Issue - meetings

1.         Ms Sydney Hill (Director of Adult Social Care), introduced the report on the proposed decision to permanently close Blackburn Lodge Care Home, Isle of Sheppey.

2.         Further to questions and comments from Members, it was noted that:

·         A new booster water pump was installed in August 2023 which rectified the water pressure issues but appeared to have accelerated the deterioration of the steel pipework.

·         No illness had occurred as a result of water contamination, and it was the discolouration that first suggested a problem. Subsequent testing and water sampling took place after which it was deemed unsafe.

·         Advice from cost consultants was sought in relation to the repair costs. This covered a whole range of issues, including subsidence, and the cost of upgrading the building to accommodate, for example, ensuites and lifting equipment and to meet fire safety standards.

·         Blackburn Lodge provided low to mid-level residential care as opposed to complex nursing care. It was important to get the right mix of provision to meet the current and future needs of residents.

·         The Council runs day services at the Crawford Centre in Sheerness for adults with learning disabilities. Adult Social Care have been able to expand the use of the building and open a Day Service for older people at the Crawford Centre, including for people  who previously attended Blackburn Lodge.

·         A care home in Minster-on-Sea could provide up to 50 residential care beds on the Isle of Sheppey, which was more than previously available before Blackburn Lodge closed.

·         Clarification between the type of bed was important and there was a need for a range of residential nursing care needs. The number or beds was not the only consideration. 

3.         Mr Streatfeild proposed and Ms Meade seconded that the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee recommend to the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health that reassurance be provided to the committee that there were sufficient residential care home beds, of all types, on the Isle of Sheppey before Blackburn Lodge was permanently closed. The motion failed.

4.         RESOLVED to endorse the proposed decision to:

a)           PERMANENTLY close Blackburn Lodge Care Home, Isle of Sheppey; and

b)           DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to take relevant actions to implement the decision.

5.         In accordance with paragraph 16.31 of the Constitution Mr Streatfeild, Ms Meade and Ms Hawkins wished for it to be recorded in the minutes that they voted against the motion.