Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Healthy Lifestyles

RESOLVED THAT

1.    the relocation of the Shopmobility service to the Horse and Groom, St George’s Place be agreed with the one-off costs being funded from within the existing service budget.

2.    Cabinet is committed to a commissioning process for the Shopmobility service, the process to commence in January 2016.

3.    in the interim a review of fees and funding sources is undertaken, in conjunction with the 2016/17 Budget Setting Process. 

The Cabinet Member Healthy Lifestyles, Councillor Hay, introduced the report. She reminded Members that Cabinet had received an earlier report on 14 July 2015 on the future delivery of the Shopmobility service, which had been served notice to quit its current premises by November 2015. Cabinet had resolved to consult on its future delivery and this report set out the results of that consultation. Provisional analysis of the consultation results indicated significant support for continued provision of a Shopmobility service in the town. The Community Impact Assessment clearly indicated that any changes to the provision of the service would affect a vulnerable section of the community and therefore the council would need to continue to make a sensitive assessment against the budgetary position for this non-statutory service. The tables in the report indicated the current subsidy level and the falling patronage.

Whilst the favoured organisation for continued delivery was the Borough Council, there was a general acceptance that delivery could be through another organisation. A town centre location close to car parking was favoured.  An updated consultation report following the closing dates for comments had been made available to Members before the meeting.

Cabinet were being asked to support the relocation of the service to the Horse & Groom, St George’s Place and then commence a procurement exercise to establish interest from other organisations in operating the service. The Cabinet Member recognized that the proposed site for relocation does not meet all of the needs however this relocation would allow the service to continue whilst the commissioning process is implemented and the finances are reviewed. She gave thanks to the members of the scrutiny task group and to all of the people who had responded to the consultation.

The Leader supported the recommendations and felt they were a very sensible solution in the circumstances.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    the relocation of the Shopmobility service to the Horse and Groom, St George’s Place be agreed with the one-off costs being funded from within the existing service budget.

2.    Cabinet is committed to a commissioning process for the Shopmobility service, the process to commence in January 2016.

3.    in the interim a review of fees and funding sources is undertaken, in conjunction with the 2016/17 Budget Setting Process.