Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Wallasey Town Hall

Note: The meeting will commence at 6.15pm or on the rising of the 5.30pm Extraordinary Council meeting, whichever is the later 

Items
No. Item

73.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members of the Council are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest, in connection with any matter to be debated or determined at this meeting and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

 

Minutes:

The Members of the Council were invited to consider whether they had any disclosable pecuniary and/or any other relevant interest in connection with any matters to be determined at this meeting and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

 

No such declarations were made.

74.

CIVIC MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

To receive the Civic Mayor's announcements and any apologies for absence.

 

Minutes:

The Civic Mayor noted that apologies had been received from Councillors John Hale, Andrew Hodson, Anita Leech, Tracey Pilgrim and Cherry Povall.

 

The Civic Mayor referred to the Tea Dance which would be taking place in the Town Hall, Wallasey on Wednesday, 7 December, 2016 from 1.30pm and encouraged Members to sponsor a ticket at £5 each for those elderly people who might struggle to afford a ticket.

75.

GIRTRELL COURT pdf icon PDF 42 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Civic Mayor informed the Council that the Council agenda pack contained a copy of the requisition notice from the Conservative Group and a Notice of Motion.

 

Proposed by Councillor Chris Blakeley

Seconded by Councillor Steve Williams

 

Following critical responses from users, carers, families and staff Council is concerned that the transitional arrangements put in place following the decision to close Girtrell Court do not appear to be providing the respect and dignity that was promised.

 

Council further notes that, while Girtrell Court is a 20 bed single floor bespoke respite centre which, according to the Director of Adult Social Care’s latest description provides thirteen respite beds, two emergency beds and five placement breakdown beds the alternative provision will comprise a ten bed unit over three floors, providing, according to the Director of Adult Social Care, eight respite beds and two emergency beds with no provision for placement breakdown. Therefore Council does not believe this alternative is 'equal to or better' than that currently provided at Girtrell Court.

 

Council is also concerned that promises made to existing staff regarding the transitional arrangements are not being honoured and staff have been, and continue to be, left in a state of limbo.

 

Council therefore resolves to instruct officers to halt the closure programme for Girtrell Court and, instead, to invest the £1 million pound capital available to the Director in this excellent bespoke facility.

 

An amendment which had been circulated in advance of the meeting was submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(1) and (9), as follows:

 

Proposed by Councillor Phil Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Dave Mitchell

 

Amend the Motion by inserting the additional wording where shown in BOLD

 

Following critical responses from users, carers, families and staff Council is concerned that the transitional arrangements put in place following the decision to close Girtrell Court do not appear to be providing the respect and dignity that was promised.

 

Council recalls that at the special meeting held on 4April 2016, it was resolved that "the aim is that any alternatives will be equal to or better than existing provision".

 

Council further notes that, while Girtrell Court is a 20 bed single floor bespoke respite centre which, according to the Director of Adult Social Care’s latest description provides thirteen respite beds, two emergency beds and five placement breakdown beds the alternative provision will comprise a ten bed unit over three floors, providing, according to the Director of Adult Social Care, eight respite beds and two emergency beds with no provision for placement breakdown.

 

Council recognises that the Care Quality Commission carried out an unannounced inspection of the existing provision at Girtrell Court on 30 June 2016 / 28July 2016, publishing their report on 9 September 2016.

 

This report makes it clear that the inspectors commented positively on the friendly and relaxed atmosphere, the individualised care plans, the variety of activities, the staffing levels that were sufficient to meet people’s need, the quality of risk assessments, the training records of the staff  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.