Report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Development attached.

Decision made (Unanimously):

1.    That Cabinet approves the decision to develop, own and manage an Extra Care Scheme within South Ribble in line with the need for Extra Care Housing as outlined within the LCC Housing Care and Support Strategy 2018-2025.

2.    That Cabinet grants authority to the Director (Planning and Property) to identify sites within the Councils ownership of which the Council can acquire in order to build and extra care scheme within South Ribble.

3.    That Cabinet request the Director (Planning and Property) to establish an officer working group with agreed terms of reference to drive forward identification of a site, review procurement options and identify sources of funding to build and manage the scheme with details of the preferred site, procurement route and funding options being reported back to Cabinet in June 2020.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health, Wellbeing and Leisure), presented a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Development that provided an update on plans to develop an extra care scheme within South Ribble and sought approval to progress, with the establishment of an officer working group to identify a suitable site, review procurement options and identify funding sources for the scheme.

With South Ribble being one of a number of authorities which have yet to develop an Extra Care scheme in Lancashire, there is now pressing demand. Lancashire County Council’s Housing with Care and Support Strategy 2018-2025 indicates that South Ribble has a current need to provide for at least 204 Extra Care apartments in the borough by 2025 and officers have been working with the County to progress this issue.

In response to a question raise by Councillor Colin Clark, it was explained that all management costs of such a scheme would need to be contained with the Business Plan but that the Council was confident that the development of the scheme would be cost neutral to the Council and could provide a sustainable income in the years to come. The Leader added that there was funding available from Lancashire County Council, along with other grant support that the Council could access to finance its development.

Councillor Alan Ogilvie queried if the scheme would only be available for South Ribble residents. The Cabinet Member confirmed that this would be the main criteria for applicants but that there would be some exceptions. For example, veterans that had a local connection to the area, would be able to apply. The Cabinet Member also confirmed that the administration would be looking to implement more affordable rents for its occupants.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Margaret Smith informed that her group were very much in favour of such a scheme and thought that a visit to one of the Extra Care schemes at either Chorley or Ormskirk would be beneficial for Members.

Decision made (Unanimously):

1.    That Cabinet approves the decision to develop, own and manage an Extra Care Scheme within South Ribble in line with the need for Extra Care Housing as outlined within the LCC Housing Care and Support Strategy 2018-2025.

2.    That Cabinet grants authority to the Director (Planning and Property) to identify sites within the Councils ownership of which the Council can acquire in order to build an extra care scheme within South Ribble.

3.    That Cabinet request the Director (Planning and Property) to establish an officer working group with agreed terms of reference to drive forward identification of a site, review procurement options and identify sources of funding to build and manage the scheme with details of the preferred site, procurement route and funding options being reported back to Cabinet in June 2020.

Reason(s) for the decision:

1.     South Ribble Borough Council are one of a number of authorities within Lancashire that presently do not have an Extra Care Scheme, and this is an issue  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81