Road respite unit and day services. No decisions about the future of any unit, home or services have been proposed yet nor have any pre-determination been made as to what the likely outcome would be. However, one potential outcome could be a recommendation that Woodside Lodge closes with suitable re-provision of the services.

 

If Cabinet authorise the consultation process then this will be carried out fully and in line with relevant codes of practice and the outcome will be fully evaluated and taken into account before any further proposals are recommended. The Council would also evaluate all other relevant information, guidance and good practice.

 

Consideration has been made about seeking Cabinet authorisation to consult on other residential homes but this has not been deemed necessary at the current time. This is for a number of reasons; including the fact that any closure or re-provision of services would need to be very carefully managed and we would wish to make sure that we have sufficient available resource to do this, the other homes are at a higher level of average occupancy and we are also cognisant that whilst there is capacity in the market at present, we would not want to over-use the available capacity all at once and would wish to manage the development of the market in a controlled manner.

 

2.  Woodside Lodge – Occupancy

 

Question from Councillor White to Councillor Shields

 

As the occupancy rate of Woodside Lodge is currently considerably lower than the other homes can the Cabinet Member give the comparison of the rates for all three dementia homes over the last 12 months?

 

Answer:

 

The figures quoted are for the period April 2013 to March 2014.  As you will appreciate, there is monthly variation but the average figures are as follows:

 

·  Woodside Lodge 87%

·  Glen Lee 95%

·  Holcroft House 98%

 

 

3.  Woodside Lodge – Value and possible use

 

Question from Councillor White to Councillor Barnes-Andrews

 

Can the Cabinet Member indicate the value of the Woodside Lodge site and possible use should the decision be made to close the home?

 

Answer:

 

The Council has not assessed an open market value of the premises recently, however the asset value stated in the council’s accounts is £652,000 as at 1^st April 2012 based on the existing use value to the Council as required by Accounting Regulations. This is not the likely amount that might be realised on a sale which may be completely different. This would require investigation into potential alternative uses from a planning point of view, together with more detailed legal and technical assessment of the site. The site is not allocated for any particular use within the Council’s adopted Development Plan, and so any planning application for alternative use would be assessed against general policies.  The principle of an alternative residential use would be acceptable.

 

 

4.  Consultations

 

Question from Councillor Galton to Councillor Letts

 

Would the Leader agree with me in the importance of ensuring all consultations are as inclusive as possible?

 

Answer:

 

Yes

 

5.  Primary School Provision

 

Question from Councillor Galton to Councillor Jeffery

 

Are you still confident in the Local Authority’s ability to meet the need in primary school provision and any school expansions to facilitate the various expansion processes?

 

Answer:

 

Yes, I am confident that we will meet our responsibilities in delivering the requirements for primary expansion.

 

The authority has been planning to meet the increase in pupil numbers in primary schools for a number of years. Based upon current planning, the numbers reach a peak in Reception age in 2015 although we are, obviously closely monitoring birth-rates and other factors that affect numbers.

 

We have expanded schools to meet this need with further expansions planned for September 2015. These are all on target to meet the required deadlines.

 

6.  Regents Park Road

 

Question from Councillor Galton to Councillor Rayment

 

Has the Cabinet Member visited the bottom end of Regents Park Road since its recent repairs and is she satisfied with the end of the road now?

 

Answer:

 

I have not yet visited the length of road in question, however I am advised by our engineers that the recent repair to the road surface was carried out to remove several large potholes and to improve ride quality.

 

There are some outstanding remedial works to these repairs which will be carried out by the contractor at no cost to the Council and with minimal disruption to local residents

 

 

7.  Home Condition Standards

 

Question from Councillor Baillie to Councillor Payne

 

When are you going to adopt a new improved standard for the condition of homes owned by SCC?

 

Answer:

 

The Council adopted its own standard for the quality of Council Homes in 2012 as part of the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan.  This determines the level of investment and replacement timeframes for our Capital Programme.  Details are included as an appendix with the annual Business Plan report agreed by Council each February.

 

8.  Affordable Homes

 

Question from Councillor Baillie to Councillor Payne

 

What is the requirement for new Affordable Homes in Southampton over the next 10 years, and what is your target?

 

Answer:

 

The Administration’s target is to provide one new affordable home a day (365 a year).

 

The 2014 PUSH South Hampshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment has suggested that over the period 2013-2036 the estimated level of housing need for affordable housing is 16,251 homes, or 707 per annum for Southampton.

 

9.  City’s Housing Estates

 

Question from Councillor Baillie to Councillor Payne

 

Why have you allowed many of the estates to look so unkempt?

 

Answer:

 

The Council is currently investing more in its homes and estates through the Housing Revenue Account Capital programme than at any other time including significant investment in Decent Neighbourhoods in many areas including Shirley, Holyrood, Maybush and Bassett.  We are also completing the largest external painting programme for our walk up blocks across the city helping dramatically improve the appearance of many of our estates.  Customer satisfaction with our capital programme is consistently over 95%.