Issue - meetings

Ms P Watson, Commissioning Manager, Learning Disability, was in attendance for this item.

1.         Ms Watson introduced the report, which set out the background and context of the review of Learning Disability Day Services in Shepway and the reason for asking the Cabinet Member to approve the development of new Community Hubs. She answered questions of detail, explaining the following:-           

a)         Community Hubs will use buildings which are also used for other purposes and hence are accessible to the wider community, eg leisure centres;

b)         existing facilities will run in parallel with new provision while the latter gets up and running, so there will be no gap in provision. When modernising day services in other areas, this principal has always been strictly adhered to;

c)         the questionnaire sent to consultees did not include a specific question which asked if service users wished existing services to remain unchanged, but respondents had the opportunity to comment freely and could express a view; and

d)         only eighteen current users access services using Direct Payments.

2.         RESOLVED that the decision to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Public Health, to develop new Community Hub resources in Shepway, be endorsed.